Jiu-jitsu leader supports at-risk youth in Scarborough. Project X-Guard, led by Raul Chavez, celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Project X-Guard, a Scarborough based non-profit that provides Brazilian jiu-jitsu training to at-risk youth is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Founder Raul Chavez told Mpulse that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu “saved” his life and now he hopes to pass on what he’s learned to youth in Scarborough.
Chavez said he struggled in his younger years with drugs, alcohol, and fighting. “I thought I knew how to fight,” he said. “But what I thought I knew, I didn’t know… Because of Brazilian jiu-jitsu I learned to have a different mindset.” He told Mpulse that Brazilian jiu-jitsu teaches you “how to think yourself out of a situation – you win with mind, not body.”
“One former student
struggled with
homelessness and
“deep emotional
issues” and today
is in the armed
forces, working as an
airplane mechanic.”
Now, Chavez runs Project X-Guard with locations around the eastern GTA. For only $10 per month, at-risk and under privileged kids aged 4-18 can learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Chavez said he considers the term “at-risk” to include not only low-income youth, but also youth with mental health struggles, kids who have been bullied or are bullies themselves, youth who live in high-crime neighbourhoods or who have disabilities, both visible and not visible.
He says he “welcomes parents as active participants” and says they know best how to motivate their kids. He also partners with the Toronto District School Board, offering programs in schools. Chavez says one of the ways he’s able to keep fees for families low is by relying on former students coming back to work as volunteer teachers.
He told Mpulse about how one former student struggled in his youth with homelessness and “deep emotional issues.” Through studying Brazilian jiu-jitsu this student found a “positive release” and today is in the armed forces, working as an airplane mechanic and volunteering as an instructor with Project X-Guard. Chavez says he will also sponsor athletes to compete internationally in exchange for volunteering their time teaching others.
Chavez is currently running Project X-Guard at Action & Reaction MMA at Victoria Park Ave. and McNicoll Ave. He also runs adult classes there too.
Beginning in March, he’ll be starting a new program for teens and young adults at Heron Park Community Centre in the Lawerence Ave E and Morningside Rd neighbourhood. For more information, including locations, class schedules, and how to register, visit projectxguard.ca or call 416-904-1559.
