New England Martial Arts Foundation
Also known as the NEMAFoundation.
We are a non-profit charity for martial artists and those aspiring to be martial artists. Our mission is to give everyone the opportunity to have top-notch martial arts instruction. We aim to help those who need it most by gathering funds to assist with paying for tuition, gear, and equipment. Then, we can offer financial aid in the form of Grants to students who need help.
Grant application for Students
Requesting financial assistance is easy - these are the steps that must be followed:
The student applies for a grant through the NEMAF form
The Dojo (or Sensei / event host / vendor) provides an invoice addressed to the New England Martial Arts Foundation
NEMAF reviews the grant
If the grant is approved, NEMAF pays the Dojo directly (referencing both the invoice number and the student’s name)
NEMAF and the Dojo keeps a record of the invoice and payment on file with the student’s grant application (to provide clear evidence that the funds were used exactly for their intended, charitable purpose)
Application to become an approved Vendor for Senseis
Requesting financial assistance is easy - these are the steps that must be followed:
The student applies for a grant through the NEMAF form
The Dojo (or Sensei / event host / vendor) provides an invoice addressed to the New England Martial Arts Foundation
NEMAF reviews the grant
If the grant is approved, NEMAF pays the Dojo directly (referencing both the invoice number and the student’s name)
NEMAF and the Dojo keeps a record of the invoice and payment on file with the student’s grant application (to provide clear evidence that the funds were used exactly for their intended, charitable purpose)
History
of the New England Martial Arts Foundation
Of course, the start of any story begins at the very beginning.
I can’t talk about any of this without talking about Buzz Durkin. Without him, none of this would even exist.
Mr. Durkin, who started his own martial arts journey in 1966, laid the foundation for everything that followed. I personally began training under him in 1990, and his decades of dedication to the martial arts has been a guiding light for so many of us.
Along that journey, we met many others who would share our passion and become key figures. It was through a combination of ideas and passion from Mr. Durkin, Alan Kenney (began training in the early 1980’s), and myself that the idea of a non-profit charity took shape. Alan reached out to me about forming one, and with Becky Kenney’s help on the financial side, we finally brought it all to life in the summer of 2025.
Marcus Traynor
Founder of the NEMAFoundation
Director of the Uechiryu Butokukai
NEMAF Founder Marcus Traynor
Board Member Stephanie Rodenhiser
Board Member Bella Traynor
Board Member Jonathan Shepard
Board Member Sara Mersereau
Frequently Asked Questions
About the New England Martial Arts Foundation
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The New England Martial Arts Foundation is a non-profit charity founded by Marcus Traynor in 2025. It aims to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the benefits of martial arts, regardless of financial circumstances.
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The NEMA Foundation is run by martial artists, FOR martial artists. It helps students who aspire to become great martial artists who would otherwise struggle to pay for tuition, gear, or equipment.
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You must have a real need for financial aid. You must consistently attend classes to practice your martial arts. You must follow respectful ethics inside and outside the dojo.
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Please review your qualifications for financial aid, then get in touch with us by filling out THIS FORM. You may apply at any time! Once the form has been submitted, it will be reviewed. If you are granted financial aid from the NEMA Foundation, we will get in touch with you!
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There are so many ways to help! The easiest is a monetary donation (either single-time or repeated monthly), but there are opportunities to help by volunteering your time, knowledge, or supplies to the charity. Please get in touch with us HERE if you would like to know more.