Maynard James Keenan of Tool Earns Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt

2021-12-03

Story by Charles Ken, photo by Travis Shinn

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan has spent years studying Jiu Jitsu, and now, he officially has his brown belt

Maynard James Keenan has officially received his brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer frontman has been practicing martial arts for years now, and over the weekend, Hawaiian-based trainer Chief Limao posted a photo with Keenan on Instagram showing off the musician’s brown belt. “True warrior,” he stated in the caption, congratulating Keenan for his victory.

So, what exactly is a brown belt? Garra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu states that in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the black belt is the highest belt you can get. The brown belt is its predecessor, which takes at least five years to earn.

“When you’re coming to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu you’re coming as a white belt and you don’t know anything. So, every day that you go to train BJJ, even though you’ll make some small progressions it’s about you digging in. It’s about you understanding exactly what humility smells like,” Keenan said in an interview with BJJ World a few years ago, explaining his passion for Jiu Jitsu.

“It’s a pretty tough road from white belt to black belt,” he added. “It’s a road that nobody can do except you. You have to put the time in, you have to progress and you have to do it. Nobody can do it for you. If you have that belt by the time you get to a black belt, you’ve earned it. There are no shortcuts.”

In other news, Keenan and Tool will kick off a new run of North American and European tour dates starting in January of 2022. When he isn’t busy doing music or practicing Jiu Jitsu, he also heads up the Caduceus Cellars winery in Jerome, Arizona.

Charles Ken
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