Beyond the Dojo: Our Mission to Support and Elevate Young Martial Artists

We’ve officially embarked on a new chapter in our journey as business owners: we’ve started a nonprofit dedicated to helping our competitors absorb tournament costs—and hopefully, one day, fully sponsor them. Growing up, I always wished I had access to something like this. None of my coaches ever built a true team environment, and honestly, I’m still figuring it out myself. But we’re going to try.

Competition is one of the best ways to keep martial artists engaged. It gives them real feedback, real goals, and real validation for all their years of training and hard work. It’s fun, it creates lifelong memories, and it shapes young men and women in ways the studio alone never can. I also believe that strong, well-funded teams are exactly what our sport is missing. Sure, there are a few like Paul Mitchell or various Team USA groups, but even then, most of the cost falls on the competitor. Team membership should feel like an opportunity—not another financial hurdle.

Just because our athletes are considered “amateur” doesn’t mean they need to stay that way. We can create real pathways for the next generation to earn money, travel, grow, and push the sport forward. We simply need to be creative, persistent, and willing to build a community that supports these athletes—not just rely on parents. Martial arts is full of people who want to see the sport succeed. We just have to bring them together.

I’ve always struggled with how martial arts presents itself. As a sport, we tend to compete with each other instead of focusing on the real competition—other activities like soccer that offer structure, funding, and a clear path. We help build disciplined, coachable kids, but we often fall short of providing them with fulfilling experiences outside the studio. We can do better. That’s my mission: to create something better, something bigger, something undeniably cool for my athletes and our community.

If you’d like to support us, you can become a member at mrbmartialarts.com, subscribe to our YouTube channel (youtube.com/@montezumamartialartsacadem1412), or follow our Substack (@derekbeckmanmrb). Every dollar goes directly toward building a martial arts team the community can rally behind—a team people want to root for and help succeed.