Tom DeBlass and students
Tom DeBlass talks love for art of BJJ, giving back, Fight to Win 30 – “Logan’s Fight”
Tom DeBlass talks love for art of BJJ, giving back, Fight to Win 30 – “Logan’s Fight”
Retired mixed martial artist turned full-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, Tom DeBlass will headline ‘Fight To Win’ 30, Saturday, April 8, against former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez.
DeBlass, a former competitor in the UFC and Bellator MMA is the owner of Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in New Jersey.
One of the BJJ black belt’s young students, Logan, is going through the toughest battle he will ever face. That’s when DeBlass sprung into action and decided to make the ‘Fight to Win’ tournament a fundraiser to help out the young man and his family.
“FTW is one one of the few submission only events in the country. It is actually the biggest submission only event in the United States,” DeBlass said.
“Logan is my student, just diagnosed with Leukemia. I started a Go-Fund Me for him and I wanted this event to bring awareness to Logan and his fight. He’s a 17 year old boy. He’s a great young man and he has cancer and it’s not going to be an easy road for him, but hopefully we can raise more money and help make things as easy as possible in this difficult situation.”
DONATE TO LOGAN’S FIGHT HERE
BJJ Is For Everyone
“I would tell the parent that Jiu-Jitsu truly is for everyone. It really,really helps shy and timid children come out of their shell. It’s one of the best sports and activities and martial arts we can get your child involved in and it’s very realistic. It helps them in every aspect of their life, in coordination, to confidence, to real life self defense. I would always recommend Jiu-Jitsu.”
That was Professor DeBlass’s response when I asked him what he would tell an exasperated parent whose child who has been bullied and was interested in his Jiu-Jitsu program at his Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy. You can just sense the love that Tom has for his craft. He has reached world renowned status as both a competitor and a instructor of the art of BJJ. The former UFC fighter has traveled across the globe to practice the art he holds dear to his heart.
You’ve reached world renowned status as a competitor and teacher. Who would you say has helped to mentor you not just in the cage or on the mat but in real life? Who is it that you look up to?
“I truly of course looked up to my own instructor. I learned a lot from Ricardo (Almeida). I’m a big Jesus fan. My mother has helped me with so much. I just truly do my best to help people in every aspect of their lives, as much as I can, cause I’ve been through so much in my life, and I’ve overcome it. I want people to be able to do the same, and I think God gave me the platform to really express my feelings and I try to do it in the most positive way possible. It’s not always easy but I really, truly, give my best.”
My Personal Story
From a personal standpoint I can vouch for this. My wife, Marlene is a three time cancer survivor and Tom has numerous times told her how inspirational that she is. You wouldn’t believe the joy in her eyes when Tom shared one of her posts on Facebook and told all of his 36,000+ followers how brave and strong this woman is. Little things like that mean so much . He is always willing to give. It’s a beautiful thing that goes a long way because he does this out of sincerity, not to promote himself or his business.
Fight to Win 30 is taking place on April 8th (6:30pm-10:45pm) at Central regional High School – 509 Forest Hills Pkwy, Bayville, NJ 08721
Tickets are available at www.cagetix.com
The card is stacked with tremendous matchups:
MAIN EVENT
Heavy Weight Black Belt NOGI
Tom Deblass vs Ricco Rodriguez
CO MAIN EVENT
Light Heavy Weight NOGI Title
Gordon Ryan (Renzo Gracie) vs Lucas Barbosa (Atos)
Light Weight Black Belt Gi Title
Gianni Grippo (Alliance) vs Osvaldo Queixinho Moizinho (Ares BJJ)
200lbs Black Belt Gi
Kurt Pellegrino (Pellegrino MMA) vs Steve Mathis (Triton Fight Center)
170lbs Black Belt Gi
Chris Ulbricht (Garden State BJJ) vs Steve Austin (Sion BJJ)
240lbs Black Belt NOGI
Miguel Benitez (Ocean County BJJ) vs Jesse Stokes (End Game BJJ)
190lbs Black Belt GI
Mario Gomez (Louis Vintaloro Jiu Jitsu) vs Lincoln Perriera (Renzo Gracie)
170lbs Black Belt NOGI
Kevin Roddy (Asbury BJJ) vs Maximilian Bohanan (RaBJJ)
125lbs Black Belt GI
Chris Noonan (The Hive) vs Jimmy Santiago (Animals MMA)
210LBS BLACK BELT NOGI
PHIL DUNLAP (ASYLUM MMA) VS DREW PUZON (RENZO GRACIE)
160LBS BLACK BELT GI
Dan Covel (Covel BJJ) vs William Martinez (Martinez BJJ)
125LBS BROWN BELT NOGI
Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos (RENZO GRACIE BJJ) VS RACHEL BEACH (FIGHT CLUB BJJ)
190LBS BROWN BELT GI
KEITH HOLLAND (CABECA BJJ) VS JOSH KEY (DRBJJ)
215LBS BROWN BELT NOGI
EDWARD MCCAY (Shore BJJ) VS JOSH WEINSTOCK (TEAM BALANCE)
205LBS BROWN BELT GI
MIKE KALIKA (TEAM FABIO CLEMENTE) VS ANTHONY DEL GUERCIO (SAVARESE BJJ)
165LBS BROWN BELT GI
MARCUS JOHNSON (GARDEN STATE BJJ) VS NICK MANELA (RABJJ)
160LBS FEMALE BROWN BELT NOGI
NATALIE BRYJOVA Diesel Training Grounds) VS JESSICA SWANSON (SOUL FIGHTERS0
155LBS BROWN BELT GI
NICHOLAS SALLES (PURE WAVE BJJ) VS ASHURE ELBANNA (LION HEART MMA)
180LBS BROWN BELT NOGI
BRIAN SATCHER (GARDEN STATE BJJ) VS BRIAN PROCEL (SAVARESE BJJ)
155LBS PURPLE BELT NOGI
ANDREW VIDAL (BRUNZWICK BJJ) VS JOSH BAKER (INFERNO MMA)
180LBS PURPLE BELT GI
PATRICK HEMENWAY (TEAM PELLEGRINO) VS ANTOINE DELANNOY (UP TO TOP BJJ)
210LBS PURPLE BELT NOGI
CRAIG IZZO (OCEAN COUNTY BJJ) VS FRANK KERNER (Vitor Shaolin Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)
155LBS PURPLE BELT NOGI
ROOTHCHILD ST. GERMAINE (FOCUS BRAND INT) VS JARRED MERCADO (EASTON BJJ)
145LBS PURPLE BELT GI
Christopher Tuzeneu (TEAM PELLEGRINO) VS Tim Schillng (ANIMALS MMA)
185LBS PURPLE BELT NOGI
Guitano Mione (MADAMA) VS DAVID GONZALEZ (OCEAN COUNTY BJJ)
120LBS PURPLE BELT GI
ANDREA JORDAN (TEAM PELLEGRINO) VS ANDREA FAHL (WORCHESTER MMA)
205LBS PURPLE BELT NOGI
LEON JACKSON (RABJJ) VS SCOTT SATCHER (GARDEN STATE BJJ)
155LBS GREEN BELT GI
SAVION MARANON (COVEL BJJ) VS MATEEN STEVENS (UNITY BJJ)
160LBS BLUE BELT GI
LEO ALVES (SAVARESE BJJ) VS Dametrius Sturdivant (AFORCE BJJ)
80LBS TEEN ORANGE BELT GI
NICK GEISSLER (GARDEN STATE BJJ) VS ALEX JOHNSON (UNITY BJJ)
