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.
As you visit family and friends this holiday season please feel free to inject the Foundation into your conversation. You can screen capture this page or download the fact sheet as a reference or for print or email. Encourage them to sign up for our newsletter or attend our next event on January 18th. No matter how you choose to contribute, you can make a difference just by raising awareness.
MISSION Work Play Obsession: All In Foundation is a veteran owned non-profit organization that leverages recreational therapy in the form of Jiu Jitsu, art therapy, and water based activities (surfing & stand up paddle boarding) to help heal the invisible wounds of trauma.
VISION To build a community of inclusivity, familiarity, and understanding for military, law enforcement, and first responders. We serve to act as the bridge between identification and diagnosis of illness or injury as well as a continued support network through treatment and beyond through recovery.
HOW Our foundation organizes events to raise awareness and help heal Post-Traumatic Stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideology. We do this through providing recreational activities (Jiu Jitsu, Art, Surfing / SUP) which serve to rekindle team bond, shared sense of purpose, and family. Our passion is people. We build a team that connects human-to-human with no judgement or bias in order to defeat the stigma associated with mental health.
WHO With over 60 years combined of active duty service, Special Operations experience, and numerous combat tours, our team has seen, experienced, and overcome high stress/traumatic events on the battlefield and at home. As a result, we are familiar with the impact those experiences have on mental health and quality of life post deployment/service. Our mutual understanding is what makes us different. We are not counselors, doctors, or social workers. We are teammates and survivors.
Contact Work Play Obsession All In Foundation
9093 Phillip Dorsey Way (HQ)
Columbia, Md 20145
443-623-3158
WorkPlayObsession.Com (Work Play Obsession – Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
Purchase your tickets and mark you calendar for January 18th 2020! We will be hosting our first Art and Jiu Jitsu Fundraiser Event at Ground Control Columbia in support of our foundation. The event is open to all regardless of affiliation or level of training / experience. Focusing on social interaction and leveraging recreational therapy to build a community, we are combining two of our core elements into one event. We will be setting up and running an art studio and a Jiu Jitsu open mat while providing food and drinks. I think we’ll have everyone covered and create a fun night for everyone in attendance.
We will have a few loaner Gis and art canvases available if anyone wishes to try their hand at creating art or having their first Jiu Jitsu experience.
All proceeds will go towards funding future events and building our community. Please come out and support our effort to help heal the invisible wounds of trauma and bring our loved ones out of darkness.
