Daniel Gillies, best known for his captivating performances in “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals,” has joined the ever-expanding community of actors discovering the transformative world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, his martial arts journey has come with an unexpected price.
During a press conference at Imagineland On The Road in Campina Grande, Brazil, the charismatic actor opened up about his recent foray into the grappling art, revealing a painful consequence of his dedication to the sport.
“I’ve been practicing jiu-jitsu for about a year and a half, but I have a problem here in my bicep, I think I tore my ligament because I’m 49 years old… I think that’s why I can’t even hold the microphone for long!”
Gillies told the audience with his characteristic humor.
Despite nursing what appears to be a significant injury, the New Zealand-born actor expressed no regrets about discovering the martial art. In fact, he lamented not finding it sooner in life.
“I really wish I had discovered it much younger,”
he remarked lightheartedly during the event, where he was appearing for a panel and fan meet-and-greet.
Gillies‘ path to BJJ wasn’t his first venture into combat arts. The actor revealed he had previously trained in muay thai and boxing for several years.
“I love martial arts! The stunt people were relieved especially since I did about seven, eight years of muay thai. It was good to choreograph action sequences because they didn’t need to use stunt doubles and could use me. And it was a lot of fun!”
he shared.
This background in striking arts clearly served him well during his television career, allowing him to perform many of his own action scenes—a valuable asset for any actor working in the action-heavy supernatural drama genre.
Gillies is far from alone in Hollywood’s growing fascination with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The martial art has become something of a phenomenon among entertainment industry professionals, with everyone from leading men to supermodels embracing the challenging discipline.
Bradley Cooper has recently been spotted training at a prestigious BJJ academy in Los Angeles, quietly dedicating himself to the art for several months. His instructors have praised his rapid progression and natural talent for the technical aspects of the sport.
Supermodel Irina Shayk has also made waves in the BJJ community, training four times weekly with a personal trainer. She’s credited the martial art with providing a mentally engaging alternative to traditional workout routines, praising how it exhausts her body without the monotony of conventional cardio.
Behind many of these celebrity conversions to BJJ stands legendary instructor Rigan Machado, whose stunt team worked on the acclaimed John Wick franchise. Though contractually bound to discretion regarding most of his famous students, Machado has occasionally shared insights into his celebrity classes.
“I don’t do more than three techniques. And I go to something called super review. You’re going to have to drill each one a number of times. You have to do a mix of blending techniques, one, two, three…”
Machado explained in a podcast appearance, describing his teaching methodology.
“A lot of stretch, a lot of cardio. Sometimes I bring a team of professionals to do the stretch and do the cardio.”
Machado has also praised students like Joel Kinnaman and Charlie Hunnam for their dedication to the art.
“The other guy I like a lot, he loves jiu-jitsu more than life. Is that Charlie Hunnam,”
Machado revealed, noting Hunnam‘s enthusiasm sometimes leads to visible marks from training.
The appeal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for actors seems multifaceted. Beyond the obvious physical benefits and potential applications for action roles, the martial art offers a mental challenge that many find deeply engaging. The emphasis on technique over strength creates a perpetual learning curve that keeps practitioners interested regardless of their fitness level or previous athletic experience.
For Gillies, the injury hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm. His willingness to discuss the setback openly while maintaining his sense of humor demonstrates the mindset that often develops in BJJ practitioners—an acceptance of the physical demands and occasional consequences that come with genuine commitment to the art.
