Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has been captured in photos engaging in martial arts training, hinting at his serious preparation for a potential clash with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Musk’s impromptu training session lasted for hours and took place alongside popular podcaster and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Lex Fridman.
Elon Musk Teams Up with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Lex Fridman for Training
The images shared on Tuesday night showcased Musk’s dedication as he practiced various martial arts techniques. In one photo, the billionaire entrepreneur expertly executed an arm lock, his forehead vein visibly bulging with exertion as he restrained Fridman. This move appeared significantly more effective than his previously touted “The Walrus” technique, which simply involved lying on top of an opponent. In another snapshot, Musk demonstrated a takedown maneuver by flipping Fridman onto the mat.
“I did an impromptu training session with @elonmusk for a few hours yesterday. I’m extremely impressed with his strength, power, and skill, on the feet and on the ground,” Fridman posted
“It was epic. It’s really inspiring to see Elon and Mark doing martial arts, but I think the world is served far better if they train martial arts but not fight in the cage.
“That said, as Elon says, the most entertaining outcome is the most likely… I’m there for them, no matter what.”
I did an impromptu training session with @elonmusk for a few hours yesterday. I'm extremely impressed with his strength, power, and skill, on the feet and on the ground. It was epic. It's really inspiring to see Elon and Mark doing martial arts, but I think the world is served… pic.twitter.com/cq00A9Xnmw
— Lex Fridman (@lexfridman) June 27, 2023
Fridman, who has also trained with Zuckerberg in the past, expressed his admiration for Musk’s abilities but expressed a preference for the two billionaires to avoid physical confrontation. It is worth noting that Fridman gained Musk’s favor by coauthoring a controversially positive study on Tesla’s Autopilot while working as a researcher at MIT.
While Zuckerberg has been flaunting his well-toned physique after following a grueling training regime, including running two miles, performing 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 squats, Musk is not backing down. Despite calls from his mother and statements from his father, who labeled the potential fight a “no-win situation for Elon,” Musk’s determination remains resolute.
Interestingly, renowned UFC legend Georges St-Pierre extended an offer to assist Musk in his preparation for the blockbuster bout. Three days later, Musk accepted the sensational offer. St-Pierre, a former welterweight and middleweight UFC champion, is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, making his involvement an invaluable asset to Musk’s training.
UFC President Dana White is equally enthusiastic about the prospective matchup, suggesting that it could become the most financially lucrative fight in history. While no concrete plans have been announced regarding the timing or venue of the contest, White has hinted at Las Vegas as a possible location. Moreover, the pay-per-view price for the event may be set at $100, surpassing the standard cost for UFC events by $20.
Musk’s martial arts background includes training in Kyokushin karate, taekwondo, judo, and a brief stint in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as revealed during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Notably, Musk even entertained the idea of the controversial podcast host serving as the referee for their potential bout, adding flame emojis to his tweet.
However, Musk might find the competition tougher than anticipated, as his Meta CEO rival is skilled in both MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. With tensions building and training intensifying, the world eagerly awaits further developments on this high-stakes clash between two tech industry giants.
Notably, Lex Fridman recently trained with Mark Zuckerberg after their podcast episode. He shared footage of their rolling session on his YouTube channel, giving viewers an inside look at their encounter.
“I’m a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and I’ve been doing it for over fifteen years, and also Judo and wrestling for ten more. Mark has been training Jiu-Jitsu for just over a year and has taken this journey on with humility and with a seriousness that to me is truly inspiring.
“And, given the recent back and forth between Elon and Zuck on social media, I should mention that I’m a longtime friend of Elon, and a new friend of Zuck, and I’m excited to see them take on the journey of being martial artists in their own way and I look forward to training with each of them. They both run large, successful, impactful companies, and so they’re super busy.
“But I do believe there’s tremendous value in them practicing martial arts, as it will make them better leaders, better human beings, and students of human nature. First and foremost, at least to me, Jiu-Jitsu is humbling” – Lex said
