Joe Rogan‘s perspective on judo has undergone a dramatic transformation—from outright skepticism to deep respect—highlighting how hands-on experience can dismantle long-held misconceptions in martial arts.
The UFC commentator and podcaster has openly admitted to dismissing judo in his early training years.
“I remember I used to do taekwondo with a friend of mine. We were kickboxing at the time at this gym where these judo guys were, and I was like, ‘Look at these idiots… this dumb judo, that’s useless,’” Rogan recalled on his podcast.
Like many strikers, Rogan misunderstood judo’s grappling-centric approach, focusing only on striking arts and underestimating the power of throws and clinch work. That changed when he encountered real judo in action.
“Meanwhile, I had no idea—if those guys got a hold of me, I was helpless,” he admitted. “Because judo guys will slam you on your head.”
His views changed drastically after training with Karo Parisyan, one of the most prominent judokas to compete in the UFC. Parisyan, an Armenian-American MMA star grappler, earned a black belt in judo at just 16 and became known for seamlessly integrating throws into MMA—a rare skill in early UFC days.
“I rolled with Karo Parisyan once. I was like—he’s like a chimpanzee,” Rogan said. “He was so strong it didn’t make any sense. We were roughly the same size, and he was just ragdolling me around.”
The encounter left a strong impression. Rogan credited the physicality of judo training—especially repeated throws—as a key to the unusual strength and balance elite judokas develop.
“There’s something to throwing bodies all the time,” he explained. “If you’re a 180-pound guy throwing another 180-pound guy over and over, your whole core is just primed for that—boom.”
But it wasn’t just brute strength. What stood out to Rogan was the subtle technical mastery that judo instills.
“Their balance and their ability to adjust your weight and use it against you,” he noted, “that’s what makes them so dangerous.”
This personal shift mirrors a broader pattern in martial arts: competitors often dismiss unfamiliar styles until they’re on the receiving end of them. Rogan‘s open admission shows how direct experience—especially with someone like Parisyan—can radically reshape a practitioner’s outlook.
Today, Rogan has not only become a vocal advocate for judo’s effectiveness in MMA but also enjoys watching high-level judo competition.
“Watching it in the Olympics is awesome,” he said, referring to the powerful throws and tactical precision of top-tier judokas.
Joe Rogan’s judo journey—from ridicule to reverence—serves as a reminder that humility and exposure to different disciplines are essential in the ever-evolving world of combat sports.
