In an exclusive training session that has set the martial arts world abuzz, Australian jiu-jitsu legend Craig Jones was recently flown in by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for a private Brazilian jiu-jitsu training session at the billionaire’s facility.
Jones, one of the planet’s most respected grapplers and co-founder of the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), shared photos of the high-profile training collaboration on his social media Tuesday, captioning the post with: “Thanks @zuck for always having my back.”
The Australian black belt, known for his exceptional skills and larger-than-life personality, has gained prominence not only for his own accomplishments but also as the grappling coach of former UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. This connection to elite MMA circles makes him a natural training partner for the tech mogul, who has increasingly embraced combat sports in recent years.
Zuckerberg’s journey into martial arts has been well-documented, with the Meta founder earning his blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2023 and even competing in tournaments where he won gold and silver medals. His dedication to the sport prompted UFC icon Conor McGregor to tweet: “Yo!! F*****g awesome, Mark,” after learning of Zuckerberg’s competitive success.
However, the training partnership between Jones and Zuckerberg has received mixed reactions from fans. While some congratulated the Australian on what they speculated was a lucrative private training arrangement, others expressed disappointment.
“This is the worst content you have ever put out,” commented one social media user, while another simply stated, “First Craig L.” Others were more supportive, with comments suggesting: “The payment must’ve been heavy,” and “Craig is now a millionaire off that private.”
Zuckerberg’s passion for martial arts has become so significant that Meta investors received a formal warning in 2024 that his participation in “high-risk activities, such as combat sports” could potentially impact the business. This concern was amplified after Zuckerberg suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during training.
This is probably not the first time the two have trained together, Jones coaches Volkanovski and was previously spotted at a training session including both Adesanya and Zuckerberg.
The company’s investor update stated: “We currently depend on the continued services and performance of our key personnel, including Mark Zuckerberg. If Mr. Zuckerberg were to become unavailable for any reason, there could be a material adverse impact on our operations.”
Zuckerberg took the warning in stride, responding with a GIF of Alexander Volkanovski saying “high risk = high reward.”
The Meta CEO joins a growing list of celebrities embracing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including Tom Hardy, Ashton Kutcher, Russell Brand, and Jason Statham. With his continued training alongside world-class practitioners like Jones, Zuckerberg appears committed to advancing his skills in the discipline, potentially working toward a black belt—an achievement that typically requires years of dedicated practice.
