If Tom DeBlass knows anything – besides a ton of Brazilian jiu-jitsu – it’s that violence is always a last resort. This is something that some martial artists forget, especially ever since knocking some guy out cold in the street or “teaching some punk a lesson” could earn you fifteen minutes of fame on Facebook.
But the simple fact of the matter is, no matter how black or red your belt is, you’re never truly prepared for a street fight. How could you be? There’s no ethical way to replicate the danger of a street fight in the gym.
That is why – unless you are almost certain you or someone else will be seriously injured if you don’t act aggressively – it is always better to avoid violence.
This is precisely what happens in this video.
Third-degree BJJ black belt Tom DeBlass confronts an angry, shirtless, drunk guy at a Wal-Mart. But rather than say, “Hey, I’m some big, tough black belt who’s going to earn my fifteen minutes of fame by choking out some jackass and posting it on social media,” DeBlass repeatedly tells the man, “I don’t want to fight you.”
At one point the man even charges at DeBlass, giving the black belt all the reason he needs to take him down and put him to sleep. Still Professor DeBlass just backs away and continues to calm the man down.
Eventually, the drunk, still slurring his words, calms down, puts his shirt back on, and even gives Tom DeBlass a hug, telling him and everyone else that “we’re all good.”
And as if representing everything a martial artist should be weren’t enough, DeBlass offers to help them man find a ride home.
You can check out the entire video below:
Love that he popped the flip flops off in case he had to ball that drunk up. Veteran move there.