Budo Scholar
A year-long leadership program for young martial artists.
Students keep training at their own school, in whatever art they already practice. Each week the program gives them one idea to work with, something to try with it on the mat and in daily life, and a national community of other young martial artists to work it through with.
What it is
A 50‑module curriculum, developed through our accredited program at UC Irvine, paired with real training on the mat.
The curriculum is grounded in the teachings of some of the most respected voices in martial arts, psychology, and education. A student works through it online, alongside the training they already do, and brings what they find back to their own mat.
Nobody has to change art, school, or teacher to take part. Students who do not train yet are helped to find a school near them first.
Proven
Five years of results, now going national.
For five years students have come through this program in Southern California, more than 1,000 of them since 2021.
reported leaving the program with good or great career knowledge and skills.
demonstrated gains in at least one applied leadership capacity.
demonstrated gains in at least one adaptive mindset capacity.
Outcomes measured by Hello Insight, an independent youth development evaluation platform.
Where to go next
Three ways in.
For students and parents
What a week looks like, how the year is built, what it costs, and how to join the list.
See the student experience →For martial arts schools
What a partnership involves, what your school receives, and how seats get funded in your own community.
See the partner terms →For supporters
A Founding Scholar seat covers one student for a full year, dues paid to their school and the program alongside it.
Fund a seat →Not training yet
You do not need to train already to start.
Plenty of students arrive without an art, a school, or any idea where to begin. Finding the right place to train is its own skill, so we put together a guide to choosing a martial arts school: what to look for on a first visit, what questions to ask, and what a good school feels like.
Forged on the mat. Proven off it.
Budo Scholar is a program of Budo Accelerator, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.