The team
on the mat

Danielle is a jiu-jitsu black belt under Tom DeBlass. She started almost a decade ago to get in shape, but quickly found a deep passion for it. She credits jiu-jitsu with improving her life in every aspect and has become an advocate for the importance of women’s self-defense. She is also the Manager of Ocean County BJJ and the coordinator of the Tom DeBlass Association.

Kenny is a 2nd degree black belt under Tom DeBlass. He has trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu for almost 20 years and has been teaching for the last two.

During his jiu-jitsu journey, he lost over 80 pounds while balancing his family, career and jiu-jitsu. He has adjusted his training philosophy to minimize injuries and maximize time on the mat.

Originally filling in for an instructor, Kenny quickly found his passion for helping his teammates work towards perfecting strangle submissions. His classes include jiu-jitsu fundamentals for submission entries, pre-submission positions and finishing mechanics. Throughout the class and often for several weeks, class curriculums work through related positions and movements focused within similar jiu-jitsu techniques. Kenny is focused on helping his teammates improve their mat IQ to help troubleshoot submission positions and finishes.

With 14 years of training experience under the expert guidance of Tom DeBlass, Craig is a 1-stripe black belt who received his rank 4 years ago. He has dedicated himself to the art of jiu-jitsu and, for the past 12 years, has passionately shared his knowledge and skills as a coach, helping athletes of all levels unlock their potential.

Balancing his full-time career and life as a devoted father of three, Craig understands the importance of commitment and perseverance. He takes pride in giving back to his teammates, equipping them with the tools necessary to achieve their goals. Craig finds immense joy in witnessing their successes, knowing he played a part in their journey.

Scott holds a third-degree black belt under Tom DeBlass at Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has always been drawn to martial arts from a young age. Following his graduation, he successfully established his own business in 1990. Currently, he and his wife are raising three exceptional children.

Scott has been a devoted student of jiu-jitsu since 2006 and has developed a lifelong passion for the sport. He continues to instruct our Wednesday morning class and occasional evening classes as his schedule permits. Scott takes great pleasure in working with each student, providing individualized guidance in a comfortable and supportive environment at our academy. He consistently expresses his satisfaction with his journey in jiu-jitsu, affirming that he has no regrets.

Matt began his martial arts journey in 2009, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Though his roots stem from a Vale Tudo academy, it wasn’t until meeting Tom DeBlass that he would find a proper mentor, and a true home in OCBJJ. Since 2019, Matt has been proud to call himself a member of the OCBJJ family. Tom awarded Matt his black belt in 2021, and he now serves as the MMA and striking coach for the academy.

George is a second-degree black belt whose innovative approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction has influenced multiple prominent academies. Having previously served as a Director of Student Development & Performance for a jiu-jitsu organization and as a technical standards consultant for another major association, he has been instrumental in developing comprehensive coaching methodologies that continue to shape the sport.

Awarded his black belt in 2017 by Dante Rivera and Ricardo Almeida, George has distinguished himself both as a competitor and coach. His competitive achievements include IBJJF gold medals in both gi and no-gi divisions, demonstrating his versatility and technical proficiency across all aspects of the sport.