6 Celebrities You Didn't Know Train in Martial Arts
Cultures around the world have practiced martial arts for thousands of years, and its popularity continues to grow today. From Karate and Judo to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, it encompasses a wide range of disciplines that help practitioners improve their fitness, build confidence, develop self-defense skills, and strengthen mental focus. Millions of people train regularly at martial arts schools, including athletes, entertainers, and public figures who have made it an active part of their lifestyle.
While some celebrities are open about their training, others may surprise you! Here are six celebrities you probably didn’t know train in martial arts:
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is a natural-born comedian known for his humor, his ridiculous facial expressions, and his funky personality on screen. But, he’s also an extremely skilled martial arts athlete and has achieved his brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Earning a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu is no small task. This belt represents the final stage before black belt mastery. However, there is actually one level higher than a black belt; a red/coral belt is the highest honor in BJJ, which fewer that 100 people have achieved.
A brown belt is earned when an athlete demonstrates complete understanding of Jiu-Jitsu. Brown belts have superior control and defense skills and a profound mental and physical understanding of BJJ. With a few more years of training, these athletes can reach the highest levels of martial arts. For dedicated athletes, earning a brown belt typically takes five years, and one must remain a brown belt for at least a year before earning their black belt.
Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel is a woman of many talents. She’s an actress, a model, a vocalist, and even a producer. From comedies to horror movies, Biel is a sought-after actress. In 2003, she was cast for a role in Blade Trinity, which required significant martial arts training. Since then, Biel has kept up with her training. Aside from an incredible workout, she said martial arts gives her a sense of empowerment. Biel has trained in nearly every type of martial arts, but she’s remained active in Karate and has earned a black belt in Kickboxing.
A black belt in Kickboxing represents the completion of basic training. Black belts are awarded to advanced fighters who have completed several tests throughout many years. This level of training demands extreme dedication, discipline, and strong willpower.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Anniston, who rose to international fame through her role as Rachel Green in Friends, is now an A-list actress, producer, and businesswoman. As the face of Women’s Health magazine and other health-based programs and publications, Aniston has always prioritized her health and fitness.
Aniston trains in Budokon, which translates to “the way of the warrior spirit.” Budokon was created by Cameron Shayne who pioneered the concept of Budokon Mixed Movement Arts by combining mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with yoga, crawling patterns, mobility, calisthenics, and cognitive studies into a single black belt system. This form of martial arts involves continuous circular movements in all planes of motion and was developed with a distinct influence of martial arts and animal locomotion, helping achieve higher levels of mobility and athletic strength.
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay is a multi-Michelin starred chef who’s also known for his star roles in television shows like Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. But, talk about a man of many talents—Chef Ramsay is also a trained martial artist.
He earned his black belt in Karate. In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio, Ramsay said, “I started [Karate] because it’s a work of art… I’ve been into a cage and worked closely with a coach and it’s something I’ve worked heavily on in the last couple of years.” Ramsay’s interest in martial arts also extends to Boxing. Aside from fitness, he explained that his training provides peace of mind, knowing he can protect himself if ever needed.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is truly a triple threat as an actor, a singer-songwriter, and a martial arts athlete. In 2017, Lovato announced she had earned her blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A blue belt recognizes intermediate fighters who have knowledge of all attacking and defending positions: mount, side control, back, guard, and turtle.
In an interview with People magazine, Lovato said, “I first got into Jiu-Jitsu because I loved watching people grapple. I think it’s really cool to learn something that helps you with self-defense.”
Lovato has also received training in a full range of martial arts including Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. She looks to martial arts as a powerful fitness outlet, defense tool, and an emotional release.
Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher, who’s widely known for his role in That ’70s Show, is also trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He wrestled in high school, which helped in his training, and his martial arts journey officially began in 2012 while he was in Rio de Janeiro shooting an ad campaign. Since then, he’s remained fit with continuous training and was just recently awarded his brown belt.
Kutcher is personally trained by Rigan Machado, a coral belt holder. Coral belts are the highest honor within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; this honor requires 45 years of training in black belt BJJ. Under Machado, Kutcher has had the opportunity to fight with big names in the BJJ community.
With Kutcher’s brown belt status, he’s just one level from becoming an esteemed black belt martial artist. With training every day, he has his eyes on the prize.
From actors and musicians to professional athletes, martial arts training continues to attract people from all walks of life. Whether practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Karate, or another discipline, these celebrities demonstrate the lasting appeal of martial arts and the benefits that come with consistent training. Their dedication to training is a reminder that martial arts can provide lifelong physical, mental, and personal growth opportunities.
Continue Exploring Martial Arts
If you enjoyed learning about these celebrities, you may also want to explore the many styles, training methods, and benefits of martial arts.
