Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu just gained another high-profile faixa-preta: Ashton Kutcher. After more than a decade of training, the actor was promoted to black belt by Rigan Machado, the Brazilian coral belt who quietly shapes the grappling skills of half of Hollywood.
Kutcher began his BJJ journey in 2012, during a trip to Rio de Janeiro at the Ricardo De La Riva Academy. What started as a fitness hobby evolved into a serious commitment: early-morning drills, private classes at home to balance family life, and years spent working through every belt — blue, purple, brown, and now black.
Machado, one of the most respected names in the sport, guided him through the process with emphasis on traditional Brazilian technique, leverage, and discipline. Even when a viral rolling clip with Craig Jones sparked backlash years ago, Kutcher stayed the course. The black belt marks not just skill, but consistency, humility, and long-term dedication.
Celebrities Who Also Wear the Faixa-Preta
Kutcher isn’t alone. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become one of Hollywood’s favorite disciplines — and several stars have gone far enough to earn their own black belts:
- Ed O’Neill – The Modern Family actor is one of BJJ’s earliest celebrity black belts, trained under the Gracie family.
- Joe Rogan – A lifelong martial artist who holds black belts in both BJJ and Taekwondo.
- Guy Ritchie – Yes, the filmmaker. Also a legit black belt under Renzo Gracie.
- Zoltan Bathory – Musician and Five Finger Death Punch founder, known for competing regularly.
- Chuck Norris – Holds a BJJ black belt alongside multiple martial arts honors.
And while not yet black belts, several other stars help keep BJJ in the cultural spotlight:
- Keanu Reeves, who has trained with Rickson Gracie;
- Demi Lovato, a dedicated purple belt;
- Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Wesley Snipes, and surfing legend Kelly Slater — all practitioners of the Brazilian art.
Why Celebrities Keep Turning to a Brazilian Sport
Beyond the obvious physical conditioning — strength, mobility, endurance — BJJ gives something celebrities rarely get: structure, discipline, and a community that doesn’t care about fame. Inside the academy, everyone is just another student trying to solve the same puzzle of leverage and timing.
It’s mentally grounding, physically demanding, and deeply addictive — which explains why a martial art born in Rio now dominates training mats from Beverly Hills to London.
And as Ashton Kutcher’s new black belt shows, when Brazil exports culture, the world listens.
