Tom Hardy has sung the praises of jiu-jitsu as a form of mental health therapy as he continues to pop up randomly at competitions around the United Kingdom to kick butt.
The Peaky Blinders star took to social media to give his favourite pastime a shoutout for all the mental and physical health benefits it can bring.
"Simple training, for me (as a hobby and a private love) has been fundamentally key to further develop a deeper sense of inner resilience, calm and well being," the Venom star said.
"I can’t stress the importance it has had and the impact on my life and my fellow teammates."
The jiu-jitsu champ and acclaimed actor sang the praises of REOG, a charity that he works with to help veterans with a range of serious, life-altering physical injuries, as well debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
"Addiction is difficult and complex stuff to navigate; as is mental health. Subjects which are both deeply personal for me and extremely close to my heart," Hardy said.
"It is an honour to be able to represent the charity and my team REORG and the great work they do supporting the mental health and well-being of veterans of service, military and first responders through the therapeutic benefits of Jiu-jitsu and fitness training."
REORG aims to help those who suffer from PTSD or even just a low mood or lack of purpose. Their website claims that 'when you spend a tough hour training, the volume on all your problems gets turned right down'.
Hardy, a trustee of the mental health and wellness charity, explained why his work with REORG and jiu-jitsu is so crucial to veterans, first responders, and more.
"Their work has changed and saved lives around the world by not only providing an effective, positive means for navigating and managing the challenging psychological aspects of military and first responder careers, but also has allowed many to find a renewed sense of purpose, identity, and community that's often lost when transitioning to civilian life," the Mad Max: Fury Road star said.
And his work with REORG is clearly paying off. Last month, the 45-year-old actor shocked onlookers when he took to the mat at a leisure centre in Wolverhampton and brought home the gold for the REORG Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
He was so good, in fact, that one of the other competitors said he had to tap out of his match with Hardy before his arm was broken.
On September 17, he secretly arranged to fight at another competition - this time at a local school sports hall in Milton Keynes - where he then floored all his opponents.
Hardy reportedly got into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while training to play a former boxer turned MMA fighter in the 2011 film Warrior. He is also an honorary member of the Royal Marines Corps.
Featured Image Credit: SWNS.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Mental Health, TV and Film, Tom Hardy, Charity
