Operation Rolling for Resilience hosting second annual Veterans Day fundraiser at Atlas Jiu-Jitsu
UPDATE (11/2): This event has been rescheduled to Nov. 19.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS — Veterans Day is fast approaching, and Atlas Jiu-Jitsu in South Glens Falls, along with nonprofit Operation Rolling for Resilience, is preparing to host its second annual Veterans Day fundraiser event on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Justin Hall, a veteran who helped start the event, said the initial idea came after he competed in 22 jiu-jitsu tournaments in a ten-month span from October 2021 to this August, raising money for veteran suicide awareness.
“Operation Rolling for Resilience is the name that we gave our movement for the tour for veterans suicide awareness,” said Hall. “In doing that, we came up with the idea to turn it into a nonprofit organization for people with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and things of that sort.”
Hall said he and Atlas instructor Joseph Zakriski initially discussed hosting a seminar, but it quickly evolved and has become an annual event.
“Then we decided to take it a step further, and ask some other people to get involved and join up on it, and they all did,” Hall said. “At the time, we got a yoga instructor, we got everyone involved and it ended up just taking off from there.”
Hall said he runs Operation Rolling for Resilience along with Zakriski, Nicholas Regner, and Miranda Smith.
The Veterans Day event will offer both adult and childrens’ lessons for No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, as well as a judo class. Hall said the classes will be aimed at beginners, encouraging new people to try it out.
“They’re going to be entry-level classes, or just some basic techniques to get people introduced to the sport,” said Hall. “Some things that aren’t going to require a ton of skill up front, that way anybody can walk in and give it a shot.”
The childrens’ no-gi jiu-jitsu class runs from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., with the judo class following from noon to 1:30 p.m. The adult no-gi jiu-jitsu class runs from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. After the adult class, Atlas will host a ‘Veteran and First Responder Intro to Operation Rolling for Resilience.’
A minimum donation of $20 is required, and will allow guests access to all three classes. The introduction to Operation Rolling for Resilience is open to the public, Hall said. The nonprofit has a page on GoFundMe, Hall mentioned, and also accepts cash donations.
Hall said the mission of Operation Rolling for Resilience is to help veterans who are struggling connect through jiu-jitsu, free of charge.
“A lot of the struggles, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, and those kinds of things, we’re looking to kind of alleviate that and give them the community, sense of camaraderie, and purpose again,” said Hall. “That’s what jiu-jitsu has done for me, so I aim to give that back to them and kind of make it like a space where they can be themselves and work on themselves. … An environment where it’s sociable, it’s safe, and it’s a good stress outlet.”
Hall served for nine years in the Army, he said, noting the need for services to assist veterans is important as he, “was one of those people that needed that at one time.”
“I know if I needed that help, and those sort of resources weren’t available when I needed it, there’s definitely a need for it in the community,” Hall said. “Instead of sitting back and waiting for that miracle to happen, we want to be that for everybody else. We’re going to be there, we’re going to take the reins, and take this wherever it takes us.”
Hall, who is a blue-belt at Atlas, mentioned that the attendance at last year’s event was better than anticipated, and said he hopes to see “a big turnout” this year. Hall grew up in the Glens Falls region, and emphasized the community support in the area, saying “the roots run deep all around.”
“This area is known for the local support,” said Hall. “It’s one tight-knit area, and there’s a lot of love that gets around, for sure.”