Facebook billionaire shows jiu-jitsu skills in California tournament

Tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg has shown he can hold his own in the martial arts world after winning jiu-jitsu medals on the weekend.

Mark Zuckerberg competing in a jiu-jitsu competition in California. Photo: Instagram

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg took part in his first jiu-jitsu martial arts tournament last weekend and went home with silver and gold medals, he posted on social media.

The competition was held at Woodside High School in California on Sunday (AEST) near the Silicon Valley headquarters of Meta, Zuckerberg’s company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

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“Competed in my first jiu-jitsu tournament and won some medals for the Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu team,” Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook and Instagram.

The 38-year-old tech billionaire told an interviewer last year that he began studying martial arts during the coronavirus pandemic.

He told podcaster Joe Rogan that the sport’s “primal” nature helped him boost his energy level and tackle challenges at work.

Zuckerberg trains with coach Dave Camarillo, who has taught several UFC mixed martial arts (MMA) champions.

Mark Zuckerberg competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament in California. Photo: Instagram

Unlike MMA, Brazilian-style jiu-jitsu emphasises fighting opponents through holds and control instead of kicks or striking.

Another coach, Khai “The Shadow” Wu, congratulated the tycoon.

“Yesterday getting to see Zuck compete was pretty epic. No match was easy and everything was earned. It was an honour to be able to help coach and offer any advice I could,” Wu posted on Instagram.

According to a video posted on social media, at one point during the tournament Zuckerberg appeared to angrily contest a ref’s call after losing a fight with a competitor.

The video sequence ends with Zuckerberg hugging his opponent.

- With AFP