Jack came to one of our most recent MOB Alumni catch-ups to reconnect. It had been years since he’d been part of MOB, but the impact of those early days still shaped him. As we sat down and caught up, it was clear that the lessons he learned at MOB had stuck with him, helping him navigate the twists and turns of life. “Coming here, it just reminded me of how much this program changed me,” Jack said. Hearing his story reminded us why this work matters and why we continue to invest in the future of young men like him.
Finding Direction at MOB
In 2013, Jack joined MOB Academy for one day a week. He was a teenager searching for direction, unsure of where he fit in or what path to take.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted back then. I was just floating,” he admitted. What he found at MOB was more than just fitness and training, it was a place where he learned how to carry himself with confidence, communicate effectively, and think critically about his future. It wasn’t about forcing him into a mold but about giving him the tools to shape his own life. “MOB made me think about who I wanted to be, not just what I wanted to do,” he said.
Learning the Basics of Manhood
Jack grew up with a strong mum who did everything she could to provide for him, but as he puts it, “You need that male figure to say, ‘Hey, don’t do that,’ or ‘Have you thought about it like this?’” He didn’t need someone to dictate his life, but he did need guidance – someone to teach him the unspoken rules of manhood. At MOB, he learned things that seem small but make a world of difference:
- How to shake hands firmly and look someone in the eye
- How to speak with confidence and authority, rather than uncertainty
- How to think through problems instead of just reacting in the moment
“I remember the first time I had to shake hands properly. It felt weird at first, but now it’s second nature. It makes a difference when people take you seriously,” Jack said. These lessons gave him a foundation he might have learned from a father figure, but instead, he found them in a community that genuinely cared about his growth.
What a MOB Session Looked Like
Each session began with physical training – push-ups, hitting the bag, footy drills, all designed to push limits and build discipline.. Once the training ended, the boys would sit down, pull out their books, and dive into the real challenges of life. They tackled the tough questions that many young men struggle to answer:
- How do you talk about emotions in a way that makes sense?
- Why do certain situations make you angry or frustrated, and how do you handle them?
- How can you respond to setbacks and conflict instead of just lashing out?
“I remember one session where we talked about anger. I used to just explode when I got frustrated. MOB made me stop and think, why am I reacting like this? That changed everything for me,” Jack recalled. These conversations weren’t just lessons, they were life changing. Jack and his peers learned that real strength isn’t just about muscles or aggression but about knowing yourself, controlling your emotions, and making better decisions.
The Impact Years Later
Jack admits that life wasn’t always smooth after his time at MOB. He had rough patches – moments where he struggled, couch surfed and fell out with family.
“There were times I felt lost again, like I was back to square one. But something from MOB always stuck with me. The discipline, the lessons – it didn’t leave me,” he said.
Eventually, he found his way back to something that reignited that spark – martial arts.
Now, nine years later, Jack isn’t just practicing martial arts, he’s teaching it at Arakan Martial Arts. As a martial arts instructor, he helps young men like himself find confidence, discipline, and control. “I never thought I’d be in a position to teach. But now, I see myself in the young guys who come in, uncertain, frustrated, looking for direction. And I get to be the one to help them find it,” he said. He’s not just working a job; he’s doing something that “fills his cup,” something that gives him purpose and fulfillment. He knows that it all started with those days at MOB, where he learned that strength isn’t just about how hard you can hit, but about how well you can stand your ground in life.
“If You’re Thinking About MOB…”
Jack puts it simply:
“If you know a kid who doesn’t quite fit, who’s a square shape trying to fit into a round hole, this is the program for them.”
MOB isn’t just for boys heading down the wrong path; it’s for anyone looking for more substance in their life, for a place where they can learn, grow, and become the best version of themselves. “At the end of the day, you’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a shot. It might just change your life like it changed mine,” Jack said.
Jack is living proof that if you give it a shot, MOB can change your life in ways you never expected.
