Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Rozdzynski.
Thomas, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The exciting part of my life story begins roughly in the year 2000, when I found that I was not in the best place in my life. My health and physical fitness were far from what would be considered “good.” As a professional in Corporate America, my priorities were very different than they are today. My daily habits often included very long work hours, and endless hours of TV, food and doing nothing (literally). What I call the “fluffy period” of my life was not only unhealthy, but also dangerous to my and my family’s future. Fortunately for me, one of my best friends today, and boss at that time, knew my life needed to change. Over a period of several months he tried to convince me to come and try this “new” Martial Art called Jiu Jitsu. I will be honest, I had zero interest, but his persistence continued. Simply to avoid his constant nagging I said, “Fine, let’s do it.” I had no idea that decision would change my life forever.
The moment I stepped onto the mat for the first time, I was hooked. I didn’t understand what was going on around me or what I was learning. However, I was completely fascinated with the simple idea of a smaller and weaker person being able to escape and control a stronger and larger opponent. Being one of the larger guys in the room, I continued asking myself, “How is that possible? I weigh 70-100 lbs. more, and I can’t hold him down!”
Over the next 12 months, my life transformed into something brand new, something I have never experienced before. I lost over 70 lbs, changed my habits, adjusted priorities in my life and started to take care of myself. Interestingly enough, my circle of friends began to change as well. People who I thought were close to me started to fade away, and new inspiring faces appeared. My new hobby slowly began to turn into a passion and years later into a lifestyle.
Eighteen years later, it’s not about me. It’s about my family, true friends, and students because without them my life wouldn’t be where it is today. I have a very unique opportunity to share my story with a strong belief that Jiu Jitsu does change lives with a simple step onto the mat.
Every day I speak with people about the challenges and obstacles of life. There is no doubt everyone wants to do well and succeed on this journey: the trick is to see our goals, create a plan and set priorities. The very first week of my Jiu Jitsu training, my instructor, Master Carlson Gracie Sr., said something I will never forget, “…it’s ok, everyone has bad days. The trick is to see it and learn from it.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many obstacles along the way… some large, some very small and insignificant. However, all of them have one thing in common: they allow us to grow and to become better individuals and a stronger community.
Someone told me awhile back there are two types of people, “the ones who see their goal, and the ones who see all the obstacles on the way to their goal. It’s really up to you to decide which group you belong to.” Life is often thrown at us, and it’s important to remember that life is too short to dwell on things we can’t control. For everything else, we need to plan, prioritize and execute.
As an immigrant myself and the son of an immigrant who was working 3 jobs to give us a roof over our heads and put food on the table, my teenage years were not easy for me. However, I always looked at life in a positive light with a great opportunity for the future. The language barrier and cultural differences, limited friends and very small family made me strong and gave me the ability to adjust quickly as life unfolded. Many years of corporate experience taught me how to become an empathetic leader, a driven motivator and an understanding teacher. As I began evolving my my Jiu Jitsu studies, I was able to incorporate all my past skillsets with my newly born passion, such as the ability to think clearly under large amounts of stress and pressure, troubleshoot situations out of my control, or simply connect with people and make relationships. Life began to change…
Today, my obstacles are very different. I focus on helping others to achieve their goals and overcome their challenges. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by my lovely wife and kids and to be sharing the passion of my life with a huge community, with the small hope that the art of Jiu Jitsu will impact other lives the way it has impacted mine.
RŌL Academy of Jiu Jitsu – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Four years ago, an amazing opportunity presented itself to convert the passion of Jiu Jitsu into a lifestyle. After a lot preparation and planning, ROL Academy of Jiu Jitsu opened its doors to the community of Orland Park and the surrounding areas on May 1, 2015. Three years later, we are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by people we love, giving kids, women and men the opportunity to try the “Gentle Art.”
Today, ROL Academy is offering one of the most successful self-defense programs for kids and adults in the southwest suburbs. Trained and Certified Instructors are available to inspire, motivate, and help you achieve your goals.
Our mission is simple:
We are committed to serving our members as well as the community by promoting a positive mental attitude, healthy lifestyle and physical fitness by giving everyone the opportunity to study the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
We dedicate ourselves to providing the highest quality training available, delivering outstanding student service, preserving tradition while welcoming innovation, and facilitating a positive environment where students of all ages can achieve fulfilling and productive lives through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Everyone defines success in different ways. For some it’s the status, for others it’s the amount of clients or revenue. Either way, we all drive to achieve milestones and goals in life. I was very fortunate to meet some of mine, to mention a few … developing an amazing community with lots friends, getting married, witnessing my kids being born, retiring from a corporate job to focus on my passion, watching my students grow and reach their potential, and promoting my first Black Belt at ROL Academy of Jiu Jitsu. But most importantly, my proudest moment is yet to come. I’m not sure what it is or when it will take place, but I know it’s still ahead of me. There is much more to be done. There are so many more people to be impacted.
As Steve Jobs said once…
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 15629 71st Court
Orland Park, IL 60462 - Website: www.rolacademy.com
- Phone: 708-862-8282
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rol_academy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rolacademy/
Image Credit:
Daniel Dougherty Photography, Alexis Bowlin
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