Team Nitro MMA named July PositivelyJAX winner for helping young people build discipline, confidence and leadership

Inside Team Nitro MMA, students are learning how to kick, punch and defend themselves, but the program’s founder says the most important lessons have nothing to do with fighting.Team Nitro MMA’s S.E.A.L. Team has been named the July Positively JAX winner for its work helping young people develop discipline, confidence, character and leadership skills.Dr. Nashon Nicks founded Team Nitro MMA nearly 10 years ago. Its S.E.A.L. Team model focuses on students’ social, emotional, academic and leadership development.“Our mission is to reach youth who will otherwise live a life of destruction, counterproductive behaviors, maybe even death or poverty,” Nicks said. “And our goal is to counter that through mentoring and the martial arts.”The program combines martial arts training with reading, math, art, mentoring and other educational activities. Nicks said the goal is to make sure the lessons students learn inside the gym follow them home, into the classroom and throughout their communities.“Tha