Jiu jitsu has quietly become the go-to martial art for people who like control, problem-solving, and the ability to choke someone without throwing a single punch. It is technical, humbling, and brutally honest, which is probably why it attracts so many high-profile names who do not need another hobby for attention.
This is not a list of celebrities who posed in a gi once for Instagram. These are actors, comedians, and public figures who genuinely train, hold legitimate ranks, and have put in the hours on the mat. BJJ fans tend to spot immediately when someone has actually trained versus just learned choreography for a movie.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is not casually “into” jiu jitsu. He competes. In 2022 he quietly entered open tournaments in the UK, won gold, and only caused a stir when people realized Venom had just arm-triangled their teammate.
Hardy holds a purple belt under Roger Gracie lineage and has been training for years alongside his acting career. Teammates regularly comment on how focused and low-key he is in the gym, which somehow makes it even more intimidating.
Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie is a legit Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, promoted by Renzo Gracie. This is not a vanity belt. He has trained consistently for decades and is deeply embedded in the jiu jitsu community.
If you have ever wondered why so many of his films revolve around violence, hierarchy, and controlled chaos, the influence makes a lot more sense once you know how much time he has spent getting crushed on the mats.
Ed O’Neill
Yes, Al Bundy is a black belt.
Ed O’Neill began training Brazilian jiu jitsu in his forties and earned his black belt under Rorion Gracie. He is widely respected in the sport and has spoken openly about how jiu jitsu changed his life, especially in terms of discipline and mental health.
There is something deeply satisfying about knowing that the dad from Modern Family could absolutely fold most people if required.
Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan has been training martial arts since his teens and holds a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Jean Jacques Machado, as well as a no-gi black belt under Eddie Bravo in the 10th Planet system.
Love him or hate him, his technical understanding of grappling is real, and his long-running obsession with jiu jitsu has probably introduced more people to the sport than any marketing campaign ever could.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves does not publicly advertise his belt rank, which is very on brand for him. What is well documented is that he trains Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo extensively for his film roles, particularly the John Wick series.
Stunt teams have repeatedly commented on his commitment and willingness to grind through real training rather than relying on choreography alone. He may not chase promotions, but he absolutely puts in the work.
Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher is a brown belt under Rigan Machado and has trained for many years. He is serious enough about jiu jitsu that he has talked openly about injuries, including a near-miss with heart surgery after intense training.
Kutcher often credits jiu jitsu with helping him manage stress and stay grounded, which feels like a very jiu jitsu answer.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has trained Brazilian jiu jitsu consistently and earned a blue belt. They have spoken publicly about how the sport helped them feel stronger, safer, and more connected to their body.
Jiu jitsu often attracts people who want empowerment without aggression, and Lovato’s relationship with the sport fits that pattern perfectly.
Female celebrities like Demi Lovato have talked openly about how BJJ made them feel safer and stronger in their own bodies.
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg surprised almost everyone by quietly entering jiu jitsu tournaments and winning medals. He trains regularly, has earned a blue belt, and competes without spectacle or hype.
Regardless of how you feel about Big Tech, training jiu jitsu is one of the most unexpectedly human things a billionaire CEO could do.
Scott Caan
Scott Caan is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has been training for a long time under respected instructors, including at high-level gyms in the United States. Known for his work in action-heavy acting roles, his comfort with grappling clearly comes from real mat time rather than movie choreography.
Mario Lopez
Mario Lopez is one of the lesser-known but most legitimate BJJ practitioners in Hollywood. He holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and has competed over the years while balancing life as a tv host and media personality. His training is consistent, low-key, and widely respected within BJJ circles.
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes has trained extensively in martial arts and holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt alongside experience in other combat systems. Long before mixed martial arts became mainstream, he was already blending disciplines for physical health, control, and performance rather than image.
Why Jiu Jitsu Keeps Pulling Celebrities In
Brazilian jiu-jitsu has a way of pulling people in for the long time, even when they start out convinced they’ll quit at white belt. Yep, Brazilian jiu jitsu is not about being flashy or dominant. It is about patience, leverage, and getting comfortable with discomfort. You cannot fake your way through it, no matter how famous you are. A lot of Hollywood actors first got into BJJ while training for demanding movie roles, then stayed once the novelty wore off and the obsession kicked in. Actor Russell Brand has spoken about how training gave him structure during a period when he needed discipline more than image.
That is exactly why it appeals to people whose lives are otherwise built on performance. On the mat, none of that matters. You either escape the choke or you do not.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of those rare pursuits where fame disappears the moment you step on the mat. Whether someone is a Hollywood actor, a stand-up comedian, a tv host, or a world champion in another sport, everyone starts in the same place, usually as a white belt with a lot to learn.
That is part of the appeal. The art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu rewards patience, consistency, and years of training rather than image or hype. For many famous actors and famous personalities, it becomes less about movie roles or public perception and more about physical health, discipline, and something that feels real life in an industry built on performance. Once the BJJ bug bites, it rarely lets go.
More BJJ Content
If you’re curious about the art of BJJ beyond celebrities, there’s plenty more to explore, from how Brazilian jiu-jitsu became a popular sport in the United States to why so many people stay committed for the long time. Whether you’re brand new or already deep into your own BJJ journey, there’s always more to learn.
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