Omni Jiu Jitsu
Our mission is to empower underserved youth in Los Angeles by providing access to free Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, mental health services, and nutritious meals. We are dedicated to fostering resilience, building confidence, and promoting holistic well-being in our community.
Through physical, mental, and emotional support, we aim to create a positive environment where youth can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Guardian Los Angeles provides free Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mentorship, academic support, healthy meals, and a safe community for youth, helping them build confidence, resilience, and the skills to thrive on and off the mats.
The Omni Jiu Jitsu Youth Program began in 2021 and our non-profit began in 2022. Our primary objective when we established the academy was to provide free and low cost Jiu Jitsu to the South LA community. Dominick Haider was the the beneficiary of a youth martial arts scholarship program as a child that was frequently bullied and from a low income background. When he established the academy in 2021 it was his primary goal to Pay it forward and create a program that was accessible to youth and families that might not otherwise be able to afford it.
How It Began
How It’s Going
Our program since it’s inception in 2021 has doubled year by year allowing us to serve over 70 youth in South LA. We have also moved into a larger space in March in order to accommodate the growing program. The move has helped to provide more visibilty to our program and helped to establish us as a vital program for the South LA community.
70
Youth Participants
6
Actively Involved Officers
The officers bring the youth to our facility from various sites in the South LA. Officers also participate in the program and are present on the mats with the kids during classes. Officers frequently commune with the families and parents of the students thereby strengthening the relationship with law enforcement and the community.
The partnership has helped to provide increased awareness of the role of law enforcement in our communities beyond just “enforcing laws”. The participation of these officers and kids together has helped to build relationships which I have only seen strengthen through the years. The trust building has been invaluable to these kids and families and it reverberates throughout the South LA community at large.
Maribel
Youth Mentor
Anthony
Youth Instructor
Impact goes beyond the mat.
Get involved with Omni Jiu Jitsu
Contact Executive Director, Nick Haider or Project Blue to sign-up, donate, or get involved!
Nick Haider
424-420-5293
omnijiujitsu.com
Project Blue
contact@goprojectblue.com
Support Our Growth
Funding
Mentors
Transportation
As our program continues to grow, so do our needs. A recent move has increased our operating costs, including rent and utilities, and we currently rely on just one paid instructor supported by dedicated part-time volunteers to keep things running.
To meet the moment, we’re seeking funding through private donors and grants. This year, our goal is to bring on two additional paid instructors and a full-time grant writer, ensuring our program has the staffing and stability it needs to thrive for years to come.
