A 501(c)(3) Organization offering
100% free martial arts training for U.S. Military Veterans, Reservists and Active Duty Personnel located in the Portsmouth, NH Seacoast Area. We offer approximately 100 classes each year to veterans at our dojo. Our mission is assisting with the challenges of daily life through the physical, mental, and spiritual balance of the Martial Arts.

When a warrior comes home from battle, it can be overwhelmingly difficult to transition back to civilian life. The camaraderie, brotherhood/sisterhood, discipline, and balance required in martial arts training often parallel the experiences of military service. These can be critical tools for veterans as they seek to reconcile their service-related experiences, acclimate to their former civilian life, or simply cope with daily stresses. Below is a note from a Veteran student that explains how V-MAT has changed their life since serving our country:

“While I was in the Army, I suffered a pretty bad injury which resulted in me becoming permanently and medically disabled. For a while I did not know what to do with my life. I was unable to do a lot of things that I previously loved doing, I became depressed and distant from a lot of people. One day I went online to search for anything that could help, that's when I came across V-MAT. Ever since practicing martial arts my life has done a complete 360. I am a lot happier and more social like I used to be and having that feeling of belonging to something like when I was in the military has been life changing.”

The core of what we teach was brought back from Okinawa in the 1950’s by members of the United States Marine Corps. The V-MAT lineage is directly connected to the U.S. Military. We offer our teaching to Veterans – including Veterans with physical disabilities, as well as those challenged with ADD, PTS and TBI.