While there are so many celebrities who now train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are a few who have been more notable for their BJJ journeys

Below we look at those notable characters in the Jiu Jitsu family and their history rank and comments about the sport we love so much. Apex BJJ is the home for many students and we support all who put their ego aside and give this wonderful sport a go!

🧭 Belt Breakdown

For clarity, here’s a quick belt summary for celebrities who train BJJ:

Note: This list does not reflect any current promotions and will change as celebrities are promoted to higher ranks.

🎬 Celebrities Who Roll: The Stars Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu (BJJ) has become a major draw not just for MMA fighters and fitness buffs but also Hollywood actors, musicians, and even political figures. Let’s shine a light on some of the most well-known faces you might find on the mats, and what keeps them rolling.

1. Ashton Kutcher – Brown Belt under Rigan Machado

Ashton Kutcher has been training consistently under Rigan Machado an 8th‑degree red-black belt at his Beverly Hills academy. Known for putting in serious time on the mats, Kutcher has earned a brown belt, just one step away from black belt. He’s often cited for using BJJ to maintain fitness and mental clarity

2. Demi Lovato – Purple Belt under Orlando Sanchez

Singer and actress Demi Lovato fell in love with BJJ in 2016 after trying MMA. She trained at Unbreakable Gym in West Hollywood and worked with renown coach Orlando Sanchez. Demi progressed from white to blue, and now holds a purple belt. She’s very public about how BJJ helps her mental health referring to it as “a game of chess” that helps manage stress .

3. Keanu Reeves – White Belt Training with Rigan Machado

Keanu Reeves trained BJJ to prepare for John Wick 2 and became a regular at Machado’s gym. Though he holds a white belt, he’s committed to frequent training, spending up to five hours a day during film shoots. He’s praised BJJ for its mental discipline and focus .

4. Tom Hardy – Blue Belt with REORG & Royal Marines

Tom Hardy first picked up BJJ in 2011 during filming of Warrior, training with Royal Marines and later at REORG Jiu Jitsu a charity program for veterans. He became a blue belt and even won a gold medal at the 2022 Reorg Jiu-Jitsu Open in Milton Keynes.

5. Russell Brand – Purple Belt under Kev Capel at RGA Bucks

Comedian and spiritual seeker Russell Brand earned a purple belt under Kev Capel at Roger Gracie Academy (Buckinghamshire). On Joe Rogan’s podcast, he described BJJ as “a spiritual pursuit,” teaching humility and respect.

6. Chuck Norris – 3rd‑Degree Black Belt under Machado Family

Martial arts legend Chuck Norris earned a 3rd-degree black belt in 2015 under the Machado lineage and Renzo Gracie. He was pivotal in introducing BJJ to the U.S. and continues to be a revered figure in the community.

7. Jason Statham – Purple Belt under Renzo Gracie

Known for doing most of his own stunts, Jason Statham trains at Renzo Gracie Academy, where he earned a purple belt bjjfanatics.com. His BJJ is integrated into his action‑film training regimen.

8. Vin Diesel – Blue Belt under Rigan Machado & Minotauro Nogueira

Vin Diesel started BJJ in the early 2000s, training under Rigan Machado, MMA legend Minotauro Nogueira, and coach Marcus Vinicius. He holds at least a blue belt, though he isn’t formally ranked beyond that .

9. Dave Bautista – Brown Belt, Training Around the World

“Drax” himself, Dave Bautista, used BJJ to shed nearly 50 pounds after filming Knock at the Cabin. He trains globally often alongside Jason Manly in Budapest and is working toward his brown belt.

10. Henry Cavill – Blue Belt under Roger Gracie

Superman star Henry Cavill has trained with Roger Gracie in London and is widely recognized as holding a blue belt. He attributes his mental toughness and fitness to BJJ.

11. Millie Bobby Brown – White Belt and Early Starter

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training at age 16, eventually earning herself a white belt with two stripes. Her training helped her take on physically demanding roles like Enola Holmes.

12. Mario Lopez – Purple Belt, Competition Champ

TV personality Mario Lopez trained at Gracie Barra Glendale starting in 2017, earning his blue belt in 2018 and advancing to purple belt. He’s also competed and won medals at IBJJF tournaments, such as the Phoenix Open.

13. Kelly Slater – Purple Belt and Surfing Icon

11‑times world surfing champ Kelly Slater trained BJJ within the Machado network and received his purple belt. He’s been vocal about why he recommends BJJ for kids.

14. Wesley Snipes – Under Rigan Machado, Staying Sharp

Action legend Wesley Snipes continues his martial arts journey with BJJ training under Rigan Machado, citing its benefits for physical and mental sharpness. His rank is in the purple‑belt range.

15. Halle Berry – Roles Prep, White Belt

Oscar winner Halle Berry trained BJJ and MMA for films like John Wick 3 and Bruised, working with champions Brian Ortega and Valentina Shevchenko. She holds a white belt.

16. Tommy Lee Jones to Barack Obama – Diverse Ranks

Other notable practitioners include actor-director Clark Gregg (brown belt), Ed O’Neill (black belt under Rorion Gracie), web mogul Mark Zuckerberg (blue belt under Dave Camarillo), baseball legend Barry Bonds (blue belt), Wagner Moura (brown belt under Machado), and Barack Obama, who reportedly dabbled in blue-belt-level training.

🥋 Why Celebrities Love BJJ

1. Body and Mind Transformation
Many celebs credit BJJ with increased fitness, weight control (like Bautista), and stress relief (Lovato, Reeves).

2. Functional Self-Defense
Training under top-tier instructors gives real-world confidence and skill no flashy moves here.

3. Mental Clarity & Purpose
Actors like Reeves and Brand talk about how BJJ helps them escape distractions and live with focus and humility.

4. Film Preparation
Reeves (John Wick), Hardy (Warrior), Berry (Bruised) and others used BJJ to enhance their action sequences authentically.

5. Community and Discipline
The structured training environment (Gi etiquette, belt hierarchy, mat culture) draws in celebrities seeking grounded, purposeful learning.

Training Partners & Coaches

• Rigan Machado: Kutcher, Reeves, Diesel, Snipes all connected to his Beverly Hills team
• Renzo Gracie Academy: Statham, Gregg, O’Neill, Burke of the Gracie lineage.
• Roger Gracie Academy: Brand at RGA Bucks and Cavill in London.
• Unbreakable Gym: Demi Lovato’s home base under Orlando Sanchez.
• REORG & Royal Marines: Tom Hardy’s unique training background.
• Davie Camarillo: Zuckerberg’s coach .

🏆 Competitive Success & Highlights

• Tom Hardy claimed gold at the 2022 Reorg Open as a blue belt.
• Mario Lopez competed and medaled in the IBJJF Phoenix Open.
• Tinie Tempah (rapper) won No‑Gi gold at Reorg, following in Hardy’s footsteps.

💡 The Takeaway

Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu isn’t just a fitness fad or celebrity gimmick it’s a lifelong journey that offers:

1. Real self-defense skills
2. Mindfulness and mental resilience
3. Community and structure
4. Physical and mental transformation
5. Authentic storytelling for film roles

Celebrities often begin for fitness or role prep, but many like Demi Lovato, Tom Hardy, and Russell Brand get hooked and make BJJ part of their lives.