Red Mountain Colorado (RMC), a residential treatment center for boys 13-17, has partnered with internationally-renowned Jiu-Jitsu academy, The Farm Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy to offer Jiu-Jitsu to students enrolled in Red Mountain Colorado programming. Jiu-Jitsu is a nonviolent martial art that can foster healthy vulnerability, trust, self-confidence, and discipline in those practicing the art. 

The practice of Jiu-Jitsu has been transformational for students at Red Mountain Colorado. Students report improved fitness, confidence, and mental health. Jiu-Jitsu ties directly into the meditation work that is the core of Red Mountain’s programming. It mirrors meditation by working on the ability to control your breath, not overreact, and to be mindful of your body and presence. 

“Jiu-Jitsu is a therapeutic outlet with many known similarities to meditation, including posture, breath control, and mindfulness. Students have enjoyed going to practice since we started offering this last year. Some have even taken this up as a hobby after graduating from Red Mountain”, according to RMC Clinical Director, Bennett Edgerly, Ph.D, LPC who has participated in Jiu-Jitsu himself for over ten years.

Participating in Jiu-Jitsu also gets students out in the community. Students are joined by local adults in the class who provide the students with positive interactions and encouragement. Red Mountain Colorado is a community-based program and encourages students to get involved in their community as part of recovery from their difficulties. 

Red Mountain Colorado, located just north of Denver, provides an ideal location for adolescents who would benefit from a mindfulness-based residential treatment program. Red Mountain helps teens with co-occurring disorders heal by working with the mind, body, and spirit using various forms of meditation, mindfulness, yoga, martial arts, life skills education, and evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Brainspotting.