Renowned UFC coach Firas Zahabi has publicly called out Hollywood star Keanu Reeves for allegedly appropriating his signature technique in the popular John Wick film series.
Zahabi, best known as the longtime coach of former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, claims Reeves used his distinctive “web guard” move without permission or acknowledgment.
“I used to rush people punching and kicking and then whenever they would grab a hold of me, if they grabbed me with an underhook, I would jump web guard,” Zahabi explained in video. “As soon as we tied up, I could get the fight to the ground.”
The move in question involves a complex maneuver where Zahabi would jump in an inverted position, grabbing his opponent in a way that inevitably brings them to the ground. According to Zahabi, he eventually retired the technique after noticing it could potentially cause knee injuries to training partners.
“I put this move out of circulation,” Zahabi stated. “But then a man by the name of Keanu Reeves, the man actually dared to rip me off.”
What makes this situation particularly interesting to Zahabi is his recent discovery that Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon – making them share the same heritage.
“Now that I know he’s a fellow Lebanese, I must insist that I collect from him,” Zahabi remarked. “You owe me massari,” he added, using the Arabic term for money.
While Zahabi’s claims appear to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, they highlight the interesting crossover between professional combat sports and Hollywood action choreography. The John Wick franchise, directed by Chad Stahelski, has been praised for its realistic and innovative action sequences.
It’s worth noting that Stahelski himself has a background in martial arts and was competing in Shooto professional competitions when Zahabi was just 13 years old. As director and fight choreographer, Stahelski may be more directly responsible for the choreography decisions than Reeves.
Reeves, currently busy with the upcoming fifth installment of the John Wick series expected in 2027, has yet to respond to Zahabi’s claims. Whether this martial arts “controversy” will result in any real conversation between the two Lebanese professionals remains to be seen.
