New England Martial Arts Foundation
A non-profit charity for martial artists
New England Martial Arts Foundation A non-profit charity for martial artists
Dear Families of Martial Artists,
As students and families within our dojo community, you are the living examples of the values that martial arts represents — discipline, respect, perseverance, and commitment. Through your consistent training, support of one another, and willingness to show up day after day, you serve as a quiet but essential linchpin of the martial arts community, helping ensure that these traditions and values continue to thrive.
As students of martial arts, you understand that training is about more than learning technique. It is about discipline, character, perseverance, and being part of something that challenges and shapes us over time. The New England Martial Arts Foundation (NEMAF) was formed to help protect that journey when circumstances make it difficult for dedicated students and families to remain on the floor.
NEMAF exists to assist students, instructors, and families who demonstrate commitment and character but face financial or logistical challenges that threaten their ability to continue training. Through grants, training assistance, and community-based events, the Foundation works to ensure that students are not forced to step away from martial arts due to hardship. The goal is simple: to keep committed martial artists training, growing, and connected to their dojo and community.
In the heart of our community, martial arts is more than physical training — it is a transformative practice for all ages. It helps children build confidence and resilience, gives teens and adults a constructive path for self-improvement, and offers a lifelong framework for health, discipline, and stress management. Few activities empower both youth and adults at the same time, strengthening not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well. Martial arts remains a proven way for individuals and families to thrive together.
The Foundation also supports and hosts events designed to bring the martial arts community together. These include a regional tournament and an annual banquet, both intended not simply as events, but as opportunities to honor lineage, recognize contribution, and invest in the future of martial arts in New England. These gatherings help reinforce the sense of shared tradition and responsibility that connects us beyond any single dojo.
With respect,
Marcus Traynor
Director and Founder - New England Martial Arts Foundation
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At the core of New England Martial Arts Foundation are the individuals and families who live the values of martial arts every day. The Foundation exists to support students who demonstrate dedication, discipline, and character, but who may face financial or logistical barriers to continuing their training. This includes youth and adult students, instructors in need of assistance, and families for whom martial arts has become a vital source of structure, confidence, and personal growth.
Through grants, training assistance, and community events, we are actively supporting martial artists— helping students remain on the floor, attend events and seminars, and continue their development both inside and outside the dojo. These efforts are immediate and ongoing, directly impacting individuals who might otherwise be unable to continue their martial arts journey.
By supporting the Foundation, you are directly supporting these individuals. Your involvement helps ensure that committed martial artists are not lost due to circumstance, and that the values we work to instill — respect, perseverance, humility, and service — continue to be passed forward to future generations.
CLICK HERE to donate
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On Sunday, March 29th, the New England Martial Arts Foundation will host the NEMAF Invitational Tournament at the Expo Center at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Manchester Downtown.
This event marks the first in an annual series of tournaments focused on quality martial arts, appreciation of lineage, and the strength of a living martial arts community. While rooted in tradition, the tournament is welcoming and inclusive, inviting practitioners from Uechi and other styles to participate.
CLICK HERE for more information
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Our annual banquet will be hosted this year on September 12th in conjunction with the Annual Uechi Convention in Manchester, NH.
This banquet brings instructors, dojo owners and organization leaders from across the martial arts world. This event host families of recent master graduates and honors recently departed martial artists.
The annual banquet provides an opportunity to recognize contributions to martial arts education, leadership, and service, as well as to reflect on the traditions that connect us across styles and generations. By creating space away from the competition floor, we hope to strengthen relationships and encourage collaboration within the martial arts community.
CLICK HERE for more information
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The New England Martial Arts Foundation offers sponsorship opportunities designed to align with the values of martial arts leadership: integrity, respect, and long-term commitment to the community.
Sponsorships may support tournaments, educational seminars, commemorative initiatives, equipment needs, and outreach efforts. Our goal is to create partnerships that are meaningful rather than transactional, allowing sponsors to visibly support the growth and preservation of martial arts while remaining consistent with their own organizational values.
Details regarding sponsorship levels and specific opportunities are available upon request and on our website. We welcome collaborative ideas from organizations interested in supporting these efforts.
Sponsorship of the New England Martial Arts Foundation is an opportunity to directly support the people and principles that define our martial arts community. Sponsorships help fund grants, training assistance, educational seminars, commemorative initiatives, and outreach efforts that allow committed martial artists to continue their development.
Support may be directed toward specific initiatives such as tournaments, banquets, seminars, memorial projects, or general Foundation programming. The goal being to align support with the values of martial arts leadership: integrity, respect, service, and long-term commitment to the community.
By sponsoring the Foundation and its events, organizations and individuals play a direct role in preserving tradition while investing in the future of martial arts. We welcome collaboration and conversation around sponsorship opportunities that best reflect shared values and goals.
CLICK HERE for Tournament sponsorship levels
How Dojo Owners Utilize the Foundation
The New England Martial Arts Foundation is designed to work through dojo owners and instructors, not around them. Participation is straightforward and flexible, allowing each school to engage in ways that best serve its students and community.
Below is a clear outline of how dojo owners can take advantage of the Foundation’s resources and opportunities.
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Dojo owners begin by completing a short Dojo Application on the Foundation’s website. This establishes your school as a participating organization and allows NEMAF to work directly with you when supporting students or programs.
Registration confirms:
Your dojo’s leadership and instructional oversight
Alignment with the values of discipline, respect, and character development
Willingness to act as a recommending and supporting organization for students seeking assistance
Once registered, your dojo becomes eligible to participate in grant programs, event opportunities, and Foundation-supported initiatives.
CLICK HERE to register your School
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Dojo owners and instructors are best positioned to recognize when a committed student or family is facing hardship. This may include:
Financial difficulty that threatens continued training
Barriers to participating in tournaments, seminars, or special events
Temporary circumstances affecting attendance, equipment access, or travel
NEMAF support is intended for students who demonstrate dedication, discipline, and character, and whose continued training aligns with the values of martial arts education.
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When a need is identified, a Grant Application may be submitted by the student or the student’s family. Applications outline:
The nature of the hardship or need
The type of assistance being requested
The student’s training history, attendance, and commitment
A brief statement of character and goals related to martial arts training
All applications are handled with discretion and respect for the student, family, and dojo.
CLICK HERE for grant details.
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Grant applications are reviewed by the Foundation with an emphasis on fairness, integrity, and meaningful impact. Assistance may take the form of:
Tuition or training support
Event or seminar assistance
Equipment or participation-related aid
When a grant is approved, funds are distributed based on an invoice submitted by the participating dojo. This ensures that assistance is applied directly to training, events, or approved expenses, while maintaining clear records and accountability for all parties.
Support is coordinated directly with the dojo whenever appropriate, ensuring clarity and continuity for both instructor and student.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to read and for the role you play as part of this martial arts community.
Martial arts has become what it is today because of individuals and families who commit to training, uphold standards, and support one another through mutual respect and shared values. We are grateful for your continued dedication and look forward to building opportunities that honor the past while supporting the future of martial arts.
Sincerely and with much appreciation,
Marcus Traynor
Director and Founder – New England Martial Arts Foundation
Director – Uechiryu Butokukai (tm)
Director – Buzz Durkin’s Uechi Karate School