You probably know that Clark Gregg is a great actor and a competent director in the bargain. What you may not know about this man is that he is an ardent fan of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, Mr. Gregg is not just a fan. He is a practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu and he has a brown belt to boot. His love for the sport began about 12 years ago when his pal David Mamet casually told him that “you ought to do this”. In this context, “do this” meant taking up Jiu-Jitsu and this is exactly what Clark Gregg did.
How does a busy actor and movie director find time to hit the training mat? Well, this is where time management and discipline comes into the picture. Clark Gregg is a master at managing his time and this is why he finds a way to schedule specific times to different activities. It also helps that he loves Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but the best part of the story is that this sport complements rather than detracts from his work. Shooting and directing a movie can be quite challenging. There are deadlines to meet and plenty of work to be done. In addition, some of the actors you have to direct can be difficult sometimes. For Mr. Gregg, this is where Jiu-Jitsu skills come in handy. This sport teaches you patience and discipline. These are vital qualities for the movie director to have. There is also the fact Jiu-Jitsu teaches you how to manage yourself and other people too.
If you are a fan of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, you may be in for a pleasant surprise soon. Look out for Clark Gregg Jiu-Jitsu movies because this director has plans to insert Jiu-Jitsu scenes in his movies. That will surely add some physical flavor to things and make lovers of the grappling sport very proud.
Grateful and honored to receive my brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the amazing Renato Magno and Rigan Machado
