Comedian Russell Peters has received his purple belt from instructor Jean Jacques Machado following nearly a decade of training.
Peters shared the news on social media, expressing both humility and resolve about the promotion.
“This is something that has taken almost 10 years, but the great Jean Jacques Machado blessed me with my purple belt today,”
he wrote.
“Do I deserve it? Probably not. Did I earn it? That is yet to be determined. But here I am, and now I have to show and prove.”
The comedian admitted the moment was emotional, adding,
“Obrigado, irmão JJ. I won’t let you down. Yes, I got teary-eyed when he presented it to me.”
Machado praised Peters for his long-term commitment to the art despite a demanding professional schedule.
“Congratulations, my brother. After nine years of training jiu-jitsu with a challenging schedule, your dedication impressed me. You never gave up. I am very proud and honored to be your instructor,”
Machado commented.
Peters has trained consistently at a pace of three to four sessions per week, a notable level of commitment given his extensive international touring as a comedian. He received his blue belt from Machado years ago and continued progressing steadily through the ranks.
Over the years, Peters has spoken openly about his passion for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including discussing his training on various platforms such as appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience. He has also appeared on the Jean Jacques Machado podcast, where he talked about discovering the sport and balancing life on the road with consistent training.
Peters has publicly shown his support for jiu-jitsu culture by wearing apparel tied to the sport, including a Helio Gracie cardigan from RoF.
The purple belt is widely regarded as a meaningful achievement in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, typically requiring years of consistent practice and marking the transition into an intermediate level of proficiency.
Several prominent figures in the BJJ community, including Renzo Gracie and Eddie Bravo, congratulated Peters on the achievement. Gracie commented on the announcement post, writing,
“Yessssss, it’s timeeeeee.”
