Archive for category featured
USA Jiu Jitsu granted 501(c)(3) status – Officially Tax Exempt
Posted by USAJJ in USA Jiu Jitsu, featured on March 11, 2010
USAJJ officially 501(c)(3)
USA Jiu Jitsu has finally been approved for 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status! We are one of the only Jiu Jitsu organizations in the country to have this status. Here is an explanation of why this is so important to our cause.
We are now recognized by the U.S. Government
A 501(c) organization, like USA Jiu Jitsu, or simply “a 501(c)” is a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation or association. Section 501(c) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, provides that 26 types of nonprofit organizations are exempt from some federal income taxes. USAJJ is type 3 which includes organizations that are Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals . Obviously, we fall under the International Amateur Sports Competition heading. By law, 501(c)(3) orginizations are subject to limits or absolute prohibitions on engaging in political activities.
So what does all this mean?
It means that USAJJ is officially and legally non-profit.
It also means that as a member of USA Jiu Jitsu, you belong to an organization that has no motives other than to promote the sport of Jiu Jitsu. We have always firmly believed in an organization that is free of politics and egos.
We hold that the promotion and support of Jiu Jitsu as a whole must come before any individual concerns. We will never promote any political party, or be used as a political tool.
And most importantly of all, these facts are recognized by the United States Government.This brings us one step closer to our goal of having Jiu Jitsu in the 2016 Olympics.
Today is a wonderful day in the world of Jiu Jitsu.
USA Jiu Jitsu Takes Action To Help Kids From The Favela In Rio De Janeiro
Posted by USAJJ in Social Causes, featured on February 23, 2010
Picture of Rio de Janeiro's Favela
Between December of 1987 and November of 2001, 3,937 residents of Rio de Janeiro under the age of 18 died a violent death. That is over eight times the number of minors who died in the West Bank (between Jordan and Israel) in the same time period. Being a child is hard enough without fearing for your life from gangs and drug lords. The only option for most of these children is to join with the drug lords and become a soldado, which only perpetuates the circle of violence. This is the life of several children in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, the slums.
However, USA Jiu Jitsu is trying to help change things for these unfortunate children.
Working in tandem with the BOPE, a special task force of the Rio police force that is feared by criminals and highly respected by everyone else, USAJJ is providing assistance trying to get kids into Jiu Jitsu, not drugs.
Gilson Fernandez, 3rd Degree Black Belt
“Papa” John Gorman has partnered with Gilson Fernandez who is a member of USAJJ and Jiu Jitsu International. Mr. Fernandez is not only a Jiu Jitsu trainer and BOPE special agent, but is also a 3rd degree Black Belt and trains Jiu Jitsu referees.
The mission of the program is to encourage children to set positive goals and then reward the students when they are reached. The goals that are set include things like learning English and going to school. The children are taught Jiu Jitsu in the same training center as the BOPE, which is one of the safest places in Rio de Janeiro.
USAJJ has been helping to provide gis and equipment. Papa John feels this is a chance to give back to the nation that founded our sport. They really do need our help, and we are proud to support the BOPE cause.
If you have a gi that is too small, or you just want to help, please contact us.
Papa John with Gilson Fernandez and the Favela Kids at BOPE
Papa John has made a deal with a manufacturer of gi’s to provide them at $25 each for these kids, so any kind of donation you make can contribute to keeping a fellow Jiu Jitsu practitioner off the streets and in school.
Maybe with the help of USA JJ, today’s favelas children will be tomorrow’s Jiu Jitsu Olympians!
You can read more about the terrible conditions in the favelas here
What is USA Jiu Jitsu? By PapaJohn Gorman, USAJJ Commissioner
Posted by USAJJ in USA Jiu Jitsu, featured on February 16, 2010
USAJJ Commissioner PapaJohn with Royce Gracie
Washington, D.C.
According to USA Jiu-Jitsu Commissioner John “PapaJohn” Gorman, USA Jiu-Jitsu is an association for Jiu-Jitsu.
All of Jiu-Jitsu…
That means schools, academies, students, competitors… any and all organizations involved with jiu-Jitsu.
If you organize competitions, sell a product, for example…Mats, Gis, t-shirts, cleaning supplies and health related products to help the athletes….then USA Jiu-Jitsu is your organization.
USA Jiu-Jitsu has established a great insurance agreement with major insurance carriers for martial arts schools that provide needed coverage and incredibly reasonable rates. Member schools can obtain the insurance for $450.00 per year.
Additionally, USA Jiu-Jitsu Individual Members get $25,000.00 of additional health coverage for the cost of the individual membership.
“We are a service organization”, said Commissioner Gorman, “and as such, we want to bring the Jiu-Jitsu and related martial arts community together to provide more effective and cost efficient services for our members. As a group we can focus on solving many of the problems that plague our sport.”
He indicated that USA Jiu-Jitsu was in effect a consumer organization.
We are here to help our members solve their problems. If they are having difficulties dealing with billing and credit card companies, we want to assist them.
In addition, he said USAJJ can also evaluate and certify rank, credentials, and certify Instructors. Training for Tournament Directors and referees is also available.
As a non-profit organization, our job is help our members.
“That is our primary focus,” said PapaJohn, “We want our members to be successful”.
USAJJ Offers Insurance To Charter Members & Schools
USAJJ members are now automatically covered against injuries or lawsuits
It’s been a tough negotiation – we went back and forth for 5 months, fighting over every little detail to protect our members, but “Papa” John Gorman and Chris Stolzman finally managed to secure an umbrella insurance program for ALL USAJJ members and schools.
This is a historic moment for Jiu-Jitsu athletes and school owners across the country – by becoming a member of USAJJ they’re now able to fully cover their training and competitions in the case of an occasional injury.
Here are the details of the policy:
Program Highlights—The USAJJ Insurance program consists of two different insurance policies, general liability insurance (for the School Owner’s protection) and accident medical insurance (protection for students and staff).
General Liability -This program provides protection for your Martial Arts School its owners, directors, instructors and employees against claims of bodily injury liability, property damage liability and the litigation costs to defend against such claims.
Coverage is provided up to $1,000,000.00 per occurrence with a general aggregate amount of $2,000,000.00. There is no deductible and no charge for additional insureds.
School owners register for USAJJ here
Accident Insurance - All youth and adult students and staff members of the Policyholder are covered while participating in sponsored activities. A member is also covered while traveling, directly and without interruption, to and from any Policyholder sponsored activity and his or her home or place of residence. Coverage is $100,000 per accidents with a $250 deductible.
Individual members register for USAJJ here
If you’re already a Charter member of USAJJ, we’ll be contacting you soon to finalize the insurance paperwork.
If you’re not yet a member of USAJJ, now is the time to come on board, help us take Jiu Jitsu to the Olympics, and SAVE A BUNCH OF MONEY ON INSURANCE!
Royce Gracie “On Board” With USA Jiu Jitsu
Posted by USAJJ in black belt council, featured on December 14, 2009
Royce Gracie & "Papa" John Gorman, USAJJ Commissioner
Earlier this week “Papa” John Gorman, USA Jiu Jitsu Commissioner, was in Miami to meet with legendary Royce Gracie at the Valente Brothers Academy.
Papa John, recently back from Brazil, where the Jiu Jitsu International organization was formed with the help of the 4 Grandmasters in the Red Belt Council, showed Royce first-hand the documents that make USAJJ and JJI official.
Royce grew up amongst most of JJI’s grandmasters and recognizes their importance and dedication to the sport that his family made popular.
He told Papa John that he’s fully “on board”, as long as his father’s (grandmaster Helio Gracie) legacy is respected.
Royce’s support of USA Jiu Jitsu and Jiu Jitsu International helps solidify the goal of uniting the sport, a goal that will lead jiu jitsu into the Olympics of 2016.
You can help us by becoming a member of USAJJ and talking to your students and/or coaches about it. USAJJ is a non-profit organization.
Royce Gracie reads USAJJ and JJI's official documents
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