Known for playing tough guy roles in Peaky Blinders, Mad Max, or The Dark Knight Rises, with his consequent transformation in theaters, and who is rumored to be replacing compatriot Daniel Craig as the next James Bond (?), all is well with Tom Hardy, but many people don’t know that he is a blue belt holder of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has been practicing the sport since 2011.

And there’s more: in addition to winning competitions across the UK almost incognito, the 44-year-old actor has admitted the importance of martial arts in your life to maintain your mental health. “Simple training, for me (as a hobby and personal love) has been the fundamental key to developing a deeper sense of inner resilience, calm and well-being. I cannot stress the importance of that and the impact it had on my life and that of my team-mates.”

“Addiction is a difficult and complex topic, as is mental health. It is a very personal topic for me and touches my heart. It is an honor to be able to represent the charity and my team REORG and the great work they do supporting the mental health and well-being of service veterans, military and first responders through the therapeutic benefits of Jiu Jitsu and physical training. “.

Hardy said REORG is “a global nonprofit organization and community that encourages and enables veterans, active-duty militaries, and first responders to use Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and physical training as a form of therapy to overcome physical and mental challenges, strengthen social relationships, and promote overall health and well-being.”

To many, Hardy’s skill on the mat was a big surprise, but The Brit has been training in various martial arts since shooting a film about MMA in 2011. To prepare for his role in “Warrior,” Hardy essentially lived the life of a warrior and earned 22 pounds to create a physique that he later used to play Bane in Christopher Nolan’s latest Batman film. Since then, Hardy has continued to train and apart from being a talented BJJ practitioner, he is also an excellent boxer who has even set out to make it professionally.