A real skill
Legitimate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction from a coach who can actually teach. You will learn something every time. Slowly. Humbly.
// VETERANS MAT COLLECTIVE · CLT-704 · EST. 2026
Two Army Vets.
One Simple Idea.
Free monthly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for veterans in Charlotte. No webinars. No pamphlets. Just a mat, a time, and an open door for anyone who served.
- When2nd Friday
- Time0645
- WhereCJJA
- CostFree
// Origin Story
Built from the mat up.
Getting out comes with a lot of unsolicited advice. Have you tried yoga? There is always a webinar. Someone always has a pamphlet. Hard pass.
Two Army combat veterans in Charlotte had a different idea. Not a program. Not a nonprofit with a glossy brochure. Just a mat, a time, and an open door for anyone who served.
Between them they brought something the webinar crowd does not. One comes from a background in Army Combatives, MMA, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The kind of grappling experience that does not just make you harder to deal with, it makes you a legitimate teacher. The other spent years as a VSO, navigating the VA for veterans who could not do it alone, and still does. Quietly helping vets get the benefits they earned and rarely know how to claim.
Between the two of them, they have got the mat and the map.
Most of us are not looking for a program. We are looking for people. The kind who show up on time, do not complain about being uncomfortable, and text you when you go quiet for too long. That is what this is.
The Veterans Mat Collective is free monthly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Charlotte, built for veterans who want a real skill, a real network, and real people looking out for them. The Jiu-Jitsu is the reason to show up. The tribe is the reason to stay.
// What you are actually showing up for
The mat is the excuse. The tribe is the point.
An informal network
Jobs, referrals, connections. Veterans in Charlotte who actually know each other and look out for each other. Zero slide decks.
Benefits support
A former VSO in the room who has spent years helping veterans claim what they earned. Stuck on a claim or an appeal? He is the guy who knows the way out.
A tribe that holds
People who look out for each other. On and off the mat. The kind who text you when you go quiet for too long.
// The co-founders
Two combat vets. Different lanes. Same mission.
// Co-Founder · Lead Coach
Will Coggin
U.S. Army combat veteran. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt. Army Combatives trained. Undefeated amateur MMA welterweight (3-0).
Brings the technical foundation. Runs structured, legitimate sessions. You will learn something every time. Currently coaches at Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
// Co-Founder · VSO
Army Combat Veteran · Former VSO
Years navigating the VA on behalf of veterans. Claims, appeals, the works. Still does it.
Brings the map. If you are stuck in the system, he is the guy who knows the way out. Off the mat, of course.
Full bio coming soon.
// Logistics
Show up. That is it.
When
Second Friday of every month.
0645 to 0815.
Where
Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy
2508 N Davidson St
Charlotte NC 28205
What to bring
Athletic clothes. Water. A mouthguard if you have one.
No gi or special gear required.
Cost
Free. Always.
Common questions.
Do I have to be a veteran to attend?
Yes. The Veterans Mat Collective is built for veterans of any service branch, any era. If you served, you belong on the mat.
I have zero Jiu-Jitsu experience. Is that a problem?
No. Most people who walk in for the first time have never trained. You will get tapped in the first five minutes. Everyone does. You will be fine, and you will know exactly why before you leave.
What do I wear and what do I bring?
Athletic clothes you can move in. No gi or special gear required on day one. Bring water and a mouthguard if you have one. We have loaner mouthguards if you do not.
How much does it cost?
Free. Always. No first-class fee, no membership upsell, no catch.
When and where does it meet?
Second Friday of every month, 0645, at Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy, 2508 N Davidson St, Charlotte NC 28205.
Can I bring a friend who also served?
Yes. Bring them. The point of the Collective is the network. The more vets in the room, the better.
Is there really a VSO in the room?
Yes. One of the co-founders spent years as a Veterans Service Officer helping veterans navigate the VA. If you are stuck on a claim, an appeal, or trying to figure out what you are entitled to, he is the person to talk to. Off the mat, of course.
How do I reserve a spot?
Use the Reserve button on this page. You will sign the standard CJJA waiver. That is it.
// Stronger together.
Show up. Tap out. Come back.
No experience needed. No gear day one. You will get submitted in the first five minutes. Everyone does. You will be fine, and you will know exactly why before you leave.
Reserve Your SpotQuestions? vmc@cltbjj.com
Or follow on Instagram: @veteransmatcollective