Also known as

Joseph James Rogan

Description

American podcaster, UFC color commentator, and martial artist. Host of The Joe Rogan Experience, consistently one of the most popular podcasts worldwide. A black belt in taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (gi under Jean Jacques Machado), and no-gi BJJ (10th Planet under Eddie Bravo). Rogan's influential podcast and UFC commentary have made him one of the most prominent martial arts advocates and influencers in the world.

Teachers (5)

• 
  Jae Hun Kim

  sports_martial_artsITF Taekwondo Probable

  Probable

  Joe Rogan explicitly credited Jae Hun Kim as his TKD teacher on Instagram

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onJae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute badge (1982–1988)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Joe Rogan explicitly credited Jae Hun Kim as his TKD teacher on Instagram

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “I was very fortunate to learn Tae Kwon Do under the tutelage of the Jae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute in Boston”

  — Joe Rogan. Joe Rogan Instagram post crediting Jae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institutelink info
• 
  Michael J. O'Malley

  sports_martial_artsITF Taekwondo Possible

  Possible

  Rogan Instagram post mentions O'Malley as instructor at JHK Institute

  Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.

  location_onJae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute badge (1982–1988)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Rogan Instagram post mentions O'Malley as instructor at JHK Institute

  visibilityFirst-hand alt_routeIndirect

  “Mr. Kim and Mr. Michael O'Malley (a multiple time national champion) emphasized a lot of heavy bag work and power in their training program.”

  — Joe Rogan. Joe Rogan Instagram post crediting Jae Hun Kim Tae Kwon Do Institutelink info
• person
  Vitor Belfort

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Probable

  Probable

  Vitor Belfort confirmed in interview that Rogan was his white belt student at Carlson Gracie Academy; Rogan corroborated

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onCarlson Gracie Academy badge (1996–1997)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Vitor Belfort confirmed in interview that Rogan was his white belt student at Carlson Gracie Academy; Rogan corroborated

  “Joe Rogan was my student, he was in no way… yeah, you trained Joe Rogan, yeah. Joe was a white belt.”

  — BJJEE. (2024). Joe Rogan Was a White Belt Under Vitor Belfort at Carlson Gracie BJJ Gym in Los Angeles. BJJ Eastern Europe (BJJEE)link history info
• 
  Jean Jacques Machado

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Jean Jacques Machado awarded Rogan his gi black belt

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1997)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Jean Jacques Machado awarded Rogan his gi black belt

  “He was awarded his black belt by Jean Jacques Machado in the gi”

  — Ryan, Sean. (2025). Behind the Scenes: Where and How Joe Rogan Trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsulink history info

  “In 2010, Joe received 2 black belts: his gi black belt from Jean Jacques Machado”

  — Joe Rogan Jiu-Jitsu: The Complete Story (In-Depth Breakdown)link history info
• person
  Eddie Bravo

  sports_martial_arts10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Eddie Bravo awarded Rogan his no-gi BJJ black belt

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (2003)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Eddie Bravo awarded Rogan his no-gi BJJ black belt

  “Rogan also earned his black belt in no-gi BJJ from Eddie Bravo, founder of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu”

  — Ryan, Sean. (2025). Behind the Scenes: Where and How Joe Rogan Trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsulink history info

  “and his no-gi black belt from Eddie Bravo.”

  — Joe Rogan Jiu-Jitsu: The Complete Story (In-Depth Breakdown)link history info

Lineage

• ITF TaekwondoJae Hun Kim ← Park Jung-tae ← Choi Hong-hi · 3 generations
• Brazilian jiu-jitsuJean Jacques Machado ← Carlos Gracie Jr. ← Rolls Gracie ← Carlson Gracie ← Carlos Gracie · 5 generations

Ranks (3)

• sports_martial_artsTaekwondo

  military_techDan grade Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia confirms Rogan earned TKD black belt at age 15

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1982~)

  granted by Jae Hun Kim

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia confirms Rogan earned TKD black belt at age 15

  “He was a Massachusetts full-contact state champion for four consecutive years and became a taekwondo instructor.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Joe Rogan. Wikipedia (English)link history info
• sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Rogan's BJJ black belt was awarded by Jean Jacques Machado, in 2010 per the latter

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  BJJ Ranking System (2010)

  granted by Jean Jacques Machado

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Rogan's BJJ black belt was awarded by Jean Jacques Machado, in 2010 per the latter

  “He was awarded his black belt by Jean Jacques Machado in the gi, a significant achievement since Machado is one of BJJ's most celebrated technical minds and instructors.”

  — Ryan, Sean. (2025). Behind the Scenes: Where and How Joe Rogan Trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsulink history info

  “Joe Rogan received his gi black belt from his long-time instructor Jean Jacques Machado in 2010”

  — Joe Rogan Jiu-Jitsu: The Complete Story (In-Depth Breakdown)link history info
• sports_martial_arts10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Rogan's no-gi black belt was awarded by Eddie Bravo, in 2010 per the latter

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  BJJ Ranking System (2010)

  granted by Eddie Bravo

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Viking BJJ and BJJ Equipment, two independent articles, both directly state Rogan's no-gi black belt was awarded by Eddie Bravo, in 2010 per the latter

  “Rogan also earned his black belt in no-gi BJJ from Eddie Bravo, founder of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu”

  — Ryan, Sean. (2025). Behind the Scenes: Where and How Joe Rogan Trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsulink history info

  “his no-gi black belt from Eddie Bravo”

  — Joe Rogan Jiu-Jitsu: The Complete Story (In-Depth Breakdown)link history info

Sources

Identifiers