Fine Tune Your Half Guard With This Drill By The Incomparable Tom DeBlass

Half Guard Drag To Spartan Kick Drill by Tom DeBlass

Who is Tom DeBlass? Tom DeBlass is many things. He is one of the most sought after instructors in the grappling world right now.  He is a world class grappler and former mixed martial artist. He is an exceptional instructor. He has a huge social media following from his technique breakdowns and advice on relationships, transformation, adversity and training.  Tom DeBlass is many things and world class in all of them.

Tom has many accomplishments in grappling and mixed martial arts. He has fought in both the UFC and Bellator. He is a 3x ADCC veteran, Fight To Win Pro Main Event Winner, 2016 ADCC North American Champion,2016 ADCC American Nationals Absolute Champion, ADCC NY Super Fight Champion,2015 Black Belt World No Gi Masters and Absolute Champion, 2014 ADCC North American Champion, 2013 Black Belt No Gi Pan American Champion, 2013 Black Belt No Gi Worlds Bronze Medal, 2009 ADCC North American Champion, 2009 Black Belt No Gi Worlds Bronze Medal, 2007 Brown Belt No Gi Worlds Champion, 2007 Brown Belt Pan American Champion, 2007 Brown Belt American Nationals Champion, 6X Grappler’s Quest Expert Champion and member of the New Jersey Martial Artist Hall of Fame.

DeBlass’ education and teaching ability is also exceptional. Tom earned his black belt from legendary ADCC and MMA veteran Ricardo Almeida in just over six years. There are many testaments to his exceptional teaching ability. His first black belt is the great Garry Tonon. Gordon Ryan is Tonon’s first black belt. Tom is a former elementary school special education teacher. This experience has honed his ability to take complex concepts and make them understandable to even the novice grapplers. Another testament to his teaching ability is his academy Ocean County Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has over 350 students and 20 black belts. Additionally he has an empire of affiliates around the world.

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It is also worth noting the Tao of Tom’s social media presence. He has many great quotes from training to adversity, transformation and life.  Here is a great quote from Tom on transformation, “The last 4 weeks I have dedicated to changing myself. Every day I have been praying, asking God to help me in the areas of life where I struggle. Regardless how successful you may think you are, there is always so much room for improvement, always. I am nowhere close to where I want to be, but every day I am getting better. It is a conscious effort that I must put in, but I feel myself becoming a better person.”

In this video Tom DeBlass explores an arm drag to Spartan kick drill from half guard.  Before diving into the drill he notes an important detail is i to always be able to see the offensive movements after our defense.  DeBlass states the drill works with or without the leg weave. If our opponent has the leg weave we post on his shoulder and grab behind their elbow.  This structure allows us to raise our leg out of the weave and then proceed with the arm drag.  If our training partner does not have a leg weave Tom states to grab the top side arm with a C grip to initiate the arm drag. It is an important detail that DeBlass thumb is facing the top half of his body. Tom is now able to use his other hand to grab his opponent’s triceps for the arm drag. Inevitably, our opponents and training partners will pull away. When this happens, Tom kicks his opponent back and then takes top position.  DeBlass closes by saying that it is important not to go head to head with our training partner. Rather good Jiu Jitsu dictates when our opponent pushes we pull and when our opponent pulls we push.

This video is a fine example of Tom’s ability to breakdown technique and principles in a manner that is applicable to everyone from the white belt to black belt. Without a doubt, we can all refine our game with the information provided. Tom DeBlass is certainly many things. Beyond Jiu Jitsu technique, he sets an example on how to run an academy and our mindset for training, transformation, adversity and life in general. The Jiu Jitsu community is lucky to have people like Tom DeBlass.

Professor DeBlass’ next instructional will be available soon! Let the drilling begin!

In the meantime do you want to DOMINATE with you closed guard? Tom DeBlass provides a fresh look to a classic position. 

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