- Actor Ahmed Best—best known as the voice and motion‑capture performer behind Star Wars’ Jar Jar Binks—is actually a BJJ black belt.
- He began martial arts young, inspired by a family steeped in judo and karate, and later studied under the Machado lineage, dedicating years on the mats to earn Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt.
- In interviews Best describes BJJ as an “honest” art and says being a black belt is measured by how often you’ve tapped out rather than how many people you submit.
- His journey highlights a wider trend of Hollywood figures embracing BJJ for discipline and fitness, from Joe Rogan to Tom Hardy.
From Intergalactic Antics to Arm Bars
When audiences first met Jar Jar Binks on the marshy world of Naboo, few could have predicted that the man behind the playful Gungan would one day be celebrated for something other than slapstick antics.
Yet Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt isn’t a punchline—it’s the product of decades of training by Star Wars actor and musician Ahmed Best. Born in 1973 and raised in New York City, Best grew up in a family where martial arts weren’t exotic but everyday life.
His grandfather earned a judo black belt during World War II. His father, a U.S. Air Force veteran, practised karate on the islands of Guam and Okinawa and later earned his own black belt back home.
Watching Kung‑Fu films on Saturday mornings and travelling to Brownsville, Brooklyn, for karate classes with his dad instilled in Best a love for movement, discipline, and performance.
That foundation would later serve him on stage and screen. Before becoming the face of an alien sidekick, Best’s physicality and rhythm made him a standout member of the percussion and dance ensemble Stomp, whose performers are known for their timing and athleticism.
But while theatre and film launched him into pop‑culture history, Jiu‑Jitsu offered a different kind of stage. During downtime in Hollywood, he sought out training at RCJ Machado academies.
Over years of consistent practice, he rose through the ranks, eventually earning a black belt under the Machado lineage—an achievement more than a decade in the making.
Unmasking the Journey: What it Takes to Earn a BJJ Black Belt
It would be easy to dismiss headlines about a Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt as a novelty, but Best’s philosophy underscores why Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu transcends celebrity fads. In a candid interview on the Karbis Sarafyan YouTube channel, he explained what drew him to the art and why he stuck with it for so long:
“I always felt like Jiu‑Jitsu was incredibly honest. It’s one of the very few creative spaces where you put your money where your mouth is. A lot of people talk a lot of game, especially in Hollywood or other martial arts, where it’s dangerous to go full out. But in Jiu‑Jitsu, you can go full out and be the thing you say you are. It really is a great equalizer.”
– Ahmed Best –
For Best, honesty comes from vulnerability. He has emphasized that gaining a black belt isn’t about racking up tapouts; it’s about surviving the journey. On the same podcast, he reflected on his years as a purple belt:
“Being a black belt has very little to do with how many people you tap. It has a lot more to do with how many times you’ve tapped. As a purple belt, I was tapping black belts, but I didn’t get promoted the next day. It was the time I had to spend on the mat, learning, and I’m glad for that journey.”
– Ahmed Best –
Those words resonate across dojos. In an era where some celebrities receive “honorary belts” or quick promotions, Best’s humility and long apprenticeship reflect a traditional path.
The Machados are known for rigorous standards and for producing world‑class competitors as well as actors and musicians. Best’s black belt under their banner signals years of drilling, sparring, and, as he put it, “tapping.”
That dedication is why his achievement is celebrated by the BJJ community rather than mocked. The phrase Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt now carries weight precisely because of the sweat behind it.
Celebrities and the Gentle Art in 2025
Ahmed Best is not the only figure from film and television drawn to the mats. Over the last decade, BJJ has become a favourite pastime for actors, directors, and musicians seeking both a workout and an antidote to Hollywood’s superficiality.
Comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan received his black belt under Jean Jacques Machado and later from Eddie Bravo; he often credits Jiu‑Jitsu with keeping him grounded amid fame.
Tom Hardy, an Oscar‑nominated actor and purple belt, frequently competed at local tournaments as a blue belt, surprising fellow hobbyists with his ferocity. Other names—Mario Lopez, Ashton Kutcher, Guy Ritchie—have been spotted rolling or competing.
In that context, a Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt fits into a broader narrative. BJJ offers celebrities a rare environment where credentials can’t be bought, and the Machados have come up with a special celebrity BJJ traiing system in Hollywood.
Meesa Wants to Roll!
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of a Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt is what it says about resilience. The character of Jar Jar Binks is one of the most polarizing in Star Wars history—mocked by some fans and even blamed for the missteps of the prequel trilogy.
Ahmed Best endured years of criticism and even personal attacks after portraying the Gungan, which took a toll on his mental health. In interviews, he has spoken about overcoming that backlash and rediscovering joy in performance when he returned as Kelleran Beq, a Jedi Master, in The Mandalorian.
The story of a Jar Jar Binks BJJ black belt reminds us that anyone—actor, accountant, or alien—can benefit from the discipline and honesty that Jiu‑Jitsu demands.
