Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a necessity for anyone involved in law enforcement. At least for those who wish to keep themselves, as well as the suspects, safe while carrying out their job.

And that’s why it’s so great that more and more states are introducing BJJ training into their police training curriculum; with the newest in line being the NYPD Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club which has affiliated itself with Tom DeBlass, a well-recognized BJJ coach and owner of Ocean County Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, shared .

Tom DeBlass the news on social media:

“I’d like to officially announce the NYPD Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club is now OFFICIALLY AFFILIATED with Tom DeBlass Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!!! My seminar got amazing feedback and after speaking more with the NYPD BJJ President Detective Frank, we decided this would be an amazing opportunity for everyone!

What does this mean? It means anyone that is part of the NYPD regardless what team they train on, if any team at all, can drop in my Academy and train with absolutely no mat fee anytime they want wih me personally. It also means that every two months or so a Tom DeBlass Black Belt will teach a free seminar at the NYPD Police Academy. This also means I will continue to diligently work on effective ways within the guidelines of the NYPD for officers to effectively defend themselves while keeping everyone as safe as possible throuhg Jiu-Jitsu.

This is truly HISTORY being made. We are changing the game!!!!!

Detective Frank and officers of the NYPD, I am looking forward to a life long friendship and partnership with you.”

Effort, persistence, discipline and resilience pay off – just ask Tom DeBlass. Years ago, he opened up his first BJJ school as a brown belt (and after quitting his teaching job), charging $20,000 onto his credit card debt… And today, he has one of the most successful BJJ academies in the world!
What’s more, the prominent Forbes magazine wrote an article about Tom’s success:

Tom DeBlass earned $45,000 a year as a special education teacher in 2005. After his promotion to brown belt, he quit his teaching job, charged $20,000 onto his credit card, and opened his first school in an industrial park in Lacey, New Jersey.

He didn’t have enough money for a sign outside, so he put a sticky note on the door. Such a meager start would’ve deterred most. But DeBlass was determined. So he had to learn what worked and what didn’t–fast, lest he fail.
Sixteen years later, he makes $500k annually. Most of his income comes from his academy, Ocean County BJJ in Forked River, New Jersey.

As told by Forbes, DeBlass owes his success to resilience:

He hasn’t spent a penny on advertising in two years.

“Word of mouth has always worked best,” DeBlass said. Meanwhile, his marketing plan has been to be “open about his shortcomings.”
His transparency has worked: he’s amassed 300,000 Facebook and Instagram followers over the past five years. Six years ago, he had 19,000 of them. It took him 10 years “to become himself.” He didn’t start doing seminars until 2015.

“It’s never too late. I didn’t win anything until brown belt. Then I won everything,” DeBlass said. “As long as you’re resilient, and you’re disciplined, you can do it.”