Uniting Communities Through Athletics at Go! International
Athletics build pride and unite people from a common area. Events like the World Cup, the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the World Series are among the most watched on the planet because people rally behind athletes who, in turn, become champions for their communities and advocate for important causes.

Economic Impact of Sports
Athletics are a significant economic driver. For example, our last Central American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship in Nicaragua brought in over $16,000 from foreign athletes and their entourages for hotels, food, and transportation. This figure excludes tourism expenses. With the minimum wage at $125 per month at the time, this event supported many local salaries. It also garnered media attention on TV, radio, and newspapers, promoting local academies and even foreign academies in their own countries, helping businesses grow across seven countries.
 

International Outreach and Achievements

MMA in Senegal
In 2016, students from East St. Louis and our partner, Jimmy Downing from Playas del Coco, Costa Rica, helped organize Senegal’s first MMA event with the Lionheart MMA Initiative. The event was nationally televised and attracted 500 spectators. Since then, Senegal has developed its own MMA promotion and several gyms.

BJJ in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda
In November 2018, Jimmy Downing collaborated with the Lionheart Initiative to organize the region’s first international BJJ tournament in Arusha, Tanzania. The event featured 70 participants from over ten countries. He also taught in Kenya and Uganda, and in March 2019, our East St. Louis team toured these countries to promote the next international tournament in Nairobi.

Ten Years of Tournaments in Central America
We recently celebrated ten years of organizing BJJ tournaments in Central America with the Nicaraguan National BJJ Tournament. Starting with three schools and 20 competitors a decade ago, we now have 15 of 25 schools from across the country participating, with over 150 competitors. These schools have grown into businesses with employees and athletes who compete globally. In December, we will host an even bigger tournament, the Central America Jiu Jitsu Championship, in El Salvador.
 

Our Schools and Support
We currently have Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA schools directly under Go! International in Nicaragua, Panama, and East St. Louis, along with partner schools across Africa and Latin America. We are always in need of gear, uniforms, and equipment for our students. We use funds to support these needs and to help athletes compete locally and internationally, enhancing their prospects and improving their livelihoods through their academies and athletic careers. We also organize training trips for advanced practitioners to travel and teach seminars.