Ed O’Neill – an actor with black belt

Date of birth: April 12, 1946 (Age: 70 years)

Height: 6′ 1″ (185 cm)

Weight: 245 pounds (111 kg)

Hair color: Light brown

Eye color: Blue

Ed O’Neill is a great and successful actor. His career brought him rather high, but, surprisingly, it’s not his body shape that contributed to such success. It was a pure talent.

The actor had never pursued the aim of keeping sport fit and to look athletic. Of course, with age, he gained some weight and now, the favorite actor possesses a typical “dad” figure. However, he’s not ashamed of it and doesn’t feel embarrassed showing his body. Ed O’Neill can easily take the T-shirt off and take a stroll on the bicycle. Probably, this man is sure that everything natural is normal.

In his youth, Modern Family star used to practice jiu-jitsu. You’ll be surprised, but he even has a black belt in this kind of martial art. A famous instructor Rorion Gracie was Ed’s coach and partner in this sport during 22 years! Yes, you’re not mistaken, 22.

Those who is, at least, a little bit familiar with the martial arts, the word “jiu-jitsu” is associated with Japan. Like everything in Japan, it is very unusual and the name vaguely refers to the very essence of this art itself, because it literally means the body’s elasticity. Samurai practiced jiu jitsu in order to be able to fight in case if they were unarmed during the battle.

Here it should be noted that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu greatly differs from any other kind of martial art. Watching these fighters, one can immediately notice that as soon as it’s possible they try to knock down the opponent to the ground and that is where the main action occurs.

In contrast to the judo and Greco-Roman wrestling, in jiu-jitsu it is not enough only to successful throw the opponent down. In this “duel” to put the opponent on the shoulder or hold hold him on the floor is too less – a wrestler has to ensure that the opponent gives up after he is captured by the choke or painful technique.

Such rather dangerous, but exciting hobby kept Ed O’Neill in fit when he was young.