Inland Empire · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · EIN 86-3618162

The Mat Is Where Healing Begins.

We use the traditional art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to fight depression, sponsor at-risk youth, and build a healing community across the nation.

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501(c)(3)
Tax-Exempt Status
2021
Founded
Inland Empire
Growing Nationwide

Our Mission

The Art of Jiu-Jitsu
as a Path to Healing

Tap Out Depression Inc. is dedicated to preserving and sharing the traditional physical art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a catalyst for mental wellness, community healing, and cultural connection — not just in one city, but across the nation.

Rooted in a lineage that spans Japanese martial tradition and Brazilian cultural evolution, Jiu-Jitsu is more than a sport — it is a living art form that teaches discipline, resilience, and the power of community. On the mats, depression does not define you. Your next move does.

Through accessible arts programming, youth sponsorships, adult wellness classes, and community outreach to our unhoused neighbors, we are building a nationwide movement — one mat, one community, one life at a time.

We are not just a team. We are one big family — and no one fights alone.
Carlos Miller, Founder of Tap Out Depression
Carlos Miller
Founder, Tap Out Depression Inc.

Our Impact

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Youth Sponsored
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Outreach Events
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Volunteer-Run
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Community Funded

Our Programs

Programs That Transform Lives

From youth sponsorships to community outreach, every program we run is rooted in the belief that the art of Jiu-Jitsu can heal what words cannot.

Youth training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through a sponsorship program
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Preventative Arts Education

Youth Arts & Athletics Sponsorships

All Ages Welcome

We provide scholarships and sponsorships for children and youth of all ages — from toddlers to teenagers — to train in the traditional art of Jiu-Jitsu. This program offers a creative physical outlet, mentorship, and a safe community space that prevents mental health crises before they start. Every sponsored student receives full gear, training fees, and a dedicated mentor who shows up for them on and off the mat.

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Adults practicing Jiu-Jitsu as a form of wellness and stress relief
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Mental Health Through Movement

Adult Wellness & Expression Classes

All Adults Welcome

Our adult programs use the traditional practice of Jiu-Jitsu to help individuals manage depression, anxiety, and grief. The discipline and physical artistry required on the mats provide a grounding mechanism and healthy release. No experience necessary — the mats welcome everyone.

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Community outreach volunteer connecting with an unhoused neighbor in Riverside
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Extending the Mat to the Streets

Community Outreach & Homeless Support

Homeless Outreach

Extending our philosophy of 'one big family' beyond the gym, we actively engage in community outreach — providing resources, wellness support, and connection to our unhoused neighbors across the nation. From Riverside to every city where people are fighting alone, we show up in a gi and with an open heart. Healing is a human right, not a privilege.

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A warm community of teammates supporting one another on the mat
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When We Lose a Teammate

Grief Support & Team Recovery

Peer Support

Born from personal loss, our grief support program creates a safe space for individuals coping with the loss of a teammate, friend, or loved one. The grappling community understands that loss is part of the journey — and no one should face it alone.

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The Philosophy

Why Jiu-Jitsu Heals

Discipline as Medicine

The structured practice of Jiu-Jitsu builds mental fortitude. Every session is a lesson in persistence, focus, and self-belief.

Community as Family

The mat creates bonds that transcend background, age, and circumstance. We are one team, one family — no one trains alone.

Cultural Roots

Jiu-Jitsu is a living cultural tradition with roots in Japanese martial arts and Brazilian heritage — a practice of resilience across generations.

Prevention First

We believe in reaching people before crisis. Our youth sponsorships and outreach programs are investments in futures not yet lost.

Voices From the Mat

Stories of Impact

Every donation, every sponsorship, every hour on the mat represents a life reclaimed from depression. These are the stories that drive us.

My son was heading down a bad path. The sponsorship program changed everything. He has discipline now, confidence, a family on the mats. I cry every time I watch him compete.

Parent of Sponsored Youth

I've struggled with depression my whole life. The mat is the only place where my mind goes quiet. This organization made it accessible when I couldn't afford it. They literally saved my life.

Adult Member, Riverside

We are not just a team. We are one big family — and no one fights alone.

Carlos Miller, Founder

A message from Carlos

Born From Loss.
Built on Love.

Carlos Miller, Founder and Chairman
Carlos Miller
Founder & Chairman · 4th Degree Black Belt

He lost his father to suicide when he was twenty-two years old. He carried that grief quietly for years — the way so many people do — until 2021, when a close friend and training partner was taken by depression. Then in 2022, another. Two brothers from the mat, two families left behind with the same haunting question Carlos had been asking his whole life: how did we miss this?

I know what it feels like to be in that dark place. I also know what it feels like to have someone show up for you. That's all this is — showing up. Carlos Miller, Founder
Zaide Oropeza, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Zaide Oropeza
Co-Founder & Executive Director · Principal Officer
We didn't build this organization because we had all the answers. We built it because we refused to stay silent. Every person who walks through our doors deserves to know — you are not a burden. You are the reason we show up. Zaide Oropeza, Co-Founder & Executive Director

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Thank you for joining the Tap Out Depression community. We'll be in touch soon.
Having trouble? Email us directly at tapoutdepression@gmail.com

Reach Out

We're Here for You.

Whether you're looking to get involved, sponsor a youth, partner with us, or simply need someone to talk to — reach out. No one fights alone.

Follow Our Journey

We usually reply within a few days. For immediate crisis support, call or text 988.

Having trouble? Email us directly at tapoutdepression@gmail.com
Thank you for reaching out. We'll be in touch soon — you are not alone.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Tap Out Depression is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 86-3618162) that uses Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to raise mental health awareness, fight depression, support suicide prevention education, and serve communities through homeless outreach programs.
No. Tap Out Depression is a community awareness and outreach organization — not a therapy provider, counseling center, or crisis intervention service. We encourage everyone to seek professional mental health support when needed. For immediate crisis support, call or text 988.
You can donate, volunteer, become a sponsor, or host a BJJ charity event. Visit our Donate, Volunteer, or Invest in the Mission pages to learn more.
BJJ academies can partner with Tap Out Depression by hosting a charity tournament, awareness seminar, or fundraiser. Contact us to discuss partnership options.
Yes. Tap Out Depression's homeless outreach program provides care kits, meal bags, and community support to people experiencing homelessness, approaching every interaction with dignity and a trauma-informed lens.
988 is the U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach trained counselors 24/7, free of charge.