Yesterday we ran our first event of 2020 and our first event with more than a Jiu Jitsu focus. Our intent while planning the event was to introduce art lovers to Jiu Jitsu and Jiu Jitsu lovers to art. The vision and creativity required to be successful in either is actually quite similar so combining these activities seemed to be a good approach for bringing people together. Overall, we had a bunch of fun painting new WPO canvases and rolling 5 minute rounds while making new connections.

Our main contest for the evening was a challenge to create an individual work of art on a 4×6 card. These 4x 6 works are going to be turned into patches and sewn onto our large A7 Gi (donated by Gi’s for Gi’s) for a sort of “patchwork blanket”. This Gi “blanket” will be put on display at local academies, fire stations, and military hospitals in an effort to raise awareness for mental health and to help reduce the stigma associated with discussing mental illness.