Forked River MMA Champ Launches Anti-Bullying Organization

FORKED RIVER, NJ — You probably know Tom DeBlass as a MMA championship fighter, or as the owner and instructor at Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Forked River.

But once upon a time, DeBlass was a child being bullied and abused. And after seeing students attacking other students on social media, including the death of 14-year-old Adriana Kuch at his alma mater, Central Regional High School, he knew he needed to do something.

"I was a boy once that felt helpless," DeBlass told Patch. "I had days when I woke up where I felt like I had no one to turn to and I was just completely helpless. And I don't want these kids to feel helpless."

DeBlass teamed up with fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Shawn Fowler to launch Buddies Over Bullies, a nonprofit dedicated to providing solutions to the victims of bullying.

How so? By teaching them to fight back.

The idea of Buddies Over Bullies is to teach those who are bullied self-defense, educate children on coping skills, and to provide resources such as therapy to those who need it.

"Jiu-jitsu is made for the smaller person to beat the bigger attacker," DeBlass said.

Already, more than 200 MMA schools have reached out to be part of his organization, he said.

Bullying is prevalent today because kids are desensitized, DeBlass said. "They think it's no big to bully and post it online," he said, and thanks to social media, they can't get away from it.

But it's not just about self-defense. It's about giving victims of bullying a support system.

DeBlass's ultimate goal is to make sure these kids feel loved. The impacts of bullying last a lifetime.

"I have insecurities from when I was a kid," DeBlass said. And he said he still sees some of his former bullies, who have no idea that they hurt him.

But his support system, which has every type of person imaginable according to DeBlass, helps keep him going.

"When they're part of this, they're loved. They're wanted. They're needed. They have friends in us," DeBlass said.

He hopes to spread that message all over.

"Kindness is the cool way," he said. "Take it from me. I've been all over the world. I've achieved some really cool things. And nothing is more beautiful and more rewarding than kindness."

For more information, visit the Buddies Over Bullies website.

Read More:

What Comes Next For The Central Regional School District?

Long History Of Bullying At Central Regional, Students Say

'Adriana's Law' Needed To Keep Schools Safe, Berkeley Officials Say