Shärath Jason Wilson
Shalom! My name is Jason Wilson.
I’m the director of The Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy (CATTA). I founded The CATTA, or “the Cave,” in 2008 after realizing that boys were in dire need of Emotional Stability Training®. When I first started the CATTA, there were many “Scared Straight” programs in Michigan, and I had even participated in a couple. However, I quickly discovered that inflicting trauma will never help a boy release it but instead teach him to suppress it. Nowadays, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Scared Straight or Bootcamp program because discipline without love is ineffectual. Our boys need to be healed, not scared straight.
Background & Experience
I have been mentoring boys and training in martial arts for over 25 years — my martial arts experience includes Aikibujutsu, Jiujitsu, Judo, Kempo, and Boxing. Although I’ve seen the benefits of martial arts discipline, I’ve always been confounded about how a martial artist can make it to the level of a black belt in a dojo or gym, but remain a white belt in life. I see why it’s written that, “Training the physical body is of some value, but training for godliness is of value in every way, benefitting in this life and the life to come (1 Tim 4:8).” I’m not a martial artist, but a man with a martial heart. I am not committed to developing martial artists, I sacrifice my life to save the lives of boys.
Philosophy & Needs Assessment
Teaching boys how to fight is one thing, but training them up to walk the path of righteousness is another. In 2012, there were over 411 homicides in Detroit Michigan, and over 73% were young black men. King Solomon penned, “Do not be overly foolish, why die before your time.” So, my combat thesis is to love always, and fight if you must. In my community, reality has no rules — there isn’t an MMA cage on each corner. However, there is an overabundance of emotionally unstable young men with guns, unlawful police officers, and “Zimmerman’s” patrolling communities nationwide. It’s imperative that I teach boys and young men how to fight before the fight, because bullets don’t tap out!
A Purposeful & Passionate Mission
The CATTA was birthed through my unrelenting passion for redirecting the lives of youth through the faith-based nonprofit organization called The Yunion (pronounced union), which I founded in 2003. The Yunion has reached more than 15,000 youth and young adults in Metro-Detroit through culturally relevant and innovative programming, workshops, seminars, and training.
Awards & Acknowledgements
View the latest Awards & Acknowledgements for Mr. Jason Wilson on his personal website here.