Great Movies That Feature Jiu-Jitsu

By Nolan Barias


Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not just a way to keep strong and fit, it is a form of self defense and, for many, and it is a way of life. If much of your life revolves around Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or perhaps even another form of martial arts, here are some movies that are sure to entertain you.

"Warrior" is a fantastic mixed martial arts movie which features a great deal of Jiu-Jitsu. This is the story of two brothers who have been estranged for many years and end up going head to head in mixed martial arts tournament where the prize is $5 million. Both men have heartfelt reasons for needing the cash; one is trying to struggling to support his wife and daughters while the other wishes to use the money to help the family of a fellow marine who died in combat. During the tournament, BJJ is featured throughout the fight scenes, especially utilized by the eldest brother.

When one thinks about David Mamet, you might not think about action movies; however he is the genius behind the movie "Ronin." If you enjoyed "Ronin," and love Jiu-Jitsu, consider his martial arts offering, "Redbelt." This film addresses the issue between those that enjoy Jiu-Jitsu for competition and those that view it purely as an art and way of life. The main character, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, holds the latter position, stating that competition weakens the fighter. However, in the end, he is faced with having to compete in order to save his Jiu-Jitsu school among other things. In addition to Ejiofor, the film stars Max Martini and includes scenes with Randy Couture and Enson Inoue.

If you love action movies, "Lethal Weapon," is probably fairly high on your list of the best action movies ever made. Mel Gibson, who plays tormented Los Angeles cop Martin Riggs, famously uses a triangle choke at the end of the movie to defeat evil Gary Busey. For many Americans, this was literally their first look at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gibson learned the skill from Rorion Gracie, who served as the fight choreographer for the film. Later he opened the first Gracie Barra academy and, of course, started up a little organization known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

While the movie itself would win no awards, save for perhaps a Golden Raspberry for the worst film of the year, the fight scenes in "Brazilian Brawl," are worth a look. One of the film's stars is Carlos Machado, as well as all four of his brothers, so while the plot isn't awesome, you are guaranteed some amazing and well-choreographed Jiu-Jitsu scenes. If you are a Machado fan, check out the old TV show, "Walker, Texas Ranger." Machado choreographed many of that show's fight scenes, as well as acting in a few episodes.

Alright, this last entry is not technically a showcase of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, but it features some pretty cool martial arts scenes. "The Matrix," is considered one of the top movies for visually affecting fight scenes. The main character, Neo, does learn Jiu-Jitsu, and presumably, in just a few hours. He never actually shows us these skills, but he does a pretty good job with Kung Fu, so if you have already watched "Warrior," "Redbelt," and the other aforementioned films, "The Matrix," is certainly watching.




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