Tom Everett aka “Tommy Bahama” or “Tim” has recently joined the Absolute MMA reception/admin team and is now our main man at Absolute MMA St Kilda! One of our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belts, Tom originally hails from South Australia and is known for having a huge chest…we mean heart. Tom is active both on the local and international competition scene and we’re very happy to have him on board with us officially! Read on to find out more about Tom.
What would you consider your greatest achievements in Martial Arts?
Being invited to Liverpool, UK to compete on GrappleFest.
How did you first get involved with Absolute MMA? (What industry were you in prior to Martial Arts? What made you change?)
I was living in Adelaide, working full time and had visited Absolute MMA a few times. So after training for 3 years I decided to move to Melbourne and try to train BJJ full time.
Favorite workout/walkout song?
Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede
Mantra/Quote to live by?
No worries.
Tell us about your life growing up, what is your favorite memory from when you were younger?
Watching the TV show Gladiator with my older brothers, then trying to re-create the challenges and beat the hell out of each other.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully still training and teaching BJJ or running a gym.
Who is an inspiration to you, and why?
Joe Rogan, because he’s 50 years old, jacked and still gets sh*t done.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Burritos.
If you weren’t working in the Martial Arts industry, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be hating my life.
What do you like to do to relax besides training?
Listen to podcasts, watch movies or play Xbox.
What is your favorite travel destination? Why?
San Diego, there is good weather all year round, good food and great gyms to train at.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
One time I drank an old Russian guy under the table in Kazakhstan…
Can you tell us about where you’re from and any interesting stories growing up? If you’re not originally from Melbourne, how’d you end up living in Melbourne, Australia?
I originally grew up in country SA which was a lot of fun, luckily my family moved to Adelaide before I was a teenager as there’s not a whole lot of entertainment going on in the country. I moved to Melbourne to train full time in 2015.
What were some funny/interesting/weird hobbies you had when you were a teenager?
Fortunately I’ve repressed the memories of doing anything too weird.
Can you think of a common inspirational quote that you completely disagree with and why?
“If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you don’t deserve me at my best” I feel like this is a self centered way of saying, “I’m entitled to be an asshole, deal with it”.
Besides martial arts, what else are you passionate about and why?
Living a lifestyle that makes every day enjoyable.
Who are the kind of people that you look up to and why?
Anyone who is motivated and not lazy.
Do you have a “useless” talent that makes people smile every time you use it?
After a few beers myself and John Lentz share the same useless talent…those who know, know.
When was the last time you did something new for the first time and what was it?
I tried to learn Spanish a few weeks ago…it’s a work in progress.
Have you done other sports besides martial art and which teams/athletes are your favorite? Any funny stories?
I played football until my late teens, I had the opportunity to start wrestling when I was about 15 but didn’t want to because none of my friends did wrestling, now all I ever want to do is wrestle/ train BJJ.
Have you ever worked a job not in the fitness/martial arts industry? What were the highlights and lessons you learned?
I’ve managed liquor stores and I still bar tend occasionally, I learned that all drunk people are annoying when you’re working, doesn’t matter if they are friendly drunks or aggressive drunks.
Is there a book you’ve read that has influenced your outlook on life or the way you approach certain situations or people?
Stop Splitting the Difference by Chris Voss.
What movie have you seen over 5 times?
The Departed.
If you could go back in time to your first martial art class, what would be the advice you give to your past self?
Don’t roll with Craig Jones…it’ll hurt.
During a Absolute MMA staff retreat a zombie apocalypse breaks out. You get separated with 3 AMMA team members. Who would be part your dream team and why?
1. Mikael Yahaya- Because you always need someone who runs slower than you do to avoid getting eaten.
2. Oliver Smith- Because he’s super tall and can get all the stuff that’s too high for me to reach.
3. Tim Trevail- I just want him there in the hope that he’ll get eaten alive and I can watch.
“Tom’s progress since joining Absolute MMA has been crazy to witness. Not only from seeing his progress through working with him for strength and conditioning, but seeing him roll on the mats. He’s someone who always strives to properly understand exactly what it is he’s doing and why he’s doing it, both in the gym and on the mat. That attitude has led to him being quite the coach and Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He’s someone I respect greatly and someone I always look forward to talking to. On top of that, he’s currently on the road to 100 kilos, his drunk stories are full of debauchery and ridiculous… I’ve also born witness to too much evidence of the debauchery… Anyhow, Tom is great and I hope he’s eating a pizza as he’s reading this.” – Amit Narayan
“Tom is a gentleman and a scholar. He’s always been a monster on the mats, and recently he’s been a very welcome addition to the admin team at St Kilda. Love your work, Tonny. And your chest.” – Oliver Smith
“I don’t really have anything nice to say about Tom Everett apart from the fact my favorite time with him is when he leaves the gym.”- Adam Jones
“Some say it was his face for radio that led Tom to start training in jiu jitsu, others say that it was his inability to win schoolyard karate matches. Whatever the reason, we’re now lucky to have this gentleman on the mats with us. He’s a wicked training partner, and all round top guy to have in the gym. I’ve no doubt he’ll go far in jiu jitsu, with his training ethic and skill levels already driving him to the top of the rooster division in Australia.”- Tim Trevail
“Tom is one of the friendliest people at the gym, who also has really nice BJJ and is one of my favourite training partners who knows exactly how to smash me up. He is also knows for his perfect hair and his chicken legs… but that’s actually Amit’s fault.”- Livia Gluchowska
“Tom Everett is a symbol of hope for skinny weak men everywhere. A hope that one day, with hard training and perseverance they too might be able to defend themselves against a 14 year old boy or a small woman.” – Craig Jones