Brazilian Jiu Jitsu of Olympia Fire

Hi, my name is Shane Hart and this fundraiser is for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu of Olympia. On Sunday February 18th 2024, the unthinkable happened. An arsonist broke into BJJ Olympia, a veteran owned business, and doused floor mats, a US Special Forces flag, and a Police flag, with lighter fluid—and ignited them. The flags and nearby mats were engulfed in flames and quickly destroyed. Fortunately, the sprinklers kicked on, put out the blaze, and saved the building; however, the resulting water and lighter fluid damage ruined 80% of the remaining mats in the gym and damaged the drywall.

Nearly 300 members from all walks of life train at this gym. Children. Families. Veterans. First Responders. Law Enforcement. These are good hard-working people and BJJ Olympia is their home away from home. It’s a place they learn to protect themselves and the ones they love, stay healthy, and in some instances deal with trauma they have experienced in other areas of their life.

This was an act of aggression targeting families with young children, working professionals, veterans, and law enforcement. The resulting impact, caused tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, and has temporarily closed the gyms doors. The goal is to rebuild as quickly as possible, but it's expensive. Total cost for floor and wall mats alone is close to $50K. The gym has general liability insurance, however arson isn’t covered, so every expense will be out of pocket. Any donation you can make is GREATLY appreciated—and it will go a long way towards restoring the community.