NOW OFFERING KIDS JUJUTSU CLASSES!

I served six years in the US Air Force, from April 26, 2016-April 26, 2022, and during the short time I attended Japanese jujutsu classes at the Heiwashinkai dojo I found it to to be very beneficial for my mind and body. The training helped me to stay physically fit and sharpened my mental focus. I have confidence that the Heiwashinkai martial arts programs will provide a great service to its students and community, just as it did for me.

Patrick Shannon ~ US Navy Disabled Veteran

I am a disabled Navy veteran who lives in Gautier, Mississippi. I have lived with numerous orthopedic and neurological disabilities since serving in the Navy from March 1969 to March 1975. My personal experience with martial arts has been with the practice of Tai Chi, but I have worked with and experienced David Wilson's jujutsu program for many years since being introduced to him and his free classes in 2016. In my opinion, his Grappling With PTSD Program is well-designed to accommodate the needs of disabled veterans who frequently suffer from a wide range of disabilities. He and his staff have extensive personal experience with being disabled and working through that to learn a martial art. He works tirelessly to interface with VSOs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including the VFW, DAV, and Team RWB, to get as many veterans involved in his free program as possible. His dojo facility is also top-notch, with numerous accommodations provided for the disabled which makes it much easier for those with physical limitations to participate. To my knowledge, it is the ONLY nonprofit martial arts dojo on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with a program designed specifically to offer free lessons for disabled veterans. I highly recommend the program, the instructors, and the facility be used by the VA to serve veterans, as this is a much-needed community service.

Roger Hormell ~ US Navy Disabled Veteran

I am the Commander-Elect for the Singing River Disabled Veteran (DAV) post in Gautier, MS. David Wilson's Grappling with PTSD Program has been serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the past nine years. Their free classes offer veterans, both able-bodied and disabled, an effective and engaging athletic outlet to work through their frustrations, deal with anger issues in a safe and productive fashion, improve their physical fitness, and give them a regular activity to look forward to each week. Mr. Wilson and his staff have developed a program that is highly adaptive for the specific needs of the individual, be they physical or mental limitations, thanks to their own experience with service-connected disabilities. These adaptions include (but are not limited to) modifying techniques to accommodate chronic injuries, using their extensive syllabus to substitute techniques in place of ones that are impossible due to limitations, breaking down movements into their constituent building blocks to ease learning in those with organic brain disorders, and modifying the pace of the class to ensure that nobody gets left behind. Their custom-built facility is also top-notch and perfectly suited for the disparate needs of disabled students. The air conditioning is high-quality to support those with issues related to PACT exposure. The lighting is spread out over the entire ceiling to avoid triggering migraines in those with sensitivities. The building and bathroom facilities are designed to accommodate physical disabilities, including the wheelchair-bound, and there's ample parking that is literally feet from the front door. My personal study of martial arts has helped me to deal with the difficulties I have experienced in my life as a disabled veteran. I can honestly say that I've never experienced a more potent tool to assist with the turmoil associated with transitioning from military service to civilian life than martial arts, and the Grappling With PTSD Program is perfectly designed to do just that. In my position as the Commander-Elect for our DAV post, I am determined to encourage every veteran that I come across who could benefit from their free classes to at least give it a try. As of 2022, there are over 63,000 veterans who live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We're going to try to reach out to each and every one who could derive assistance from their program.

TSgt Cody Gill ~ US Air Force Disabled Veteran

I'm a disabled veteran and completed 8 years of active duty in the Air Force before transitioning into the United States Air Force Reserves where I still currently serve. During my active time, I deployed and suffered both physical injuries and developed mental health disorders. I am currently rated as being 90% disabled by the VA and felt like I was receiving financial compensation in lieu of treatment for my disabilities. I recently met David Wilson through an online platform when he offered his dojo facility to disabled veterans. I attended David's Japanese jujutsu class and was immediately hooked. Sensei Wilson is teaching disabled veterans how to better their physical and mental health FOR FREE> Since attending his class, I have noticed an improvement in my mental health. I also enjoy the physical improvement aspects of jujutsu as I gained a significant amount of weight since leaving active duty. These classes are great for anyone interested in learning self-defense while releasing their built-up stress. These classes lower my anxiety levels and I cannot praise Sensei Wilson enough for what he is offering!

Jim Wetherington ~ US Navy Veteran

I served six years in the US Navy during the Cold War years (1980-1986) and have worked alongside veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many veterans returning to civilian life experience difficulties in transitioning back to what is termed normal conditions after facing life-changing conditions as a part of their military service. I have found that the discipline and effort required in martial arts training helps all veterans suffering from serious injuries and conditions return to a normal life with the help and support of like-minded individuals who work to help each other improve both on and off the mat.

Nick Long ~ US Marine Disabled Veteran

I'm a disabled US Marine Corps veteran who served from February 1998 until June 2003. I began my study of Traditional Japanese Jujutsu with David Wilson and Robert Carver in 2007 in Baton Rouge, LA. I immediately noticed that many of the issues I was dealing with during my service time in the Marine Corps were made easier as I continued to practice jujutsu. My joint pains were diminished, my panic attacks became less frequent and more manageable, my relationships with friends and family improved, my sleep quality seemed better and, overall, I felt a sense of camaraderie and belonging that had been missing in my life ever since my separation from the Marine Corps. I grew to love traditional jujutsu so much that years later, after earning my back belt, I opened my own nonprofit dojo to allow me to teach both kids and adults what I had learned. To this day, I like to say, "I'm a nut and jujutsu keeps me from cracking." Dave Wilson's Grappling With PTSD Program is a wonderful opportunity for so many disabled veterans to work through their issues, develop better physical and mental fitness and become better people overall. It's amazing that he's been able to operate for years without charging for his classes, especially since commercial schools in his area are charging up to $300 per month for arguably much less beneficial programs. His mission to aid his fellow veterans is his driving force. I support his program so much that I have visited his school in Vancleave, Mississippi, to function in the capacity of a guest instructor for his program. There's nothing like his program anywhere on the US Gulf Coast.

Bradley Davis ~ US Air Force Disabled Veteran

I have been rated as being 100% disabled by the US Department of Veterans Affairs for over a decade due to a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and related disabilities. I struggle each day to complete tasks that are routine to most people. So, entering a martial arts program was a big step. I'm grateful to be able to attend jujutsu classes with David Wilson and his team at Heiwashinkai Jujutsu. David works hard to help me develop the skills I need to perform jujutsu to the best of my ability and he has adapted techniques to my specific deficits when necessary. It seems to me that education, along with his personal experiences of suffering from multiple catastrophic disabilities makes him uniquely qualified to help those of us who might be left behind in another environment. David's dedication to veterans is prevalent in every aspect of Heiwashinkai Jujutsu, not just during mat time. The Heiwashinkai Jujutsu team is constantly present in the local community supporting veteran health and other nonprofit causes. It is my honor to endorse David Wilson and Heiwashinkai Jujutsu of Mississippi.