As boys look for answers online, Jason Wilson Helps young men fight back against toxic … 2025
Soft-spoken yet deeply impactful, Jason Wilson has dedicated more than 20 years to mentoring young people and strengthening families.
As the director of The Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy in Detroit, Wilson uses a martial-arts-based program to teach boys life-changing skills — including patience, honesty, self-control, and respect.
Wilson has become a respected voice both offline and online.
His impact keeps expanding, with more than 1.7 million followers online and a Detroit training academy so popular that classes are fully booked months ahead. Yet, he resists being labeled an “influencer.”
Instead, he positions himself as a teacher and mentor who offers a positive alternative to the toxic messages often amplified within the digital “manosphere.”
In an in-depth interview at his Detroit gym,
Wilson shared his perspective on the challenges facing young men in America today. Below are some of his most powerful insights.
1. The Crisis Facing Young Men in America
When asked about the so-called “crisis of masculinity,” Wilson explained that the problem has existed for generations, though it is now more visible:
“We’ve always been in trouble. The impact is clearer today — men face nearly four times the suicide risk of women and account for about 90% of violent offenses. of violent crimes. Boys today struggle with fear of failure, anxiety, and apathy more than ever before.”
Wilson noted that previous generations often suppressed emotions due to stigma, but today’s data highlights the dangers of that silence. The challenge now, he said, is helping young men break free from this mindset and find healthier ways to cope.
2. How Social Media Fuels the Problem
Wilson also addressed how social media contributes to mental health struggles among young men:
Nobody shows the failures or the work behind the scenes. Young people compare their real lives to these illusions, and the result is depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy.”
He emphasized that without emotionally open role models, especially fathers, boys are left to interpret these online distortions on their own. Too often, this leads to destructive self-beliefs and negative behaviors.
Why Jason Wilson’s Approach Stands Out
Unlike many online voices that exploit insecurities, Wilson promotes strength through compassion, discipline, and emotional intelligence. His Detroit-based academy serves as a beacon of hope, guiding boys not only to master martial arts but also to master themselves.
Through building resilience and emotional intelligence,
Jason Wilson provides a transformative path for young men — guiding them to move beyond silence, fear, and anger, and toward a life of purpose, confidence, and integrity.
Jason Wilson frequently teaches his students that embracing a false sense of manhood brings neither peace nor true fulfillment. For him, the key to reshaping masculinity lies in healing.
At The Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy in Detroit, where he serves as director, Wilson teaches young men to move beyond generational pain, using martial arts as a foundation for emotional and spiritual discipline.
3 | On the “Manosphere” and Toxic Influencers
When asked about the rising wave of online influencers within the so-called “manosphere” who preach anger and division, Wilson remained unfazed:
“I’m not worried about that at all.
I run in my own lane. Negative voices have always existed — my father was one. But I stay focused on my mission.”
Wilson believes many of these influencers are men carrying unresolved childhood trauma — wounds from emotional neglect, bullying, or abuse. Their aggressive messaging, he argues, stems from anger rather than wisdom.
Many adult men still carry the wounds of the broken boys they once were. What you’re often seeing isn’t a 40- or 50-year-old man, but an eight-year-old boy crying out to be heard.”
He views their behavior as a form of arrested development, a mental condition rooted in pain, not strength. Rather than fighting them, Wilson focuses on building a healthier model of manhood that speaks louder than toxic voices online.Jason Wilson
4 | On Anger and Emotional Discipline
While many online figures exploit young men’s anger for clicks and influence, Wilson takes a very different approach.
“Anger has sparked some of the greatest movements in history. However, there is a delicate balance between righteous indignation and harmful anger that stems from unresolved trauma.
Wilson teaches his students that anger is not inherently negative — it can be a powerful tool if properly channeled. He encourages boys to dig deeper, asking questions like:Jason Wilson
What caused you to feel disrespected?
What lies beneath your anger?
How else are you feeling?
By helping them unpack the root emotions, Wilson ensures they don’t unleash uncontrolled rage on loved ones. Instead, he emphasizes discipline before defense:
“You can’t defend what hasn’t been disciplined. Every skilled fighter will tell you the first battle is mastering your own emotions.”
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5 | On Young Men, Relationships, and Respect
Over more than two decades of mentoring, Wilson has seen boys’ perspectives on relationships with women evolve. While the digital age introduces both opportunities and challenges, his approach stays rooted in respect, emotional maturity, and responsibility.Jason Wilson
At The Cave of Adullam, students learn that healthy relationships require emotional intelligence — the ability to communicate, listen, and value others without falling into patterns of domination or fear.
Reflecting on more than two decades of mentoring, Jason Wilson has seen a noticeable shift in how boys approach relationships.Jason Wilson
“When I first started,
I would hear more about ‘my girlfriend’ and things like that,” Wilson explained. “Now, I don’t hear it as often. Boys today seem more insecure than before, largely because they’re constantly comparing themselves to what they see on social media.”
Wilson believes one of the most powerful indicators of how young men will treat women lies in how they treat their mothers.Jason Wilson
This is where I guide them to understand the true value of respect.
Think about it — in what way would you want others to treat your mother. If she’s a single mom, or even married, would you want her spoken to the way some rappers, pop stars, or online influencers talk about women?”
Almost always, the boys respond with a firm “No.” Wilson uses that moment to challenge them:
“If you wouldn’t want your mother treated that way, then why would you speak to your classmates or peers like that?”
Through this method, Wilson connects respect for women to something deeply personal — their mothers — helping boys internalize the lesson beyond abstract rules.
