Top 15 Celebrities That Are Highly Trained in Martial Arts

There are many misconceptions when it comes to celebrities, mainly due to the incredible amount of gossip their exposed to. In fact, it's no surprise if more and more people are leaving social media or just taking a break from them.
In nowadays film industry, technology has reached such levels that sometimes it might be hard to understand if we're looking at the actor's skills, at his or her stuntman, or if it's just a special effect.
Although many films prefer using stuntmen to play dangerous roles (mainly for safety and legal issues), some of the least expected celebrities are actually very well trained in martial arts.

Most of the time we see some incredible scenes in the movies it's probably stuntmen performing instead of a well-known celebrity. However, some celebrities are trained in martial arts and they're pretty good at it.

#15 Kevin James

Famous for playing cozy and friendly roles, Kevin is actually pretty good at MMA! Kevin James has always been a huge fan of MMA, so when he got the leading role in "Here comes the Boom", it was like a dream come true.

He took the opportunity and trained for 14 months. He trained with some of the best fighters in the world and his body overcome a huge transformation.

He stated that he was able to go against guys such as Rich Franklin or Wanderlei Silva, but he was also very glad that these guys didn't actually go full-out against him.

Kevin is for sure a celebrity from who you wouldn't expect such high-level training in martial arts.

#14 Taylor Lautner

Taylor was active in Karate since he was a child. In fact, he became a black belt at the age of 8 and he also won multiple forms and weapon demonstrations.

Ranked as one of the best practitioners in his category, Taylor became a three-time junior world champion. And that's when he was a child, now that he has gained some weight, he's even more unstoppable.

#13 Paul Walker

Before his deadly car incident that took Paul away, not only he was a great actor but also a great martial artist. In fact, Paul trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for a number of years under the great Ricardo Miller.

Paul's commitment to training Jiu Jitsu to him to the brown belt degree. Considering how difficult it is to climb the degrees in this martial art, Paul's achievement is pretty outstanding.

Walker was also a big fan of UFC and he stated that if he ever got a role that included fighting he'd love to showcase grappling in order to show Jiu-Jitsu to the world.

After his death, he was awarded a black belt by his longtime instructor.

#12 Jason Statham

Too cool to be true? Not really, it seems like Jason Statham might have the full package. His moves are pretty sick in the movies, but turns out it's not all scened. In fact, Jason is highly trained in multiple disciplines, such as Karate, Kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The latter is his most long-term martial art and he has reached the purple belt. He's also a very huge fan of Kickboxing, and it really shows in his movies.

#11 Michael Jai White

This name might be somehow new to you if you're not really into martial arts, boxing, or movies concerning this field. However, Michael is the elephant in the room when it comes to anything that has to deal with fighting in general I'd say.

Maybe not all of the movies that he starred in were successful, but his martial arts training is a totally different situation. He has 8 black belts in Karate Shotokan, Taekwondo, Kobudo, Goju Ryu, Tangsudo, Wushu, and Kyokushin Karate.

One could say he dedicated his whole life to martial arts and fighting disciplines, including boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing. He even sparred with some big names in MMA and Boxing.

#10 Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel looks like a strong angry and silent killer in most of his movies and apparently, he can back those roles up with his MMA training that he started in 2013.

In order to get ready for his role in the seventh film of "Fast and the Furious" he fell in love while training with the martial artist Tony Jaa and has continued training since then. You can see that his training has paid off. In these clips, he can do some serious acrobatic moves.

#9 Ed O'Neill

When it comes to martial arts, age can just be a number so when I tell you that 75-year-old Ed O'Neill can absolutely wreck you, you better believe it.

This man was an incredible athlete in football and got signed for a short time by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He later discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has trained it for more than 22 years even earning his black belt all the way back in 2007.

He called this, his greatest achievement besides his children. This man is truly dedicated and he will submit you in seconds.

#8 Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes can not only dodge paying off any taxes he can also avoid any of your strikes. Since he has trained in martial arts since the age of 12, he is a fifth-dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and a second-dan black belt in Hapkido.

He has basically trained all his life in martial arts, especially Kung Fu, Brazilian jiu Jitsu, and Kickboxing. In addition, he spent time in prison which can only mean that he can now kick your ass out of the pure instinct of survival and his imposing aura without using his martial arts skills at all.

#7 Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato is the first woman on this list and she has had a very interesting life since becoming a child actor with various acting roles and some very unfortunate personal issues.

But she started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu back in 2017 and made it to the blue belt before she relapsed. However, she is working to get back into training.

Lovato has always liked the grappling aspect and finds it very meditative since she always has to be thinking of ways to attack and defend, plus it allows her to defend herself from any unknown attacker.

#6 Idris Elba

Now we land with a guy who basically put his career on hold for an entire year in order to dedicate himself to learning Kickboxing and then having his first professional fight.

Many people thought that it was a joke but Idris always wanted to challenge himself and actually fight a real match, and he made it.

When in 2016 he had his first, and only pro fight against Lionel Graves, which he actually won in the first round with KO, there were times when he wanted to quit the training.

However, he pushed through and now he can basically beat any normal person and I guess some pros.

#5 Freddie Prinze Jr

Freddie Prinze Jr has trained at the Gracie Academy for years but began his initial Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 12. Since his retirement, he has really focused on training and as of 2015, he had a blue belt in the discipline.

You might think that this guy is just some pretty boy but it turns out that he can fold you like a freaking pretzel.

#4 Ashton Kutcher

Not only has Ashton Kutcher taken time off his acting career in order to fight against human trafficking and child abuse. He apparently can actually fight for real.

He had a background in Wrestling, so when he decided to take up Brazilian jiu-jitsu he was able to advance fairly fast to a purple belt. Although maybe it was too fast for some critics he is currently a brown belt under Rigan Machado and made it to the brown belt after five years as a purple belt.

Since he has been rolling with some big names like Paulo Costa he didn't get criticized for getting this belt this time.

#3 Chuck Norris

So this guy is absolutely no surprise since the facts about him are fairly impressive. When he does a push-up he doesn't push himself up as much as he pushes the world down.

He started his martial art career early and even developed his own martial art called Chun Kuk Do and is, of course, a 10th-degree black belt in that discipline. He also holds a 9th-degree black belt in Tangsudo, and an 8th-degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Becoming the first westerner to be awarded the honor of becoming a grand master, he also holds a black belt in Judo and most impressively a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This guy can just plainly shatter your world.

#2 Joe Rogan

The Famous 5 ft 3-inch tall Joe Rogan can absolutely destroy you in multiple martial arts. He started in Karate but quickly transitioned to Taekwondo where he became the US Open champion where he got his black belt in only one year.

He later trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has two black belts in this discipline getting a black belt from Eddie Bravo and another one from Jean Jacques Machado. He also has strength in Muay Thai and if you have ever seen him showing off his kicks you would be terrified.

#1 Gina Carano

So, for the true MMA fans, you know who Gina Carano was before she started acting and you know what she is capable of.

She basically fought professionally for three years and was destroying all her opponents until one of the most feared fighters of all time came around and absolutely destroyed her. And that was Cris Cyborg.

But nevertheless, this woman can rearrange your face and then submit you in various ways. She started her martial art career in Muay Thai and had success with it.

The video above was made by LISTertainment, so make sure to check out their channel.