During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with Shane Gillis, the conversation touched on several combat sports topics, including Rogan’s personal experience with jiu-jitsu and how it shaped his physical condition.
Rogan revealed a significant injury from his training days. He said, “I got knee in the face in jiu-jitsu in my late 30s rather. I got knee in the face in jiu-jitsu and it was f**king pouring blood.”
Gillis responded by saying: “I mean it doesn’t look bad though.”
Despite the severity of the injury, Rogan noted his nose doesn’t look too damaged. He said, “No it’s not that bad. It’s not flat too much because I really stopped striking mostly when I was like 22, 23.”
He explained the cumulative effect of repeated strikes: “It’s the guys that just keep getting hit in the nose over and over again. This piece of cartilage eventually collapses and then you get this flat thing there.”
The podcast host detailed his combat sports evolution, explaining that while he did some striking work after moving to Los Angeles, it was minimal. “I did a little of it when I came to LA again. I did a little sparring but not too much,” he said.
This calculated decision to focus more on grappling rather than stand-up combat helped preserve his physical appearance compared to fighters who continued with heavy striking training throughout their careers.
Rogan talked about how jiu-jitsu became his primary martial arts focus during a crucial period of his athletic development, allowing him to maintain his combat sports training while minimizing the facial damage common among strikers.
