An
interview with Thomas Oyarzún by Andrew Morris
Upon
meeting Switzerland’s most success competitor, black-belt Thomas “Mastwo” Oyarzún,
you will realize immediately, you are in the presence of a positive human
being. It is difficult not to be inspired by his enthusiasm and positivity as
he discusses a range of topics from Jiu-Jitsu, to hip-hop, to meditation and
karma.
He has been
putting this power to inspire to good use, having spent the first half of the
year traveling Europe, delivering seminars to raise money for the social
project. Arriving in Rio, he has spent the last month teaching at the project
itself where he is beloved by the young students.
How did you become involved with Terere Kids
Project?
I have been
with Alliance and Terere since I was a purple belt. I was always a part of
organizing the seminars when he came to visit Switzerland. At the start of this
year, I had just had surgery on my knee and gone through my own personal
situation in Jiu-Jitsu, I felt like I had to do something and the best thing
for me to do was help the project.
You have recently arrived in Rio after
traveling throughout Europe raising money to support the project. Can you
explain the genesis of this idea?
I had
visited the project a year and a half ago and met Nico (project director), we
got to chat a little and kept in contact. When Terere was unable to do a
seminar here (Switzerland), I did it myself.
I wanted to give the money to the project and Nico thought it was a good
idea. I organized two more seminars and from there, I thought I could do more.
I was lucky, I contacted different guys who agreed and then other people began
to contact me saying that they wanted to help too.
It was a
perfect time because surgery had taken me off the mats. The first seminars I
gave, I couldn’t even train, I could only teach. But this has helped me to
visualize my game even more as I wasn’t able to roll.
What countries did you visit?
I traveled
a lot in France and Switzerland, in the UK, and Russia. Time wise I wanted to
fit more in, but it was difficult. And now I go to the United States, I already
have three seminars booked in California. This week I will speak to some more
people and see if we can get more seminars.
How were your efforts received?
I have been
traveling and doing these seminars for the children and the whole time I have
had this energy that has been overwhelming, in a good way. People give you
recognition for all the good work you are doing, it is motivating, it makes you
want to do more.
Doing this
has given me the confidence to initiate conversation and ask academy owners for
their help, and people have been open and receptive to it. It is very hard when
people say “no, I don’t want to help kids in the favela”. But this isn’t to
judge anyone, everybody has a tough situation making money in Jiu-Jitsu. But
people have taken it in a positive way.
Spending time living within the community, what
problems have you seen that the young people here face?
I see how
people live and it is a tough life, favela life is tough, living in poverty and
things are dirty. A lot of dealers and the police, a lot of drugs. They all
have weapons and you can see all the kids just playing around in front of them.
There is always the possibility for the kids to be influenced by them, by
seeing it every day, they can choose the wrong path. The more they see
negativity, the more it can draw them in. The community is very strong, despite
all of this, people are very happy, it is crazy but it is true.
It a tough
line between the positivity and the negativity and the kids are caught in the
middle. By doing what I am doing, I hope to provide them with a little
positivity to tip the balance and send them on the right path.
What benefits does the project provide for the
children and young people of the community?
It is a
sport and it can help students escape their situation. Terere provides the
perfect example, everything that he has ever gotten from Jiu-Jitsu, he has
shared with those around him. He isn’t just a champion on the mats, he is a
champion in life.
So
important for the kids to come to the academy. I give them the same message
every day, that they are all friends, they are here to have fun, enjoy their
time and pass on the good energy, accept who you are.
Miguel conducting an interview for the mini documentary below
The project
has produced a Pan Ams Kids champion and watching purple, brown and even black
belts come to the academy and be beaten up by the young orange and green belts
of the academy. What do you put this success down to?
Moicano 2016 Pan Kids Champion and Professor Birrinho 2015
Brazilian Nationals Champion thanks to sponsorship from TKP!
They put in
the work, they understand that they can be a champion and get out of this
situation. There are a couple of students that are already getting their names
out there and I only wish them more success. There are five guys off the top of
my head that could be world champions within the next five to ten years. It is
just amazing to see that. The level they are on now is a result of motivation,
determination and being in good hands. Terere is showing them the right path
and that is very important.
Is being taught the most up-to-date technique
in class the most important thing?
The best
techniques have a lot to do with it and that is what Terere gives them. He has
always been building champions, many world champions they come from Terere. But
more than technique he has something, that he has obviously been given to him.
When I spend time with him my Jiu-Jitsu evolves so much. It isn’t just the
technique, it is more than that, it is this energy that he gives, you can’t see
it but you can feel it.
With you competing at the Masters Worlds next
weekend, at this stage what is more important to you, competitive success or
helping others through Jiu-Jitsu?
For me, it
is the life aspect, helping people is such an amazing feeling and it is a
continuous feeling, becoming a champion is fleeting, it feels good but then it
is over. And I think that the more you are a champion in life, the more you
will be a champion on the mats. The more positive I am, the more positive
outcomes will occur. Even if I lose in competition it will not take away from
what I have learned and what I have experienced doing all this work for the
project.
Any final words? Shout outs to sponsors who
have helped out with the project?
What is
best about the project is it involves kids. It is not about knowing what the
future holds but who holds the future, and that is the kids. You have to love,
you have to teach and you have to nurture and believe in all these kids, if you
don’t, there is no future. The more I give these kids the more confident I am
about the future. Give as much as you can and don’t give any negativity, just
give a smile.
I want to
thank the project, all this has been the greatest motivation that someone can
have, this has been life changing. To the project and Terere, he has shown me
the path that I have to follow. Thank sponsors Shoyoroll and Shoyoroll Europe,
everyone that is on the team. Thank you to The Arm Bar Soap Company, who have
always helped me out. Both companies have given me so much and given the project
so much, they have helped out by producing things for the project and continue
to do so. They have been a great help for the kids, I thank them from the
bottom of my heart. I would like to thank my family, my parents, my brother,
who is a great person to talk to and has always been an inspiration to me. I
also want to thank everyone that surrounds me.
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