Demi Lovato made huge waves back in August of 2017 when she got her blue belt. Many questioned if she deserved it. The young pop star has taken a liking to a variety of mixed martial arts and can be seen around the web hitting takedowns on her instructor, working on technique and striking among other things.
“I would say that if you struggle with depression, anxiety, or any other type of stressors in your life, a really great way to get rid of those is through physical exercise and fitness.” Demi told People magazine.
“I first got into jiu-jitsu because I loved watching people grapple,” Lovato says. (Jiu-jitsu focuses on hand-to-hand combat moves and ground work such as grappling, throwing, and pinning.) “I think it’s really cool to learn something that helps you with self-defense.” She adds that she also finds MMA fighting meditative because she’s constantly thinking of ways to attack and defend.”
After an intense 1 year of training, Lovato was promoted to blue belt by her instructor Orlando Sanchez of Gracie Barra.
Lovato stated:
Demi Lovato went through a huge ordeal in 2018. The pop star – and blue belt in bjj reportedly relapsed after several years of sobriety and was subsequently revived with the aid of narcan while suffering a fentanyl overdose.
Now she’s full time back to training and has the stripes to show for it:
And here’s the kicker – People reported as if she got a brand new degree on it
“The 26-year-old singer shared on Wednesday that she earned a new degree in the Brazilian martial art.”
Lovato previously said that she loves all forms of mixed martial arts, but jiu-jitsu is her favorite type.
“I first got into jiu-jitsu because I loved watching people grapple,” Lovato told SELF. “I think it’s really cool to learn something that helps you with self-defense.”
