In a segment that combined star power with self-defense education, actress Olivia Munn and host Jenna Bush participated in a hands-on jiu-jitsu demonstration that left viewers both entertained and informed.
Munn, who revealed she’s been practicing taekwondo since she was just four years old and holds a black belt, expressed her interest in expanding her martial arts knowledge into jiu-jitsu. “It’s something that I wish that I had gotten into as a kid,” she shared with the audience.
To fulfill this interest, the show welcomed experts from Unity Jiu-Jitsu School, including Rachel Beanland, founder of feminist self-defense, accompanied by black belts Sebastian and Jefferson, who served as demonstration partners.
The lesson began with the fundamentals—establishing a strong self-defense stance. Beanland instructed the hosts to widen their base with a staggered stance, slightly bent knees, and hands positioned above the shoulder line. “We’re sending a strong non-verbal signal that says ‘don’t mess with us,'” Beanland explained.
From there, the instruction progressed to practical defense techniques. The first demonstrated how to break free from an unwanted bear hug. The move involved wrapping arms around the attacker’s arms, pressing hands together against the attacker’s belly, widening the stance, and pushing the hips back until breaking free from the grip.
The second technique was more advanced, involving controlling the aggressor by placing one hand under their armpit and the other cupping their tricep. The hosts then learned to execute a takedown by stepping across the body, lowering their center of gravity, and using hip movement to unbalance their opponent.
Despite some nervous laughter from both Munn and Bush, they eagerly participated in each demonstration. “There’s something so empowering about this,” one of them remarked during the segment.
The instruction concluded with a third technique for establishing boundaries when approached by a stranger. Starting with a palm to the chest and a firm “no,” the move escalated to a defensive elbow strike to the chest, followed by controlling the neck and executing a takedown by hooking behind the opponent’s knee.
As a bonus, Munn shared her own go-to self-defense move that she claimed “can take down any grown man”—grabbing the back of an attacker’s heel to immobilize them and prevent escape.
The segment highlighted that while these techniques might look intimidating at first glance, everyone has the power to enforce their personal boundaries. As Beanland emphasized, “We all have the power to enforce our boundaries, whatever that looks like.”
By the end of the demonstration, both hosts appeared enthusiastic about their new skills, with Bush declaring, “Now we want to do jiu-jitsu!” The segment successfully blended celebrity charm with practical self-defense education, empowering viewers with basic knowledge of how to protect themselves in potentially threatening situations.
