Jon Thomas was a blue belt with no school and no following when he decided to build a jiu-jitsu charity in memory of his nephew Michael, who died of leukemia as a baby. He tells Bernardo how Tap Cancer Out went from one T-shirt sold at an MMA show to tournaments across the United States, and why he will give you a bronze medal if you really think you earned it.
In this episode:
From college volleyball to jiu-jitsu in 2008, and the women's kickboxing gym he walked into first
His nephew Michael, a half marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the idea that became Tap Cancer Out
Starting a charity as a blue belt: a year of paperwork and one T-shirt sold at an MMA show
His instructor's advice to host their own tournament, with handwritten brackets and borrowed wrestling mats
The fundraising model: raise money, compete for free and earn perks
Six years as a side project before he went full-time in 2018
Why a charity tournament has to run better than everyone else's
Still nervous before every event, and the day a taekwondo tournament shared the venue
Global Grappling Day on December 12, 2026: one partner, one hour, from any gym in the world, with perks from BJJ Fanatics and Kojo
Jon Thomas is the founder and executive director of Tap Cancer Out, a jiu-jitsu nonprofit that raises money for cancer-fighting organizations. He started training in 2008, earned his black belt in 2018 and went full-time at the charity the same year. Since its first tournament in Stratford, Connecticut, in 2012, Tap Cancer Out has donated more than $7.75 million.
Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:38 Meet Jon Thomas, founder of Tap Cancer Out 01:11 From college volleyball to jiu-jitsu in 2008 03:58 His nephew Michael and the reason behind Tap Cancer Out 05:55 2010: a blue belt with a big idea 07:39 One T-shirt sold at an MMA show 08:08 "Just host your own tournament": handwritten brackets 09:12 Raise money, compete for free: the first tournament in 2012 10:35 "When's the next one?" Six years part-time, full-time in 2018 11:25 Why a charity tournament can't look low budget 14:31 How many tournaments a year, and why he can't go to all of them 18:05 More than medals: making the tournament a party 20:32 Still nervous before every tournament 21:21 A taekwondo tournament in the same venue, and other surprises 23:32 Are people nicer at a charity tournament? 25:12 Pokémon cards and making every kid feel welcome 26:31 Global Grappling Day: for the people who don't compete 29:40 Global Grappling Day perks from BJJ Fanatics and Kojo
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