Hollywood is brimming with skillful actors who perform their own stunts, but not a lot of major A-listers are well-trained and actual fighters. We know the likes of Tom Cruise, who delivers death-defying choreography in his movies, and we know Sylvester Stallone, who has been an iconic action star since the ‘70s.
This is not to discredit their works because they are truly one of the hallmarks of action films, but we are talking about actors who can genuinely fight in real life and have in-depth knowledge of their respective martial arts.
1. Jason Statham
We’ve seen his fight moves in action thrillers like The Mechanic and Furious 7, and they were all impressive – thanks to his expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The actor also trained in several martial arts disciplines such as karate, Wing Chun kung fu, and kickboxing, as per Bleacher Report. However, the latter is known to be his preferred fighting style.
What’s more interesting is that Jason Statham rarely discusses his specialties in interviews, but he frequently attends international kickboxing tournaments such as the 2024 GLORY Grand Prix.
2. Idris Elba
The English actor and Golden Globe winner is a professional kickboxer who competes in professional tournaments. While most athletes reach their peak at around age 30, he started his career in the sport at 44.
Moreover, Discovery Channel made a documentary of his twelve-month kickboxing and mixed martial arts training journey entitled Idris Elba: Fighter, where viewers get a glimpse of how he prepared for – and won – his first-ever fight against a younger and more experienced Dutch opponent.
3. Jackie Chan
Well, there’s really not much explanation needed when it comes to one of the most iconic and influential martial artists in the history of cinema. The Hong Kong star broke into the Hollywood scene via the 1980 movie The Big Brawl. He received international recognition for his works in Rumble in the Bronx, Rush Hour, and The Karate Kid.
Jackie Chan usually combines acrobatic fighting style with his comedic timing, making his action films amusing to watch. He is well-versed in multiple forms of kung-fu, as well as karate, judo, taekwondo, and jeet kun do. Over the span of six decades, he has made more than 150 films.
4. Keanu Reeves
The actor holds a black belt in karate and judo, but he has also mastered several martial arts through the years because of the diversity of his movie characters. As per Men’s Journal, he learned how to use a samurai sword for the film 47 Ronin. Reeves also trained in kung-fu for The Matrix and even learned how to ride a horse for John Wick.
At this point, the Canadian star already sounds dangerous, but in real life, he is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood because of his genuine kindness and philanthropic works.
5. Tom Hardy
The Venom star is also a legitimate martial arts fighter who entered and won a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition in 2022. He maintains a grueling fitness routine when it comes to preparing for his films.
In his interview with The Guardian, Tom Hardy revealed undergoing two hours of boxing, two hours of muay thai, two hours of jiu-jitsu, and two hours of weightlifting every day for seven days for the movie Warrior.