Late on Monday night, our jiu-jitsu academy — Republic of Jiu Jitsu — was completely destroyed in a shocking act of arson.

Thankfully, the fire happened outside of business hours and no one was injured, but the damage to our gym was total. The mats, the gear, the kids’ belts and medals, all completely destroyed. Even the walls, changing rooms and showers were completely wrecked.

We are heartbroken, but not beaten. Our club has always been more than just a place to train. It’s a second home for kids after school, a place of confidence and discipline for teens, and a supportive environment for adults of all ages. This gym helped people through depression, addiction, bullying, burnout — and built a community of friendship, respect, and resilience.

That can’t be burned down.

What We’re Doing Now

We’re already back on the mats — training out of a temporary location several times per week, while we make plans to rebuild. But starting from scratch is hard. We’ve lost tens of thousands of euros worth of mats, equipment, and fittings.

We’re asking for your help to bring our gym back — not just the physical space, but the community hub it was for so many.

Every donation, share, and message of support is helping us to rebuild, recover, and return stronger than ever.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.

Coach Abnel and the ROJ team

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