Jocko Podcast 414: Bear Defeat With Courage and Tenacity, in the End You Will Win. With Tom DeBlass

Tom DeBlass, a respected Jiu-Jitsu black belt, MMA fighter, and coach, reflects on his life's challenges and triumphs, both in and out of the combat sports arena. He shares candid stories from his youth, where he faced bullying and abuse, to his professional fighting career and his commitment to helping others through his charity, Buddies Over Bullies. DeBlass's journey is marked by resilience, as he overcame adversity, including a tumultuous relationship with his father, to become a beacon of inspiration for many. His dedication to Jiu-Jitsu not only brought him personal success but also became a tool to empower and transform the lives of others, particularly children who have experienced bullying. Now, as he leads a growing network of affiliated Jiu-Jitsu schools and continues to advocate for the sport and its life-changing benefits, DeBlass's story is one of triumph over hardship, the importance of discipline, and the profound impact of martial arts on personal development.

• "That right there is from a book called 'How You Bear It: Triumph and Resilience in Life.'"
  • This quote indicates that the book focuses on the themes of triumph and the resilience required to overcome life's challenges.

• "Tom is a Jiu-Jitsu competitor, a gi and no-gi champion. He's also an MMA fighter with fights in Ring of Combat, Bellator, and the UFC."
  • Tom DeBlass' experience as a martial artist is likely to influence the content of his book, possibly using martial arts as a metaphor for life's struggles and victories.

• "He also runs a charity which is called Buddies Over Bullies... and Tom has had a hard journey himself through life, including bullying and abuse."
  • The book may cover personal stories and strategies for overcoming bullying and abuse, reflecting Tom's own experiences and his work with his charity.

• "He's a Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling coach... he's a teacher with over 50 affiliated Jiu-Jitsu schools on five different continents."
  • The book likely discusses themes of leadership and coaching, drawing on Tom's extensive experience as a martial arts instructor and mentor.

• "What your students shouldn't do through your past failures... the things that would break my heart in the past were actually a blessing."
  • Tom DeBlass emphasizes learning from failures and mistakes, suggesting that these themes are explored in his book as valuable life lessons.

• "Success is fleeting if you look at success as victories because there's no such thing as victories that last forever... but what makes you happy. That's what you're chasing."
  • The book delves into the concept of success, suggesting that true happiness and fulfillment extend beyond traditional notions of victory and success.

• "Jiu-Jitsu is so hard to use in a five-minute match when you're slippery... these guys are good now. I'm so conditioned."
  • Tom DeBlass reflects on the physical and mental challenges of practicing Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, which may be topics covered in the book, highlighting the rigorous demands of combat sports.

• "You fought with such heart and such honor and you respected me... I want you to have this."
  • The book may include themes of honor and respect within the context of martial arts and competition, as illustrated by a poignant encounter with a fellow martial artist.

• "It touched me so much... I still keep in touch with his daughter."
  • The importance of community support and lasting relationships formed through shared experiences in martial arts could be a key topic in the book, as suggested by Tom's recounting of meaningful interactions.

• "Tom has had a hard journey himself through life, including bullying and abuse."

  • This quote indicates that Tom DeBlass experienced bullying and abuse, which were significant challenges in his life.

• "Once you've seen a person shrunk, drunken into the fetal position, that's all you'll ever see when you look at them."

  • This quote reflects the profound and lasting impact of abuse on an individual's perception of themselves and others.

• "A paradigm shift occurred for everyone in that sand pit; don't mess with Tom anymore."

  • This quote signifies a moment of transformation for Tom DeBlass, where he overcame his victimhood through martial arts, changing how others perceived him.

• "I started as a young man, as a young boy, I would do Taekwondo... I just kept getting in trouble... so I found a school across the street named Tong Dragon."

  • This quote describes Tom DeBlass's early engagement with martial arts and his eventual transition to a school that suited his needs, which played a crucial role in his martial arts journey.

• "He's a teacher with over 50 Affiliated Jiu-Jitsu schools on five different continents."

  • This quote demonstrates Tom DeBlass's extensive influence as a martial arts educator, spreading his teachings globally.

• "He also runs a charity which is called buddies over bullies which... works with communities and individuals to stop bullying and abuse."

  • This quote highlights Tom DeBlass's commitment to combating bullying and abuse, influenced by his personal experiences, through his charity work.

• "You're going to do that over and over again... help them overcome what they're facing, getting bullied, getting abused."

  • This quote emphasizes Tom DeBlass's ongoing efforts to help others overcome challenges similar to those he faced, such as bullying and abuse.

• "Kids in my area who are bullied who can't quite afford Jiu-Jitsu, I give them free training. I sponsor them."

  • This quote shows Tom DeBlass's direct action to support individuals affected by bullying by providing them with access to martial arts training, reflecting his dedication to using his experiences to benefit others.

• "He also runs a charity which is called buddies over bullies which is very fitting and that works with communities and individuals to stop bullying and abuse."

  • Tom DeBlass founded and runs a charity named Buddies Over Bullies, which aims to address bullying and abuse by working with communities and individuals.

• "Buddies over bullies.. org how did that get started did that get started when somebody sent you like a bullying uh social media thing this girl was getting viciously attacked on the bus by some older boys and I was like man like this is just horrendous."

  • The inspiration for Buddies Over Bullies stemmed from an incident where a girl was being bullied, which Tom DeBlass witnessed on social media, prompting him to take action against such behavior.

• "So I said if someone find me this girl and they found me her parents or her mom. so I was able to talk to her mom when I got this girl training in a local martial arts school."

  • Tom DeBlass took direct action in response to the bullying incident by getting in touch with the victim's family and facilitating her training at a local martial arts school, demonstrating his commitment to using martial arts as a tool for personal growth and combating bullying.

• "The 503 is just about to be up and running and set it happen all so fast everything happened so in the beginning it's just like all right kids in my area who are bullied who can't quite afford Jiu-Jitsu I give them free training I sponsor them training uh kids around the country or the world."

  • Buddies Over Bullies is described as a charity in the process of formal establishment, with Tom DeBlass offering free Jiu-Jitsu training to local children who are victims of bullying and cannot afford martial arts classes, indicating a broader ambition to support children internationally.

• "You're going to do that over and over again I know there's many more on the list already so thanks for what you're doing to help kids of all ages... help them overcome what they're facing getting bullied getting abused you're making a difference."
  • Tom DeBlass is acknowledged for his ongoing commitment to helping children and individuals of all ages through his initiatives, with the implication that martial arts is a key component in overcoming challenges such as bullying and abuse.

• "Tom is a Jiu-Jitsu competitor, he's a gi and no-gi Champion. He's also an MMA fighter with fights in Ring of Combat, Bellator, and the UFC. He's also a Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling coach."

  • Tom DeBlass has a significant background in martial arts both as a competitor and as a coach, with achievements in various championships and participation in major fighting organizations, which underpins his authority and experience in promoting personal growth through martial arts.

• "He's a teacher with over 50 Affiliated Jiu-Jitsu schools on five different continents."

  • His involvement in martial arts is extensive, with DeBlass teaching and having affiliations with over 50 Jiu-Jitsu schools worldwide, indicating a broad influence and potential for promoting his anti-bullying and personal growth initiatives on a global scale.