Only a handful of the world’s most famous celebrities are strong and dedicated enough to hold a black belt in martial arts.
There aren’t many celebrities with a black belt, but the ones who hold them might surprise you. Read on to find out 10 famous celebs with a black belt.
10) Forest Whitaker
Not only is Whitaker a yoga enthusiast and trained martial artist holding the rank of black belt in Kenpo Karate, he is also trained in the Filipino martial art of Kali under the famed Dan Inosanto who was a student of the late Bruce Lee and also the trainer of Bruce’s son, the late Brandon Lee.
9) Sarah Michelle Gellar
That’s right, Buffy the Vampire Slayer could more than likely kick your ass for that off handed sexual comment you are more than likely to only repeat to yourself in your head and play out all of the what if fantasies. Not only has this Hollywood queen earned a black belt in Karate but it is also rumored that she has earned the rank of 1st-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
8) Bear Grylls
The star of the Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild is not only an adventurer, survivalist, motivational speaker, and all around kick ass human being but he is also the holder of the rank of 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate.
7) Dolph Lundgren
Most popular for his role as Drago in the epic film Rocky IV, Lundgren is a legitimate badass. Not only has he been closely involved with martial arts most of his life he holds a 3rd-degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate and was the European Champion in 1980 as well as 1981. Lundgren also had a professional boxing match against MMA pioneer Oleg Taktarov.
6) Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie not only holds a brown belt in Karate but held that same rank in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu…for 8 years! That is until BJJ pioneer Renzo Gracie surprised Ritchie at the movie premiere of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and presented him with his black belt. Renzo had this to say in regards to Ritchie’s accomplishment, No one has ever worked harder than Guy to get his black belt, he spent 8 years as a brown belt – training every day. He is my favorite.
5) Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin is no stranger to the martial arts. Not only does this world leader hold an 8th-degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate but he also is a 6th Dan in Judo. Having trained for many years in Sambo as well, Putin still competes in Judo as well as Sambo competitions and is even the president of the same dojo in St. Petersburg in which he trained at as an adolescent.
4) James Caan
This legendary actor has not only made a name for himself on the silver screen, James Caan is an avid and extremely accomplished martial artist holding the rank of 6th Dan in Gosoku Ryu Karate, an art in which he has trained in for over 30 years and was also responsible for training the Culver City Police Department (Culver City, CA) in martial arts.
3) Sean Connery
Arguably one of the best James Bonds to appear on the silver screen Sir Thomas Sean Connery has not only been knighted (by Elizabeth II in Edinburgh, Scotland back in 2000) but has also earned the honor of Shodan (1st-degree black belt) in the art of Kyokushin Karate.
2) Ed O’Neill
That’s right, Al Bundy is not only more of a man than you’ll ever be but could more than likely wrap you up like a pretzel and make you scream uncle with his hands literally tied behind his back. Ed O’Neill, famous for his role in the sitcom Married with Children, has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for more than 22 years and in 2007 received his black belt from one of the UFC and BJJ pioneers Rorion Gracie.
1) Willie Nelson
When one thinks of this iconic country music star and avid proponent of the use of marijuana the idea of a proficiency in the martial arts isn’t exactly what comes to mind, however; make no mistake about it: Willie Nelson could kick your ass! At 81 years old Nelson received his 5th-degree black belt in the art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul from Master Sam Um whom he has been training with in Austin, Texas for over 20 years!
