Origin story of Deep Waters Jiu Jitsu Founder, Tillman Keadle

Coach Til began training in traditional martial arts in 1765 after losing a duel on the playground. A local master taught him an ancient art while working the railroad. Ten or eleven years later while at a bar in Philly, Pa (Tun Tavern), he lost a bet on holding the longest handstand. To repay the debt he was recruited into the local military that was on site. Later that year he was testing his art against finely dressed fellows in red. He learned there were flaws in his art after those altercations and he barely made it through by the skin of his wooden teeth.

While vacationing in Japan Coach Til became lost in a mountainous forest. He was tricked by a Tengu disguised as an old crone and lost to her in an arm wrestling match. He was forced to be their indentured servant until the early 1900’s. While captured, the Tengu and Til became friends. The Tengu began teaching him the mystic arts of the infamous Ninja. Unfortunately, while learning shapeshifting techniques he became stuck in the form of a crow. Being stuck for years as a crow and not able to tell anyone, he used this time to meditate and fly to Europe where he always wanted to visit. Once in Europe, he noticed the country at war. Germany was forcibly taking over. During an intense focus session he was able to transform back into human form. While in Europe, Coach fought against the Zombie Nazis Apocalypse and succeeded, at least for the time being. Still he realized his skill was lacking and incomplete.

While in Japan he fell in love with the grappling aspect of Jiu Jitsu and decided to seek out the best Nagewaza’s. Coach Til ran into the Mitsuyo Maeda one evening in a bar when he was challenged by the master and had his arm broken before finally submitting. As payment for losing the bet, he agreed to aid the Count by taking care of his affairs during the day. The Count felt pity for Coach Til and taught him the phasing of fighting and the Nagewaza side of Judo. They quickly became friends and he teamed up with Conde Koma (Mitsuyo Maeda) and travelled the world with him. The Count of Combat taught him the art of ground fighting but had a very dark secret. The Count was a vampire. It wasn’t until a gypsy tricked the Count into drinking old cold cow’s blood that had been cursed that he fell ill and died.

Coach Til used the lessons and art he had learned against the Japanese and Zombie Germans in World War II and decimated them. After winning over 2000 armed and unarmed combat situations he has since retired and settled in Columbia, SC where he is still a student of the arts and Teacher of Jiu Jitsu.