“My Parents Split Up”: “Bullied” as a Kid and Having Moved Homes Multiple Times, Nostalgic Joe Rogan Recalls Influence of Martial Arts as a Kid

It is almost impossible to not talk about Joe Rogan when you talk about UFC. With his unwavering dedication to the promotion for over two decades and his genuine expertise, Rogan has earned the respect and admiration of fighters and fans alike. But before being a popular UFC face, Rogan was an active martial artist himself.

Holding a black belt in Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, a style of no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as a black belt in gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Jean Jacques Machado, Rogan has honed his skills to a remarkable level. Additionally, he had a brief stint in amateur kickboxing, retiring with a respectable record of 2-1.

Although he never entered professional fighting, the 55-year-old has inspired many people to take up martial arts. Moreover, Joe Rogan has repeatedly talked about how his tough life situation forced him to learn to fight. On a recent podcast with ‘Oil and Whiskey’, the JRE podcast host once again recalled the start of his MMA journey.

Joe Rogan opens up about his tough childhood filled with bullying

Reflecting on his childhood, Rogan revealed a sense of insecurity stemming from frequent relocations due to his parent’s separation. The UFC commentator moved from New Jersey to San Francisco, to Florida, and then to Boston in his early years. Moreover, he struggled to find a sense of belonging and faced bullying in each new school.

It was during these trying times that Rogan recognized self-defense. According to Rogan, he needed to acquire the skills that would empower him and transform his self-perception.

Read More – “You’re a F**King C*nt to Me!”- Controversial $200M Worth Joe Rogan Brutally Trashes Frustrating Meetings With TV Personalities

“Martial arts was the first thing that I ever did where I realized like ‘Hey, maybe I’m not a loser’,” Rogan expressed with heartfelt sincerity. “Because everything before like, I was insecure you know. My parents split up when I was real young. I was always moving and so I didn’t have like a good group of friends. I was getting bullied when I go to these new schools so that’s like I gotta learn how to fight. That’s when I started doing martial arts and it just changed who I am.”

Rogan emphasizes how martial arts changed him

According to Rogan the discipline, dedication, and progress he experienced through martial arts reshaped his identity. “It’s like it gave me a thing where I realized like if you dedicate yourself to something you can be someone.”

Moreover, the Newark-born finally started getting praise and appreciation as he got better at fighting. According to Rogan, he finally felt important in his life, which was a new feeling for him. “Now I felt like I was someone important, I was getting praise for what I did.”

Watch This Story – How Did Joe Rogan Get Famous?

Joe Rogan‘s story serves as an inspiration, reminding us that the pursuit of passion can transform lives. Beyond his witty commentary and insightful podcasts, Rogan stands as an inspiration for many.