Paving the way for future generations
The late legendary actor Sean Connery is renowned for his iconic portrayal of James Bond. His charismatic and suave portrayal of the character in films like ‘Dr. No' (1962), ‘Goldfinger' (1964), and ‘From Russia with Love’ (1964) made him an international superstar and cemented his status as one of the greatest actors in cinematic history.
In preparation for his role in ‘Best of the Best,’ Roberts began studying Taekwondo under legendary trainer Master John Chang. Though the specifics of his current martial arts involvement are not widely known, he did earn himself a first-degree black belt at some stage. It’s safe to say he deserved his place alongside the star-studded action heroes during his feature in ‘The Expendables' (2010).
Caan was considered a master in the art of Gosoku Ryu Karate having earned a 6th degree black belt over more than 30 years of training. Trained by Karate legend and founder of the International Karate Association, Takayuki Kubota, Caan himself began training students in the art of Gosoku Ryu, including the Culver City Police Department. To top that off, Caan was honored with the rank of Soke Dai by the International Karate Association, which essentially means ‘second in charge.'
When one thinks of John Cusack, movies like ‘Martian Child’ and ‘High Fidelity’ come to mind. However, John Cusack has trained with some of the world's most decorated martial artists.
The legendary actor, who passed away in July of 2022, was a Hollywood legend! Well known for his roles in movies like ‘The Godfather' series and ‘Elf' (2003), Caan was also an unbelievably accomplished martial artist.
Connery was not just a man of danger on the big screen, however. Under Mas Oyama's tutelage, the legendary founder of Kyokushin Karate, Connery earned himself a black belt in the discipline.
Actor Taylor Lautner is no joke. After playing the shape-shifting werewolf Jacob Black in the ‘Twilight’ film series, Lautner rose to international stardom.
‘Modern Family’ and ‘Married with Children’ star Ed O’Neil has been gracing TV screens for what seems like forever. O’Neil is a man of many talents. He represented the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers as a linebacker in the NFL between 1974 and 1980.
Aside from his accomplishments and accolades, the actor has opened multiple martial arts training facilities where he aims to help the younger generation learn the ways of martial arts.
A well-known face in Hollywood, Roberts has been featured on both the big and small screens with his impressive acting skills. He's appeared in numerous films and television series, earning recognition for his roles in ‘Best of the Best' (1989), ‘The Dark Knight' (2008), and ‘Runaway Train' (1985).
Gellar is best known for her iconic role as Buffy Summers in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ in which she portrayed a strong vampire-slaying heroine. She gained widespread recognition and became a cultural icon for her performance in the series.
The actor is actually an extremely accomplished fighter. Cusack started training for his role in ‘Say Anything’ (1989) and never stopped! John has been training for over 2 decades and has worked with none other than legendary kickboxer Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez, earning himself a 6th-degree black belt in Ukidokan Kickboxing.
O’Neil also started training in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1991 under the guidance of Rorion Gracie and has earned himself the highest honor in the Jiu-Jitsu world, a coveted black belt.
Widely known for her role as Dolores Abernathy in the HBO series ‘Westworld,’ which earned her critical acclaim, Evan Rachel Wood is another to feature on the list of celebrities with martial arts training.
Dolph Lundgren, the renowned villain of ‘Rocky IV’ (1985) and an imposing figure in the cult classic ‘Universal Soldier’ (1992) has been a Hollywood mainstay for as long as most can remember. Lundgren is well known for playing action roles on the big screen, however, he’s not just a top-grade fighter in the movies.
A household name in Hollywood, Watts has graced the silver screen in memorable roles in movies like ‘Mulholland Drive' (2001), ‘King Kong' (2005), and 'Diana' (2013). Her talent has earned her the well-deserved respect of her colleagues and the admiration of fans worldwide.
Lundgren holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate. He also captained the Swedish National Karate Team and led the U.S. Pentathlon Team during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Beyond her illustrious film career, Watts has delved into martial arts, specifically Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While she may not hold a black belt, her dedication to these martial arts styles and her past involvement in amateur Judo championships in her early 20s highlight her genuine passion for martial arts and her commitment to physical fitness.
Idolized for his roles in the ‘Blade’ series and the hit movie ‘Demolition Man’ (1993), Wesley Snipes is a household name known for his on-screen action and fight scenes.
Snipes is an extremely highly trained martial artist. Since the age of 12, Snipes has studied Shotokan Karate and Kapkido, earning him a 5th Degree Black Belt in the former and a 2nd Degree Black Belt in the latter, an accomplishment few have been able to achieve.
The ‘Westworld’ actress was extremely happy at the chance to show off her martial arts skills on the set of the hit TV show. Wood holds a black belt in Taekwondo and is definitely not someone you want to underestimate.
If that's the vibe you got, you'd be right! The acclaimed director is another of the Hollywood elite to have earned a much sought-after black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ritchie earned his black belt from world-renowned Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Renzo Gracie. If you needed any more confirmation that Ritchie could hold his own in a street fight, he’s also accomplished in the discipline of Judo.
Forest Whitaker is a widely respected and acclaimed actor for his roles in ‘The Last King of Scotland’ (2006) and ‘The Butler' (2013), but he also boasts a black belt in Kenpo Karate.
Lautner is the real deal when it comes to Karate. The actor earned his black belt at the age of eight and went on to win multiple National Championships, going on to win the World Championships at the age of 12.
Whitaker has also studied the art of Kali stick fighting under Dan Inosanto, who was a student of the legendary Bruce Lee.
Phillipe started training in Taekwondo when he was just eight years old. Earning a black belt years later, Taekwondo has remained a major part of Phillippe's life.
Sources: (BleacherReport) (Medium) (Ranker)
Based on his hit gangster movies ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998) and ‘Snatch’ (2000), it seems that director Guy Ritchie has a tough side.
Gellar began training in Taekwondo to help her with her stunts on the hit '90s show. Gellar enjoyed the training so much that she eventually earned a black belt. She has also dabbled in kickboxing and basic street fighting. It seems Buffy’s not just dangerous on TV!
Widely recognized for his roles in hit movies ‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999) and ‘Shooter’ (2007), Ryan Phillippe is another Hollywood star you wouldn’t want to mess with.
‘Boondocks Saints’ and ‘Dexter’ actor Sean Patrick Flanery has been practicing martial arts for most of his life. Flanery holds not one, but two black belts in two different disciplines of martial arts, namely Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo, which is an incredibly rare feat.
Zuckerberg has earned himself a very respectable blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has successfully taken part in grappling tournaments. In 2023, he even challenged fellow tech billionaire Elon Musk to a fight at the Colosseum in Rome...
The Meta founder is an avid lover of all things MMA. The Zuck has shared multiple clips of his training in both stand-up striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Martial arts have gained major traction in recent years thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations like the UFC. Even Hollywood celebrities have not been immune to the allure of the ancient fighting disciplines. While many actors dabble in martial arts for roles or personal fitness, some have gone above and beyond, achieving impressive rankings and demonstrating their dedication to various fighting styles.
In this gallery, we explore the intriguing stories of 15 well-known celebrities that you don't want to mess with.
Could you beat these celebrities in a fight?
You might want to think twice before challenging these A-listers!
CELEBRITY Martial arts
Martial arts have gained major traction in recent years thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations like the UFC. Even Hollywood celebrities have not been immune to the allure of the ancient fighting disciplines. While many actors dabble in martial arts for roles or personal fitness, some have gone above and beyond, achieving impressive rankings and demonstrating their dedication to various fighting styles.
In this gallery, we explore the intriguing stories of 15 well-known celebrities that you don't want to mess with.