Peaky Blinders star Tom Hardy made case for 2022 Prospect of the Year by winning gold at multiple Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments

Tom Hardy shocked everyone in 2022 by proving he doesn’t just play hardmen on the silver screen, he’s actually got the skills to back it up.

In August, the Hollywood superstar made a surprise appearance at a Brazilian jiu-jitsu event in Wolverhampton that was held to raise money for military personnel and first responders facing severe mental and physical issues.

YoutTube – Jiu Jitsu World

Hardy was caught on camera competing in a Gi complete with a blue belt to demonstrate his BJJ rank and was quite impressive as he dominated his opponent from the start.

The 45-year-old slowly and methodically worked his way to an armbar submission victory akin to UFC legend Ronda Rousey before later making another opponent tap out to earn his second gold medal of the day.

Despite the fact his submission skills went viral, Hardy was able to silently sign up and take part in another BJJ tournament just one month later – this time in Milton Keynes.

The Peaky Blinders actor once again beat all of his competition to claim gold and impress the world with the skills nobody knew he had until recently.

For most, Hardy’s skills on the mat came as a huge shock but the Englishman has been training in a variety of martial arts since shooting the movie ‘Warrior’ in 2011.

The film features Hardy as Tommy Riordan, a former Marine who returns home and gets his father to train him for a mixed martial arts contest.

Twitter – @RobbiePoirier10

However, his estranged brother Brendan, played by Joel Edgerton, also enters the tournament which promises the winner $5million in prize money.

To prepare for the role, Hardy essentially lived the life of a fighter and gained 28lbs of muscle to create a physique that he later used to portray Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

“I did two hours boxing a day, two hours Muay Thai, two hours jiu-jitsu followed by two hours choreography and two hours of weightlifting seven days a week for three months. So come on! You have to really want to do that, so it was a challenge,” he told The Guardian in 2011.

More than a decade later, Hardy is not only a talented grappler he is also a pretty decent boxer after taking up the sport to prepare to play Marvel superhero, Venom.

Jack McGann who has trained with the one-time Oscar nominee and is a 7-0-1 professional boxer has suggested Hardy would be a success if ever decided to ditch acting and pursue fighting as a career.

“He’s one of the loveliest, nicest people you’ll meet,” McGann told Sloth Boxx.

“When it comes to fighting and boxing, he’s got that little nasty streak which is what you need. He bites down, goes forward, doesn’t back up. I wouldn’t like to see him change profession but if he had to, he’d do really well.”

Despite impressing everyone with his fight skills in 2022, it seems like Hardy will be sticking to his day job, at least for now. But be sure to keep an eye out for this top BJJ prospect in 2023.