On Losing... As a society, we don’t like losing.  We exaggerate any loss—however insignificant—as a monumental disaster.  But losing can teach us much more than winning. The trouble is, losing feels so awfully lonely.   At a competition, the winners all gather together on...

We spend a lot of time in training talking about techniques, whether it be submissions, or escapes or whatever the case may be.  What It seems does not get as much attention is drilling. To be more specific, drilling one slice of a...

  The old saying in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is “position before submission,” but sometimes it’s hard to get to that submission.  Heck, sometimes, it’s hard to even see the submission from the position. If this is your struggle, too, Tom DeBlass is here...

  We’ve all seen Tom DeBlass look back at his opponents and smile when they try to apply a leg lock during a match. In fact, I’ve seen this smile before when training with DeBlass myself. Like a little cub trying to get...

For the last two weeks I have been traveling through Europe, and while it would have been amazing to make a guest appearance at a local Jiu Jitsu school there weren’t a lot of options in some places and not enough time in...

  This is likely one of the most commonly asked questions of any martial art.  I think that the reason this is such a popular question is because people see black belt and immediately think the person is tough, and capable of great...

  What does it mean to you when you hear someone say that someone is a good teammate?  Maybe that they are easy to work with? That they are pleasant to talk to? That they know a lot and can help you get...

  A phrase you will hear likely from day one until you no longer need to hear it is “have faith in the system”.  Sometimes this is easier said than done, and in the beginning can be rather confusing. Faith in what system...

  When you are just getting started in Jiu Jitsu it’s important that you pick the right training partners.  Having the right training partner in the beginning can make all of the difference in the long game. While there are a lot of...

When it comes to the battleground of competition, most competitors aspire towards the appearance of invulnerability and of a battle-tested warrior in the classical sense. We envision ourselves strutting around the periphery of the competition mats with the nonchalance of George C. Scott’s...

  So you’re thinking about starting to train Jiu Jitsu, or maybe you just signed up and you need to buy a Gi.  Before we dive into the how to, in case you are still on the fence about going to a trial...

  Starting Jiu Jitsu after your “prime”.  Should you even try? Is it worth it? Are you too far out of shape?  Should you just accept the dad bod and move be happy? Yes, you should try. Yes, it is worth it. No,...

Why do people start training and what should you be looking for in an academy?  I think to start, allow me to tell my story as I imagine some can relate. I came to Jiu Jitsu because at the time, I lived in...

There is no question that leg attacks are becoming more and more popular in Jiu Jitsu these days.  Looking back not that many years ago leg locks were like black magic that very few people knew and used on a regular basis.  I...

  The achilles lock seems to be the least respected lower body attack in the family tree of leg locks. I often hear people say they “don’t tap” to straight ankle or achilles style locks. Maybe these folks have never been in a...