“For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother” –Henry V, William Shakespeare
In this exclusive video for Jiu Jitsu Times, Professor Tom DeBlass talks about the idea of friendships in BJJ. As an avid competitor in a variety of sports, DeBlass points out that nothing has rivaled the sense of comradery he has developed with the students and training partners he has met in Jiu Jitsu.
Key Points:
- We are all the same–No matter our backgrounds, age, race, gender, when we slip on those Jiu Jitsu Gi’s or colorful wizard spats, we have one thing in common: We have all decided to step on the mats and let everything else in our lives go for a few precious moments working to improve ourselves. On those mats, we all face the same fears and have the same opportunities for greatness.
- Spend Your Time Wisely–The longer one trains and the more life responsibilities we take on, the less we have time for frivolous things. The bulk of our time gets split between our families, our work, and the mats. And on those mats, you meet people working through those same struggles as you to find the time to train.
- Hundreds of New Friends–When you sign up at your local Jiu Jitsu Academy and begin sharing your new found love of the art, you may not realize it, but you’ve automatically gained a new group of friends. And as you begin to explore social media, you will find new friends at the far corners of the world who share your passion for Jiu Jitsu.
- Get Out There and Train–If you’ve wanted to try, now’s the time. If you have let those life responsibilities get to you and maybe aren’t training anymore, get back at it. Your Academy misses you. And finally, if you’re currently training, keep at it and be the best training partner and friend you can be.
Follow Professor Tom DeBlass on his Facebook here
Professor DeBlass is this year’s Event Organizer for the North American ADCC Trials in November.
Follow the North American ADCC Trials here
Check out Professor DeBlass’ Academy Ocean County BJJ
Check out Professor DeBlass’ Podcast with Jiu Jitsu Times’ very own Todd Shaffer “The Brick Wall Podcast.”
The Brick Wall Podcast with Tom DeBlass and Todd Shaffer
