My name is Thomas Herrera and I am a purple belt in BJJ under Brock Larson of Start BJJ. I was recently promoted on the podium at a Tap Cancer Out tournament in Minneapolis. Start BJJ earned Top Fundraising Team Honors and I earned Top Individual Fundraiser honors. On top of being highly active in BJJ, I am also a pro MMA fighter with a record of 1-0 and an amateur record of 15-5. My biggest goals in MMA and BJJ is to use the platform to help raise both money and awareness for causes like cancer, and veterans mental health. Notably, I am 3rd in Tap Cancer Out history for overall fundraising with nearly $50,000 raised in total!

Best piece advice you have ever received?
- keep doing what you are doing. The hard work you are doing won’t necessarily pay off immediately, but if you keep doing what you are doing, you will get to where you want to be.

Book you would gift someone?

- See you at the top - Zig Ziglar. This book is foundational in building a leadership mindset and helps people shape a proper self image.
- Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership Book by John C. Maxwell. This book changes the perspective of an already established leader on the importance of question asking and leading various types of people.

Top Mount Apparel to me means resilience. A family with similar goals and a mindset of winning, learning, and growing. We all know losing is a reality. From what I have seen from fellow ambassadors and athletes who experience defeat, is that resilience is IMPORTANT. We all strive to be the best that we can be, all while helping others whether that’s coaching, instructing, or philanthropy like being a tap cancer out ambassador