- A growing number of A-list female celebrities who train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regularly, with several earning legitimate ranks
- Teri Reeves leads the group as a black belt under Romulo Barral at Gracie Barra
- Gisele Bündchen earned her purple belt in just two years at Valente Brothers
- Demi Lovato was promoted to purple belt in 2023 and calls BJJ part of her mental wellness practice
- Eve Torres Gracie is both a brown belt and a certified Gracie Academy instructor
Hollywood Meets The Mats
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become increasingly popular among female celebrities and Hollywood actresses who recognize the martial art’s transformative benefits. From self-defense skills to mental wellness and physical fitness, BJJ offers comprehensive advantages that resonate with successful women seeking empowerment both on and off the mat.
A 2026 update to the growing list of female celebrities who train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu includes newly updated belt ranks for the likes of Gisele Bündchen and Eve Torres Gracie, reflecting their continued commitment to training.
Female Celebrities Who Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The list likely contains much more, but for the purposes of this article, we decided to stick to those female celebrities who train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whose training experience we coudl confirm.
1. Teri Reeves — Black Belt
Actress Teri Reeves, known for roles in Chicago Fire and The Punisher, achieved the highest rank among the female celebrities who train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She earned her black belt in October 2019 from Professor Romulo Barral, a former BJJ world champion, at Gracie Barra in California. Her black belt represents years of dedicated training, technical mastery, and teaching capability — a level of achievement that proves celebrities can reach the highest ranks with genuine commitment.
2. Eve Torres Gracie — Brown Belt / Certified Instructor
A three-time WWE Divas Champion, Eve Torres married Rener Gracie in 2014 and has been a senior instructor at Gracie Academy in Torrance, California since 2009. She earned her brown belt after over 10 years of involvement in Jiu-Jitsu and co-created the Women Empowered program at Gracie University, a self-defense curriculum specifically designed to empower women through BJJ. Her unique position as both celebrity and instructor gives her credibility in both entertainment and martial arts communities.
3. Gisele Bündchen — Purple Belt
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen earned her purple belt in just two years at the Valente Brothers academy in Miami — a remarkably fast progression that reflects intense dedication. She trains under Professor Joaquim Valente and earned her blue belt within one year of starting training in December 2021. Bündchen trains regularly alongside her children, making Jiu-Jitsu a family activity.
4. Demi Lovato — Purple Belt
Pop superstar Demi Lovato earned her blue belt in 2017 and advanced to purple belt in February 2023 under instructor Chris Light. She has spoken openly about how BJJ helps her manage life challenges and maintain mental wellness. Lovato trains privately and genuinely embraces the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle and philosophy.
5. Scarlett Johansson — White Belt
Scarlett Johansson trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the legendary Rigan Machado at The Academy Beverly Hills. She initially began training to prepare for her role as Black Widow in Marvel’s Iron Man 2 but continued throughout her decade-long Marvel career. She combines BJJ with boxing, wrestling, and MMA techniques.
6. Margot Robbie — White Belt
Australian actress Margot Robbie trained BJJ intensively to prepare for her role as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, committing to three to four training sessions per week for five to six months. While she hasn’t publicly continued training beyond that preparation, her commitment during that period was serious enough to earn white belt consideration.
7. Halle Berry — White Belt
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry trained extensively in BJJ and MMA for John Wick 3 and her directorial debut Bruised, receiving instruction from UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega. Her commitment to learning genuine martial arts techniques rather than relying purely on stunt doubles demonstrates deep respect for combat sports.
8. Millie Bobby Brown — White Belt (2 Stripes)
The young Stranger Things star trained BJJ for both her breakthrough series and subsequent Enola Holmes film projects. She earned her white belt with two stripes, demonstrating consistent training beyond basic introduction.
9. Kate Upton — White Belt (1 Stripe)
Supermodel Kate Upton became “obsessed” with BJJ after beginning training in 2020. She earned her first stripe and celebrated it publicly as the first belt she’d actually earned. She famously demonstrated a rear-naked choke on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and practices techniques on her husband, MLB pitcher Justin Verlander.
Why BJJ Appeals To Elite Women
Unlike traditional gym workouts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu challenges practitioners mentally and physically in every session. The art’s emphasis on technique over strength makes it particularly appealing to women, proving that proper leverage and positioning can overcome size and strength disadvantages.
Jiu-Jitsu develops mental toughness, problem-solving skills under pressure, and genuine self-defense capabilities — valuable assets in both personal and professional spheres. For Hollywood’s elite female celebrities who train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Gentle Art offers something that a personal trainer cannot replicate: the ability to solve physical problems under pressure, against a resisting opponent, using nothing but technique and willpower.
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