Strength Beyond the job
Mental Health through Jiu Jitsu, connection, and community
MORE THAN JUST JIU JITSU
COLORADO FIREFIGHTER JIU JITSU CLUB IS A NONPROFIT BUILT TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH JIU JITSU, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY
TRAIN
Build resilience on the mats. Connect with fellow firefighters through Jiu Jitsu, open mats, and training opportunities designed to build resilience both on and off the mats.
connect
You don’t have to carry it alone. Build relationships with firefighters who understand the job—people who train beside you, check in on you, and can tell when you’re not yourself.
support
Help when it matters Access resources and professional mental health support when more help is needed—without departmental red tape, unnecessary barriers, or stigma.
OUR PROGRAMS
how we show up
REAL PROGRAMS. REAL CONNECTIONS. BUILT BY FIREFIGHTER FOR FIREFIGHTERS
01
TRAVELING OPEN MATS
Train together. Build connection.
Our Traveling Open Mats bring firefighters together at Jiu Jitsu gyms throughout Colorado to train, build camaraderie, and connect with others who understand the job.
Each open mat creates an opportunity to step outside the firehouse, share the mats with firefighters from different departments, and build relationships through Jiu Jitsu. We also use these gatherings to create space for honest conversations about mental health, the challenges of the job, and the importance of looking out for one another.
No department boundaries. No rank. Just firefighters training together, building community, and reminding each other that none of us has to carry the weight of the job alone.
02
train a jake
WHY “JAKE”?
“Jake” is a traditional fire-service term for a firefighter, rooted in the history of Boston's early fire-alarm system. To be known as a “good Jake” meant being skilled, dependable, and someone others could count on when it mattered.
TRAIN A JAKE
We help firefighters get on the mats by removing the financial barrier to training. Through Train a Jake, CFJJC can provide financial assistance toward Jiu Jitsu membership for firefighters who need it—giving them access to training, community, and connection for up to a year.
03
mental health support
When more than the mats is needed.
Jiu Jitsu is a gateway to connection, camaraderie, and conversations that don't always happen at the firehouse. Sometimes simply getting on the mats with people who understand the job can make a difference. But we also recognize that Jiu Jitsu isn't a replacement for professional mental health care.
CFJJC is working to build relationships and partnerships with mental health professionals and organizations that understand the unique challenges firefighters and first responders face. When someone needs more than the mats can provide, we want to help connect them with the right resources and professional support.
Our goal is simple: reduce the barriers, remove the stigma, and help firefighters get the help they deserve when they need it, without having to navigate it alone.
GET INVOLVED
THERES A PLACE FOR YOU HERE
Whether you're a firefighter looking to train, a Jiu Jitsu gym wanting to open your doors, or someone who believes in our mission, there are ways to be part of what we're building.
01
TRAIN WITH US
Find your people. Get on the mats.
Whether you're brand new to Jiu Jitsu or have been training for years, you're welcome on the mats with us. Join one of our traveling open mats to train, meet firefighters from across Colorado, build camaraderie, and become part of the CFJJC community.
02
PARTNER WITH US
Help us strengthen our network.
Gyms, departments, mental health professionals, businesses, and community organizations can partner with CFJJC to expand training opportunities, strengthen our programs, and connect firefighters with resources and support.
03
SUPPORT THE MISSION
Help us take care of our own.
Every contribution helps us put our mission into action. Your support allows CFJJC to host open mats, create training opportunities, fund programs like Train a Jake, and build partnerships that connect firefighters with mental health resources and professional support when they need it most.