Active Military/Veterans Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

At Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking, our connection to the military isn’t something we added to our story—it’s part of who we are.

Elevate was founded by veterans who understand firsthand the values that military service builds: discipline, resilience, accountability, teamwork, and the ability to stay composed when things get difficult.

Co-founder Shawn Montgomery served as a U.S. Army Combat Medic with the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” including deployments to Kosovo and Iraq. Co-founder and Head Instructor Joel Arellano is a U.S. Navy veteran who continued his life of service as a firefighter and paramedic.

Those experiences helped shape the culture we wanted to create at Elevate—a place where people challenge themselves, look out for one another, and become more capable physically and mentally.

For our active-duty military members and veterans, we understand that the transition from military service doesn’t mean leaving behind the need for purpose, challenge, camaraderie, and a team. Jiu Jitsu and striking can provide a new environment to find those things.

That is why serving the military and veteran community of Grand Junction and the Western Slope will always be an important part of Elevate.

Different mission. Same values. A new team.

We Defy Foundation

Training faCILITY

Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking is proud to be an approved We Defy Foundation Training Facility, expanding our commitment to serving veterans in Grand Junction and across Colorado’s Western Slope.

The We Defy Foundation exists to improve the lives of combat veterans through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness. Their mission connects deeply with what we believe at Elevate: that the mats can provide much more than physical training. They can provide challenge, structure, connection, confidence, and—most importantly—a team.

For veterans who have spent part of their lives serving alongside others, that sense of camaraderie can be difficult to replace. Jiu Jitsu creates an environment where people work together, push one another, solve problems under pressure, and continually work toward becoming better.

That mission feels especially personal at Elevate. As a veteran-owned academy, we understand the value of service, brotherhood and sisterhood, and having people around you who expect the best from you while supporting you along the way.

Through our partnership with the We Defy Foundation, eligible combat veterans can apply for support to begin their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey at Elevate. For approved athletes, We Defy helps remove the financial barriers to getting started by providing training scholarships that cover Jiu Jitsu membership costs, as well as essential training gear and uniforms. This allows veterans to step onto the mats, become part of a team, and experience the physical and mental benefits of Jiu Jitsu without the initial financial burden.

You served with a team. You don’t have to stop being part of one.

APPLY FOR A WE DEFY SCHOLARSHIP

WDF Link

Supporting Veterans & Active-Duty Military Across the Grand Valley

Elevate proudly welcomes veterans and active-duty military members from across Grand Junction and Mesa County, including Fruita, Palisade, Clifton, and surrounding Western Colorado communities. If you’re searching for veteran-friendly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, martial arts, or combat sports training near Grand Junction, you’ll find more than a place to train at Elevate—you’ll find a team, a challenge, and a community that understands the value of service.

  • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not a replacement for professional mental health care or PTSD treatment, but emerging research and veteran experiences suggest that BJJ and other structured martial arts may provide meaningful benefits for some veterans living with symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

    Jiu Jitsu combines physical activity, controlled stress, problem-solving, goal setting, routine, and social connection in a team environment. Research on exercise and martial arts has associated these types of activities with improvements in areas such as stress, mood, social connection, and overall well-being—factors that can be particularly important for veterans transitioning from military service.

    For many veterans, one of the most valuable parts of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the community surrounding it. Training provides a place to show up consistently, work toward difficult goals, trust training partners, and once again become part of a team.

    Organizations like the We Defy Foundation were created around this connection, using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness to support combat veterans as they navigate life after military service.

    At Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking in Grand Junction, Colorado, we’re proud to provide veterans throughout Mesa County and Western Colorado with a welcoming place to train, challenge themselves, and find community on the mats.

  • Yes. Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking proudly offers a discounted $125 monthly membership for active-duty military members, veterans, and first responders. Our goal is to make high-quality Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and martial arts training accessible to those who serve and have served our communities and country.

  • Elevate is an approved We Defy Foundation Training Facility in Grand Junction, Colorado. The We Defy Foundation supports eligible combat veterans through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training scholarships, helping cover membership costs and essential training gear. Veterans interested in participating can apply through We Defy and, once approved, train at participating facilities like Elevate.

  • Not at all. Many of our students walk onto the mats with no previous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, or martial arts experience. Our programs are designed to help beginners develop their skills progressively in a welcoming training environment. Veterans and active-duty military members are welcome to visit Elevate, meet our coaches, and experience a class before deciding if Jiu Jitsu is right for them.

  • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu combines physical fitness, problem-solving, discipline, controlled pressure, and teamwork in a challenging training environment. For many veterans and service members, the culture of showing up, working toward a goal, helping teammates improve, and continually developing new skills feels familiar. At Elevate, that shared experience is an important part of the community we are building.

  • No. Competition is completely optional. Some students join the Competition Team and train toward local, regional, and national tournaments, while plenty of others train purely for fitness, self defense, or personal growth and never step on a competition mat. If you do want to compete, our Competition Team gives kids, teens, and adults dedicated training led by black belt coaches with their own competition backgrounds.

  • Your first visit is about getting comfortable with the academy, meeting our team, and seeing if Elevate feels like the right fit for you. You don’t need to be in great shape, have previous martial arts experience, or own any special equipment to get started.

    Our coaches will walk you through what to expect, introduce you to the fundamentals, and help you begin at a pace that makes sense for you. You’ll train alongside people from different backgrounds and experience a culture built around respect, accountability, hard work, and looking out for the people beside you.

    For those coming from a military background, some of that may feel familiar.

    Come meet the team, step onto the mats, and see what Elevate is all about.

Frequently Asked Questions