In a heartwarming display of putting differences aside for a greater cause, Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Tom DeBlass has publicly commended Dillon Danis for his intervention to help a bullied child, despite their past rivalry.
Danis recently reached out to a young boy named Jayson who was attacked at a park while walking his dog. According to Jayson’s mother, Desi, her son was jumped by a group of kids who first threatened and threw objects at their dog. When Jayson attempted to walk away, they assaulted him, leaving his face covered in blood.
Upon learning about the incident, Danis, an elite jiu-jitsu competitor, immediately offered his support. “I’m offering to get him into a martial arts gym with all expenses covered by me,” Danis wrote to the boy’s mother. “We can also work on helping you out financially. A lot of people online have your back.”
The mother, who is raising four children on her own, expressed immense gratitude for Danis’s generosity. “Thank you so so much, I’m crying I really needed some support and encouragement!” she responded. “I want my son to get some support and connection with men who have good character and values. I’m doing my best as a single mom of 4.”
In a video shared online, both Jayson and his mother thanked everyone for their support. “Thank you so much for everybody who’s contributed to helping Jason feel loved and supported,” said Desi, while Jayson expressed excitement about learning jiu-jitsu.
Link if you want to help Jayson.
What makes this story particularly noteworthy is DeBlass’s public acknowledgment of Danis’s good deed. Taking to social media, DeBlass wrote: “@dillondanis and I have had our personal differences in the past. Life is too short for bullsh*t. Tonight, he sent me a reel he posted. He’s providing free training for the little boy that was jumped on the playground for a year. I absolutely love it.”
DeBlass, who has long been dedicated to helping bullied children, added, “I dedicate my life to helping these bullied children, and anyone who also wants to help them gets a heart-felt hug from me.”
The martial arts community has consistently emphasized how training can build confidence and resilience in young people who have experienced bullying. For Jayson, Danis’s intervention offers not just practical self-defense skills but also connects him with positive male role models.
Thanks to the attention brought by Danis and others, the two primary attackers are now facing charges, according to Jayson’s mother. Previously, she noted, “it didn’t seem the police cared.”
This act of kindness from Danis, and the subsequent praise from DeBlass, demonstrates how the martial arts community can come together beyond personal rivalries to make a positive impact on those in need.
