LAKELAND, Fla. — Roger Alex opened Warrior Combat and Fitness Academy eight years ago with the goal of helping as many kids as possible.
He accomplishes this by helping kids learn martial arts and life lessons.
“We want to teach the kids how to grow, how to be better people, and it's all done through jiu-jitsu while embracing the different challenges we give them,” said Coach Alex, as the kids call him.
The kids spend a lot of time at the Jiu Jitsu studio, and during term time, Coach Alex picks up some of the kids from school and takes them to the academy, where they work on their homework and hone their skills.
“It's great to have big facilities and great equipment, but it's no good if the people who need it can't use it, so I want everyone to have access to it,” Coach Alex said.
He found a way to get his kids there. Parent after parent contacted Bay News 9, recommending Coach Alex as an A+ teacher. They said they were grateful their kids had a safe place to go that they loved. Alex was happy to hear that, because his goal was becoming a reality.
“That's my main goal in running this place, to reach as many kids as I can. All my resources are being put into it, and really trying to bring the village back into parenting,” Alex said.
Coach Alex says this is his calling: he wants to make a difference, and his philosophy on how to make that happen is evident throughout the studio.
“Teach, guide and mentor, but never do it for them. We don't want to raise our kids in a plastic bubble. We want them to be able to take care of themselves,” Alex said. He continued, “My goal for the kids I mentor is to grow up to be positive contributors to society, to be leaders and set an example for how things should be.”
The Academy is currently running Summer Camps, click here for more information.
