In a recent social media post that has Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiasts buzzing, Ricardo Almeida black belt of Renzo Gracie lineage Tom DeBlass has affirmed that Hollywood star Tom Hardy is indeed a legitimate purple belt in the martial art.
The endorsement from DeBlass, a respected figure in the BJJ community, adds significant credibility to Hardy’s rank, which sits just two belts away from the coveted black belt status.
DeBlass praised Hardy’s dedication to training but expressed concern about the actor’s willingness to roll with anyone who asks.
“His biggest flaw in his late 40s is training with everyone who asks. I never seen him say no to a roll, and I’ve told him, he should! He just loves Jiu-Jitsu,” DeBlass revealed.
The “Venom” star has been making waves in the BJJ world since taking up the sport at age 40. In 2022, Hardy competed in tournaments in Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes, earning gold medals in both competitions and impressing opponents with his skill level.
One competitor from the Wolverhampton tournament described Hardy as
“probably the toughest competitor I’ve ever had — he certainly lived up to his Bane character, that’s for sure.”
Hardy’s journey in BJJ hasn’t been without physical cost. The actor has undergone two knee surgeries as a result of his training—one from a sweep and another from a meniscus tear. Despite these setbacks, Hardy maintains a consistent training schedule, practicing two to three times a week even while filming, and helps with children’s classes at his academy.
Previously DeBlass wrote a variation of the same post detailing:
“First off, Tom is an exceptional student on the mats. He shows up, he drills 100% of the time and truly is obsessed with learning. He asks questions when he isn’t sure, and he listens phenomenally when given directions. Tom is very strong for his size, and he does not stop moving even when he gets tired. He trains like a man who has experienced a lot in life, and he has zero fear of looking bad. These are all very rare qualities in a blue belt. I cannot help to point out, this is another example of the parallels that Jiu-Jitsu and life possess. He has undoubtedly worked harder than 99% of humans in his chosen field, and he brings the same work ethic and willingness to learn on the mats. Tom enjoys being a student, he expects no special treatment, and he lines up in class like everyone else.
Tom is undoubtedly a very, very solid blue belt. He is actually an anomaly at 45 years old.
As a person, he’s equally as amazing. Much of what I can say however, comes from what I have shared with him personally, and his private reaction to me. I value friendship, knowledge, work ethic, loyalty, privacy, and depth. He embodies all of these.
I always respected Tom a great deal before getting to know him. However, I wasn’t necessarily a fan. I’m not a fan of any man without meeting them. I absolutely will respect someone’s achievements, but fanning is something different. Perhaps I am backwards when it comes to this. Many people are fans of those they do not know, and the ones they know they simply treat as an equal. Well, since getting to know Tom and becoming friends, I am also a fan. I have been on a marathon run of watching all of his work. I support my friends, I clap when they win, and I enjoy seeing them shine. Some friends think it’s their job to treat their friends successes as nothing special, as they feel they should keep them grounded. Not me, I just keep things honest. I say how I feel, and if I’m upset, I express it. If I’m in awe and proud, I also say it. He is impressive on the mats, and impressive as a man.”
In a recent interview, Hardy explained his motivation for competing:
“Getting stage fright is really difficult. But going down the local sports centre to fight some bloke from Southampton or Milton Keynes who you’ve never met before is terrifying! And people are watching, and they’ve got their phones out, and it could be embarrassing.”
The actor described how BJJ has become more than just a physical discipline for him.
“It gives me a level of honest confidence,” Hardy stated, noting that the sport has evolved into a form of meditation rather than a competitive pursuit.
DeBlass speculated about Hardy’s future in the sport, suggesting,
“Maybe one day we will see him have his own Academy? I think so.”
The black belt instructor concluded his post with an inspirational message for potential BJJ practitioners:
“If Tom Hardy is training Jiu-Jitsu, as successful as he is, as busy as he is, why wouldn’t you? Jiu-Jitsu truly is for everyone, and for those who say it’s not, you should reconsider how you run your Academy.”
Hardy’s dedication to BJJ appears to reflect his broader life philosophy.
“I genuinely am keen to take on the painful journey of being brave enough to try something new, because I’d like to not look back and say ‘I regret not making the effort to do something that was scary.'”
Hardy continues to earn respect in the BJJ community not just as a celebrity practitioner, but as a dedicated martial artist in his own right.
