Souldiers Program
Training Mind, Body, & Soul
Souldiers is a values-based program that uses Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a transformative tool for youth empowerment.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
This is a program with a lot of grit, where we use tough love to get youth on track. There are no handouts here—every opportunity is earned, not given. Students dedicate themselves to living a values-based life as part of the Souldiers program and make a commitment to themselves and to the team by training consistently and giving their best.
We believe the core values of the martial arts lifestyle, combined with our integral approach to training mind, body and soul, will cultivate a community of changemakers and positive leaders.
Why does Souldiers exist?
Through Souldiers, students learn to live and act according to the core martial arts values of family, respect, discipline, integrity, compassion, commitment, humility, trust, and unity on a daily basis. These values then transfer to all areas of their lives—including at school, home, work and in their communities—as they continue to improve themselves and help guide others.
Souldiers aims to create a strong community through a family-like atmosphere. This type of environment expands a student’s circle of support and contributes to community empowerment where the student’s teammates, professors and coaches will be there to encourage them and push them to do and be their best in life—both on and off the mats.
Our goal is to help each Souldier achieve his or her fullest potential. Therefore, we strive to provide each student with a strong foundation of academic, interpersonal, and professional skills. For us, education does not necessarily mean formal—it can include everything from technical skills training or formal schooling to experience—which we believe is the greatest teacher.
Training
Mind, Body & Soul
Mind
We provide educational and sport scholarships, support for extracurricular activities and employment opportunities to each Souldier—challenging them to think critically, apply what they learn and consistently work towards improvement.
Fun Fact: We typically hire translators for our ethical travel group trips from the Souldiers program, where many of our students are learning to speak English or are already fluent.
Body
We teach our students about respect for oneself as well as respect for others through physical education, physical training, and nutrition classes.
We also focus on improving health outcomes by creating a safe physical and social environment from which to build strong foundations.
Fun Fact: Souldiers have the opportunity to compete internationally and have participated in competitions in Guatemala and Panama, in addition to Honduras.
Soul
We provide regular discussions and workshops within each of our programs to help participants reflect on their life experiences—be they personal or professional.
Fun Fact: Souldiers are encouraged to participate in service activities alongside our community partners and have also led community development projects, serving as local examples of positive, Honduran leadership.
What does it mean to be a Souldier?
We put our heart, mind and soul in everything we do.
What we do and how we do it is a reflection of that passion.
We strive to do good in the face of adversity, push ourselves beyond our limits and continually seek self-improvement.
We are a tribe of warriors.
We work to conquer our fears, limitations and weaknesses, and we will stop at nothing. We keep our actions consistent with our words, we strive to keep others and ourselves safe and we work hard for a better world.
We defy norms and break barriers.
We work to create a community where people can grow and thrive, not just survive. We work to promote equal rights and encourage open conversations about tough topics.
We come from all types of backgrounds.
We have brown, black, white and all-the-colors-in-between skin. We come from formal, technical, and non-formal educational backgrounds. We are doctors, students, environmentalists, businessmen and women, and so much more.
We are change agents who come to life amidst an incomprehensible challenge.
We embrace the battle and peacefully fight for what is right, not for what is easy, even when no one is watching.
We train and test our mental, physical and spiritual capacities in all kinds of conditions.
We fight the good fight.
We are SOUL-DIERS.
Interested in learning more firsthand?
Travel with us to Honduras!