Veteran-owned facility strengthening communities with training - and gis

Written By: Rachael Schuit 

Produced By: Brittany Harlow 

(TULSA, Okla.) “When you leave your service or branch, you tend to find out real quick that you’re gonna miss that. And I felt like it was just pulled from me.”

More than a hobby, more than an art, and definitely more than a job, a sense of purpose is what Jiu Jitsu offers Steven Matias, the owner of Cohesion Training Academy. 

A former Marine Corps Infantryman who served in Iraq in 2006 and 2007, Matias is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as well as a 4th Degree black belt in Judo under the United States Judo Association.  

He’s been practicing both since he was a child, not realizing then how much they would later save his life after his time in the military.

“I missed it very much, that waking up every morning and having a purpose,” Matias said. “And I felt like I didn't have a purpose and that was one of the reasons why I kinda was lost.”

Like thousands of other veterans each year, Matias struggled with suicide. But through martial arts, he was able to find his saving grace and a new purpose in life: to teach.

He credits Jiu Jitsu with teaching him patience and how to work well with others. 

As a professor, Matias passes those skills along to his students, including the Elliot sisters. 12-year-old Violet started training first. 

“It's like my family here,” Violet told VNN. 

13-year-old Jazmine told us watching her 12-year-old sister Violet learn the art of Jiu Jitsu inspired her to do the same.

“It just kind of became fun to me, like watching her,” Jazmine said. “And so I kind of wanted to do it cause she’s just really good at it.”

Even though the sisters are learning side-by-side with adults, the self defense skills are helping both of them learn more confidence.

“If I get kidnapped, that will really really help me,” Violet said. “And I feel safe here with the other adults.”

Matias said offering classes for children is important because it shows the importance of having to struggle and overcoming struggle, as well as discipline, mental toughness, and physical activity.

And that’s not all Matias has set out to accomplish.

As the Fire Chief of the Frontier Shore Fire Department In Osage County, Matias has a well-rounded understanding of the needs of service people from all avenues, and a desire to help them.

“A lot of service members are lost,” Matias said. “They just don’t know how to ask for help. So what we try to do is decrease the burden of them having to pay for a uniform.”

This June 15th, Cohesion Training Academy is sponsoring their second Gis 4 the Brave fundraising seminar to raise money for uniforms to give to service members wanting to learn martial arts.

“We raise awareness on veteran suicide and first responder suicide,” Matias said. “We talk about the signs, the flags to look for and how to remedy that or how to help remedy that situation, along with providing a gi or a uniform that’s donated free or at no cost.”

Those interested can sign up through their event page on Facebook.