Joe Rogan has served as the UFC’s color-commentator for over a decade despite never having competed in the sport himself, but this life-long martial arts fanatic undoubtedly knows what he’s talking about.
This video shows him proving he can back up his words with action as he demonstrates a slick jiu-jitsu move while rolling with Bas Rutten on an episode of the ‘Inside MMA’ series.
On the show Rogan showed an alternative way to take an opponent’s back than the typical way we see in the Octagon.
Rogan explained that rather trying to free your foot from half-guard in order to progress to mount, it’s instead possible to transition to the back using what’s often referred to as a ‘ninja roll’ or ‘samurai roll’.
As he captures my foot and tries to keep me from mounting, what I do is called ‘The Lockdown,’ Rogan explained, with Rutten serving as his partner. From here I triangle the back of my knee with my left foot, and then I put my right foot down and catch it on his leg, securing his legs in place.
From there I put my arm under his armpit and I roll… he continues, showing how Rutten is taken with him as he does so thanks to the lockdown, …and I take his back.
Rogan first began training jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie back in 1996, and would go on to earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the gi under Jean Jacques Machado.
Continuing his martial arts journey, he then looked to train without the gi, and found the perfect man to teach him when he met jiu-jitsu ace Eddie Bravo after performing at a comedy club back in 2000.
Bravo offered to give him a private lesson, and Rogan was so impressed by what he could do when they rolled together that he’s been training under him ever since.
The two would go on to become the best of friends, and Rogan would eventually earn his no-gi black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu from Bravo in 2012.
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In addition to his two BJJ black belts, the multi-talented comedian, actor, commentator and TV / podcast host also holds a black belt in taekwondo and a blue belt in judo.
