Zoltan Bathory, guitarist for Five Finger Death Punch, has been awarded his 4th Dan black belt in Judo—a recognition presented by Olympic medalists and world champions Mike Swain and Joe Marchal.
The ceremony took place at Bathory’s own PGF promotion. For Bathory this milestone reflects a lifelong dedication that began in childhood.
“I tied my first Judo belt around my waist over 40 years ago… and stepped onto the tatami without knowing that the code of martial arts, the Bushido, would become my compass in every arena of life,”
Bathory wrote after the ceremony.
He described martial arts as a defining force in his life.
“Martial arts is not something you casually do. You become a martial artist. It rewires your mind and forges your personality. I owe my success to the philosophy and discipline that Judo and Jiu-Jitsu instilled in me,”
he said.
Bathory began Judo at age nine before adding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his training.
“Around twenty years ago, as a Judo black belt teaching takedowns to Jiu-Jitsu players, I realized Jiu-Jitsu was the missing Ne Waza of Judo. So I put on the white belt once again and, alongside my Judo, began my Jiu-Jitsu journey with humility, starting from the bottom,”
he recalled. He now holds a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Receiving his promotion from Swain and Marchal added significance to the event. Both are former Olympians and longtime contributors to American Judo.
“Last night I was honored as my heroes and inspirations, the absolute legends of the sport who later in life became my friends—Olympians and world champions Mike Swain and Joe Marchal—presented me with my 4th Dan in Judo, formalizing the next step in a journey that began at age 9 and still continues,”
Bathory said.
Despite his accomplishments Bathory insists his approach remains grounded.
“Still and forever, I will remain a student… sharpening the sword… grateful to my teachers, my brothers, and the Judo and Jiu-Jitsu family,”
he concluded.
PGF has been struggling with the promotion aspect of the sport with the majority of grapplers not even aware the events are on.
This has led to them attempting a number of different strategies including instituting a hall of fame with mixed bag results.
Bathory’s recognition from American Judo highlights not celebrity novelty but sustained effort across decades—a career that mirrors the discipline and endurance his training demands.
