Hollywood A-lister Bradley Cooper has joined the growing ranks of celebrities embracing the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The acclaimed actor and director, known for his roles in films like “A Star is Born” and “American Sniper,” was spotted training at a renowned BJJ academy in Los Angeles.
Cooper’s foray into the martial art comes as no surprise to many, as BJJ has been gaining popularity among celebrities and everyday practitioners alike. The grappling-based discipline, which emphasizes technique and leverage over brute strength, has attracted stars such as Tom Hardy, Ashton Kutcher, and Keanu Reeves in recent years.
Sources close to Cooper reveal that the actor has been quietly training for several months, dedicating himself to learning the intricacies of the sport. His instructors praise his commitment and natural aptitude, noting that he has progressed rapidly through the beginner levels.
The star’s interest in BJJ reportedly stemmed from his preparation for an upcoming role, though details of the project remain under wraps. However, insiders suggest that Cooper has developed a genuine passion for the martial art beyond its potential cinematic applications.
Cooper might’ve been introduced to BJJ by former partner Irina Shayk who recently went viral for her BJJ journey.
Supermodel Irina Shayk has embraced Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a refreshing alternative to traditional cardio, which she admits to disliking. For several months, Shayk has been training four times a week with a personal trainer, focusing on the physically and mentally challenging aspects of BJJ that keep her engaged. She praises the martial art for pushing her body to exhaustion while avoiding the monotony of typical workouts.
Rigan Machado is the man behind the famous stunt team that worked on John Wick and has been mentioned as the instructor to the stars often.
Machado is contractually obligated not to discuss many of his famous students. But he has revealed a nugget or two over the years. In a podcast appearance, Rigan revealed:
“I have a group of maybe six guys that have a lot of respect. One’s Joel Kinnaman. Joel Kinnaman, he don’t care, That guy’s like ‘I want to compete, I want to spar any one,’. You know, it’s crazy.”
“The other guy I like a lot, he loves jiu-jitsu more than life. Is that Charlie Hunnam.”
“He loves to spar. Another day, One day he arrive here with bruises. I go ‘Charlie Hunnam, take it easy,’ . You get scratched too much”
How is BJJ taught to celebrities?
When asked about what the sessions for his celebrity class look like, Rigan offered:
“I don’t do more than three techniques. And I go to something called super review. You’re going to have to drill each one a number of times. You have to do a mix of blending techniques, one, two, three…”
“A lot of stretch, a lot of cardio. Sometimes I bring a team of professionals to do the stretch and do the cardio”
