Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta, shared a selfie on Instagram proudly displaying two black eyes he sustained during jiu jitsu sparring. In his post, Zuckerberg humorously mentioned that the sparring had gotten a bit out of hand and joked about the need to update his online avatar.
Zuckerberg had previously revealed his interest in jiu jitsu during an August 2022 interview, stating that he took up the martial art during the COVID-19 pandemic. He described how engaging in MMA training and sparring provided him with an energy boost and helped him prepare mentally for the challenges of his work.
During the interview, Zuckerberg also mentioned training with coach Dave Camarillo, who played a significant role in his jiu jitsu journey. With Camarillo’s guidance, Zuckerberg participated in his first jiu jitsu tournament in May and proudly won gold and silver medals.
Camarillo, in an Instagram tribute to Zuckerberg’s achievements, expressed his admiration for his student’s dedication and willingness to challenge himself in a new arena. He highlighted the transformative power of jiu jitsu and acknowledged Zuckerberg’s drive and graciousness.
In return, Zuckerberg congratulated Camarillo on achieving his fifth-degree black belt in jiu jitsu in July. He expressed his gratitude for the knowledge and life lessons he had gained from his coach and celebrated his own promotion to blue belt, indicating his advancement from a beginner white belt.
Zuckerberg’s journey into jiu jitsu reflects his commitment to personal growth and challenges outside the tech world. His Instagram posts have provided a glimpse into his passion for the martial art and his determination to excel in it.