Roberto Cepeda Memorial Martial Arts Scholarship

My Father Roberto Cepeda died earlier this year after a courageous battle with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease . In life he always fought for others, and to create opportunities for those who otherwise might not have them.

This included his support for not just myself and my cousin Gerardo in our martial arts journeys, but also those of many others.

As we watched the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in the fall of 1993 at his brother Fernando's home, my Dad had the same revelation that many others across the world did - that, by using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, even smaller people could possess the calm, and technical leverage to defend themselves in real fights against much larger and stronger opponents. 

As soon as he found a place in Chicago, he signed me and my cousin up, and began driving us to all our classes, and purchased the uniforms and gear we needed. Soon, my Dad himself began training, and supported the team by getting us transportation to travel to competition.

My Father not only made my own training possible, he also helped dozens of other inner-city youth like me and my cousin get high-quality training, tuition-free, by starting a program at The Little Village Boys & Girls Club he was Director of, hiring excellent and caring instructors to teach the children.

Without my Dad, I would never have become a fighter, teacher, black belt, or have opened our Foundation Chicago martial arts academy . So, in his memory, we are starting a memorial scholarship fully fund the training of one student for a year. 

Because many of our instructors, including myself, will donate our time, we're able to to cut the yearly cost of the instruction down from $2,400, to $850. That's what our fundraising goal is.

Any additional funds raised will go towards purchasing the gear and apparel (including team Kimono, t-shirt, rash guard, shorts, boxing gloves, shin pads, athletic tape, and mouth guard) the student will need to do the martial arts training. If no additional funds are raised, I'll provide all of the gear myself at no cost to the student. 

In early 2021 we will open up the scholarship application process to potential students. It isn't much, and certainly not as much as my Father gave in this regard throughout his life in the martial arts, but it's a start, and to one student this type of training can make a world of difference. I can personally attest to that. 

Absolutely any amount you might be able to contribute is significant, and if you're not able to donate money but can spread the word, we'd greatly appreciate that as well! 

-Elias Cepeda