Homeless to Half-Guard
From Homelessness to Half-Guard: How BJJ Gave Me—and Now Others—a Fighting Chance
In 2020, the world turned upside down. The pandemic shuttered generational small businesses, claimed countless lives, and fractured our nation's unity amid unprecedented fragility. That same year upended my world too—but for reasons that cut even deeper.
My wife, a registered nurse serving the homeless, fell seriously ill and needed three surgeries—for Chiari malformation, spinal fusion, and cord detethering. It triggered a cascade of crises that dragged us to the brink of despair. We lost her income overnight. Living in a spacious 3,500-square-foot, five-bedroom home suddenly became impossible. Rental assistance kept eviction at bay for just six months, but our lease ran another ten. We lost 80% of our belongings in the scramble and ended up homeless, with rental history slamming every door.
Then 2021 piled on: both my parents and my wife's stepfather gone within six months.
Climbing Out Through BJJ
As we clawed our way back, I landed a Retail Crime Investigator role at a new company. One night, a homeless man assaulted me. Defense became urgent, so I walked into Fargo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy and started training. But with our finances in ruins, class fees loomed large.
Professors George and Sarah Andersch saw my struggle. They pulled me aside and offered a lifeline: a job as custodian, assistant coach, and photographer—with classes comped. They didn't have to. People quit BJJ all the time. Estimates show:
70–90% of starters quit before blue belt.
~50% of blue belts drop before purple.
Just 1–3% reach black belt—meaning 97–99% exit the path entirely.
I didn't quit. On July 10, 2025, I earned my blue belt. Now I coach six kids' classes weekly, two adult classes, and train 4–6 more hours. Their grace changed me. I vowed to pass it forward.
How BJJ Rewires You
BJJ doesn't just teach technique—it forges resilience. Regular training boosts confidence, emotional regulation, and mood. Studies confirm most practitioners report less anxiety and greater mental flexibility. Constant "losing" on the mats trains calm under pressure, turning setbacks into data for work, relationships, and life.
No study needed for me: BJJ saved my mental health, my marriage, my life. It pulled a bitter, depressed, angry man from the vortex.
Fighting Chance Initiative: Paying the Gift Forward
That's why Fighting Chance Initiative exists—and why it's so deeply personal for me. We provide 6-month BJJ scholarships to underserved youth facing poverty or homelessness. If mats transformed me, imagine what they can do for kids trapped in cycles like the one I escaped.
Resilience starts on the mats. Sponsor a scholarship, volunteer, or share this story. Link in bio. Together, we keep the chance alive.
Tim Boyle, Blue Belt & FCI Founder
Fargo BJJ Academy Assistant Coach | IBJJF World Masters Competitor