Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a hand-to-hand kind of martial art which is based on the concept of holding and controlling your opponent in a way that he is left with no other option than submitting. Because of this the students of this martial art study in detail the working of the human body and its limitations. They then learn techniques that aim to target the weakness of the opponent by using controlling positions and the application of join locks and chokes.
All this knowledge and training will enable you to take on any opponent, no matter the size or strength. But the road to this knowledge is not a piece of cake. It demands your physical and mental fitness. As a result, students of BJJ end up having a much-improved physical fitness, problem-solving technique, and knowledge of the human body and mind.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has gained a lot of popularity, and many people, including celebrities, are learning this art of fighting. Here are five celebrities we bet you didn’t know practice the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu..
Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin also known as “The Crocodile Hunter,” was a student of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for years. Now you understand why he was so good in capturing and controlling crocs 🙂 He has used his BJJ skills in many life and death encounters. Steve Irwin learned the art of BJJ from MMA star Dan Higgins and famous MMA coach Greg Jackson. Just before his tragic incident with the stingray, he earned a blue belt and trained hard for three years to get it. All his life Steve grappled with the massive strengths of some of the biggest crocodiles inthe world. So, it is no surprise that he was a person with some extraordinary dedication. Had he survived the stingray’s attack on Sept 4th, 2006, he might have been a black belt today.
Chuck Noris
Action star Chuck Norris has been training in BJJ off and on for almost thirty years. He earned his black belt many years ago, but he did not stop and continued practicing. In fact, he recently earned his third degree in 2012. All this started when he was on holidays in Rio de Janerio and learning about different martial arts. He was looking for the best martial arts trainers, and one name kept on coming uup—Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Finally, Chuck tracked down the Gracie Academy and asked if he could train with them. Being a black belt in judo Chuck Norris thought to give it a shot and sparred with Rickson and Helio Gracie. He was very confident about his skills and was hoping to put up a great fight, but admitted he was choked out effortlessly. Since that day, he was hooked and continued training with Rorion Gracie, then the Machado brothers in Los Angeles, CA.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, the famous singer who has topped the charts with her amazing music, is also making her name in the sport of BJJ. She has been known to follow UFC events for quite some time now and have made it to a couple of live events as well. Which shows that her love for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is something she has been carrying for a long time. She has spoken about BJJ has helped her get back in shape and keep her sane with the pressures of everyday stardom. The 27 years old singer earned her blue belt back in 2017, and aims at continuing to advance in the art.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves has been on an adventurous ride since the end of his Bill and Ted’s days. During the past four decades, Keanu has been a part of many action-packed movies, including the iconic The Matrix Trilogy. But the actor’s fame resurged to new heights with the release of John Wick. The film is full of great choreographed fights, and stunt scenes and Keanu Reeves have been in the best shape of his life. The secret behind this is the fact that he has been working with the Machado brothers, which is why you can witness many intense fight scenes that are inspired by BJJ in the John Wick movies. The 55-year-old actor has previously learned several martial arts styles including Kung Fu, Judo, Sambo and Sword fighting.
Guy Ritchie
The director of famous movies like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Sherlock Holmes movies, Guy Ritchie is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The famous director has trained in Renzo Gracie’s BJJ gym in New York. Do you remember the scene from the movie Sherlock Holmes, where Robert Jr takes part in a bare-knuckle boxing match? The martial art used in that film is known as Neo Bartitsu and said to be hugely inspired by BJJ. This shows Ritchie’s interest in this sport. He remained a brown belt for about seven years till 2015 when he earned his black belt. It has been widely rumored that during filming, Ritchie set up a mats for himself and his film crew, so that they could get some practice rounds (rolls) in before the shooting film.
