About Forge Kids Foundation

Forge Kids Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building safer, stronger communities by providing at-risk youth with access to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other positive extracurricular activities.

We believe that every child deserves the chance to develop confidence, discipline, and resilience — both on and off the mat. Through scholarships, mentorship, and training opportunities, we empower youth to channel their energy into growth and community leadership.

Our Impact

Our Story

Forge Kids Foundation began in the San Fernando Valley with a simple observation: too many young people had energy, potential, and drive, but no structured outlet to express it. Many of them grew up in neighborhoods where opportunity was scarce and exposure to violence was common. We saw that what they needed wasn’t punishment, but purpose.

Our founder, Alex Perez, combined his background and his love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to create a space where prevention replaces reaction. At Forge Kids, we believe that juvenile crime isn’t a random event, it’s a symptom of structural inequity. Through BJJ, mentorship, and community partnerships, we give youth the tools to build discipline, resilience, and belonging.

Every class is a chance to rewrite a story—from detention to discipline, from chaos to community, from risk to resilience.

"Prevention over reaction. Juvenile crime is not a random act—it’s a symptom of inequity. Our goal is to change those conditions through structure, mentorship, and discipline on the mat."
— Adapted from *From the Mat to the Map* Presentation, CCIAA 2025

Our Programs

Every roll, every class, and every conversation at Forge Kids Foundation builds discipline, confidence, and community. We use martial arts and mentorship to prevent crime before it starts.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes

Our foundation provides free or low-cost BJJ classes for at-risk youth in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Through consistent training, students build confidence, discipline, and respect — essential skills that carry far beyond the mat. BJJ teaches “control without harm,” reinforcing empathy, restraint, and teamwork.

Mentorship & Life Skills

Forge Kids pairs youth with mentors who model resilience and responsibility. Students learn goal setting, emotional control, communication, and problem-solving, skills proven to reduce recidivism and increase school engagement.

Violence Prevention & Community Engagement

We work with local schools, community centers, and law enforcement to engage youth before they enter the justice system. Our structured activities offer a safe alternative to gang involvement and risky environments, building networks that protect rather than endanger.

Referrals & Family Resources

Forge Kids connects families with tutoring, mental health support, and financial assistance programs. We believe in strengthening the entire family system, not just the student, to create lasting stability.

Built on Research and Resilience

Our programs are grounded in the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model and Social Network Analysis (SNA) research. Studies show that when youth develop self-control, resilience, and positive peer associations, crime and recidivism drop dramatically.

As criminologist Andrew Papachristos found, “gun violence spreads through social networks.” Forge Kids flips that model—creating positive contagion through mentorship, discipline, and belonging.

Join Us in Building Safer, Stronger Communities

Every class we teach changes a life — sometimes an entire family’s. Your support helps us provide at-risk youth with mentorship, structure, and discipline through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Together, we’re replacing detention with discipline, and reaction with prevention.