Help U.S. Veteran Start BJJ Club

Have you ever seen the fire in someone's eyes, the passion a person has bleeding from there heart and this effects and motivates you to want to do all that you can to help this person achieve his goal? Let me introduce you to my friend, co-worker and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Kirby Ziesmer. Kirby is a welder, a U.S. Marine who was injured in the war on terror and most importantly a husband to Alyssa and father of two beautiful children Alexandria and Kam. A few years ago Kirby started training in the martial arts of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). As a student of BJJ, Kiby gained more than knowledge, he was able to find a therapeutic release both physically and mentally from the injuries he had received in the war as Marine. In his late 20's and early 30's the wear and tear that he had put his body through as a Marine and physical injuries he suffered in the war had taken such a huge toll on his body that every day activities were impossible to do without suffering from pain. BJJ became essential to Kirby's physical and mental therapy. After a few years of BJJ classes, there were no longer any classes held in the small town of Grinnell,Iowa. The closest towns to offer BJJ classes were an hour away and with a family this drive was not possible to do 3 to 5 times a week. After a couple of years of no BJJ classes in Grinnell, friends and coworkers of Kirby approached him about starting up his own studio. Kirby agreed to this and on his own has started Erebus Jiu Jitsu in Grinnell, Iowa. Kirby has paid for what little the studio has out of his own pocket. The club started out small with only a few members but has more than doubled in members since January. The expenses of a studio are high for a person who is doing this on his own. Liability insurance, rent, utilities, association fees. There is also the need for safety equipment such as mats and clothing. Two goals of Kirby s is 2 offer free tuition to veterans of war and to hold women safety courses all of which are extra expenses. This studio that Kirby has started is very important to me for several reasons, the most important reason is because this is a family studio with high interest focused on the youth. Several high school youth have started BJJ because of what Kirby has started and it is very important that the youth don't lose this studio. BJJ teaches teenagers more than a martial art it gives
them self confidence and higher self esteem, discipline and focus, problem solving skills and achievement, bonding and socializing skills.
Kirby has taken on a huge responsibility by starting his own BJJ studio, all money from dues are used to better the studio, Kirby has never made a dime off the studio and never will as the studio is non profit. There are many difficulties in a running a studio, one being financial, a stress that comes with everything in life but when you do something to benifit others, when you give your heart to helping other, when you give and give, it's nice to get also. Please help donate to Erebus Jiu Jistu studio in Grinnell Iowa. The things Kirby is doing for others is amazing and it's more than teaching a martial art it's changing people for the better! Thank you