The Undisputed star, 58-year-old martial artist and actor Michael Jai White, talked at length about training, ageing powerfully, and discipline. On the May 13 episode of the Men's Health podcast, he mentioned how boxing legend Joe Lewis was an inspiration for him.

"There was a guy named Joe Lewis who was a big inspiration to me," he said. "Joe Lewis was a guy who weight trained, but was super efficient in movement. That told me I could train with weights to enhance my martial arts."

At the time, some martial artists believed lifting weights could slow fighters down or hurt their flexibility. But seeing Lewis remain fast, fluid, and effective convinced him that weight training could actually improve martial arts performance when done correctly.

White has built a reputation in Hollywood for being one of the most authentic martial arts stars, known for films like Blood and Bone, Spawn, and Black Dynamite.

However, the American actor and martial artist also holds black belts in multiple disciplines like Taekwondo, Kyokushin karate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. White has always emphasized the value of athletic mobility, explosive movement, and functional strength.

As a martial artist, White mainly focused on cross-training in his early years. However, after watching people like Billy Blanks and Joe Lewis, who would weight train, he decided to make certain additions to his workout philosophy.

How Joe Lewis’ Training Philosophy Resonated With Michael Jai White

Lewis transitioned from serving in the United States Marine Corps to becoming a Professional Karate Association World Heavyweight Champion.

Along the way, he helped revolutionize modern full-contact karate with his disciplined approach and technical mastery. Lewis' dedication earned him the nickname, “the man who brought us Full Contact Karate.”

White soon reformed his training strategy, focusing more on building explosive power, balance, speed, and functional strength. He began to understand how he could use weights to help enhance his martial arts.

His performance-driven mindset and legendary discipline have become a blueprint for athletes who are seeking power that translates outside the gym.

Read more at Bodybuilding Bros.

Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar