Tom DeBlass has always been known for his ability to blend tough love with heartfelt encouragement, and his recent message to his middle-aged black belts strikes that balance perfectly.
In a sport where daily training often brings younger, hungrier athletes face to face with seasoned veterans, DeBlass reminds those further along in their journeys that perspective is everything:
I don’t know who needs this reminder today, but it is absolutely OK if the hungry, high-level blue and purple belts sometimes get the better of you in training.
For many experienced black belts in their 40s or 50s, the mat can feel unforgiving.
Youth often brings explosive energy, endless recovery, and the kind of ambition that fuels long hours on the mats.
But DeBlass made it clear that none of this should diminish what a black belt has already achieved:
You are still a black belt.
DeBlass explained that older practitioners cannot measure themselves against younger athletes chasing world-class dreams with time and energy on their side.
Likewise, those younger athletes can never fully measure themselves against the years of discipline, experience, and accomplishments that a seasoned black belt already carries:
You cannot compare yourself to a young man or woman who has the time, energy, and dream of becoming world class.
And in the same way, they cannot compare themselves to you, your journey, and the achievements you’ve already earned.
For DeBlass, stepping onto the mats in midlife is itself a victory.
Every session is not about proving dominance, but about celebrating the ability to continue training, learning, and living the black belt lifestyle after decades of commitment:
Every day you step on those mats is a victory.
Enjoy it.
You’ve worked for it. You deserve it.
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