Mad Max: Fury Road star Tom Hardy secretly entered a Jiu-Jitsu tournament and won the series.
According to The Guardian, the British actor entered the 2022 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship – a competition held by Ultimate Martial Arts Championships at Oakgrove school in Milton Keynes.
Tom Hardy secretly enters a BJJ tournament and wins the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship in the UK (2022) pic.twitter.com/EQlPP47qJZ
— Fight Pics That Go Hard (@fightpicsgohard) September 21, 2022
Somewhat embodying his role in the 2011 MMA drama ”Warrior,” Hardy unexpectedly entered the competition, wearing a blue gi, a lightweight two-piece white garment worn in judo and other martial arts, and went on to win all his contests.
A spokesperson for the championships called Hardy “a really nice guy” and was a real pleasure to have at the tournament.
“Everyone recognized him but he was very humble and was happy to take time out for people to take photographs with him. It was a real pleasure to have him compete at our event.”
His shock appearance was not a first as back in August he also entered the REORG Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Wolverhampton, England and proceeded to win that event as well. The tournament was aimed at raising funds for military personnel, veterans, and emergency service workers. Hardy is a known trustee for REORG, which is a charity teaching jiu-jitsu to those with serious injuries, and to people suffering from PTSD and depression.
Hardy’s opponent, Danny Appleby, shared a few words to local media upon facing against the actor.
“I was shell-shocked. He said, ‘just forget it’s me and do what you would normally do.;” he said.
“He’s a really strong guy. You wouldn’t think it with him being a celebrity. I do ok, I’ve done about six tournaments and I’ve been on the podium in every one. But he’s probably the toughest competitor I’ve had. He certainly lived up to his Bane character, that’s for sure,” he added.
Hardy is known for his tough guy personas on-screen and has acted in films such as Inception, Dunkirk, Venom, as well as hit television show Peaky Blinders.
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