The UFC commentator and media personality Joe Rogan recently opened up on what made him interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The long-tenured UFC commentator has been one of the most inspirational figures in the company’s success. It is to be noted that he holds a black belt in Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet jiu-jitsu.
Joe Rogan recalls his first jiu-jitsu class
Rogan recently had jiu-jitsu legend, Rickson Gracie as his guest on his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, where the pair spoke about their common interest. Rogan told Gracie elaborated a story about his first jiu-jitsu class where he was outdone by a fellow student with a purple belt. Sean O’Malley ‘Threatening’ DM’s Stun UFC Fans
“I started training boxing and Muay Thai, and then I started getting beat up… And then I went to jiu-jitsu and I was like, ‘oh my god!’ I’ve talked about it before, it was the first day of training and I was a white belt and I was training with this kid who was a purple belt and I thought I was a tough guy and I couldn’t believe this guy could do whatever he wanted to me! Play with me, strangled me, and he wasn’t bigger than me, he was my size! And he wasn’t younger than me, he was my age! There were no excuses. And this guy just manhandled me!” Joe Rogan told Rickson Gracie.
Since then, Rogan has stuck with BJJ, working hard for years until he finally earned a black belt under 10th Planet. The gym is owned by his best friend and coach, Eddie Bravo, who’s also the jiu-jitsu coach of some elite MMA and UFC fighters like Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson.