When most people think of professional skateboarders, they envision athletes dedicated solely to perfecting their craft on concrete and wood. But Tom Knox represents a fascinating intersection of disciplines, having achieved elite status not only in skateboarding but also as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Knox’s journey into martial arts began remarkably early. At just four years old, he started training in judo after moving from Torrance to Visalia, California. Twenty-one years of dedicated practice culminated in earning his black belt in the discipline, establishing a foundation of grappling knowledge that would prove invaluable later in his career.
The pivotal moment came in 1998 when someone introduced Knox to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The art immediately captivated him, setting him on a path that would see him train under some of the sport’s most respected figures. Knox received his blue and purple belts from legendary Royce Gracie, before transitioning to work with Cleber Luciano for his brown and black belt certifications.
“I owe a lot to him for his technical guidance and friendship,” Knox said of Luciano.
While his martial arts journey was unfolding, Knox discovered skateboarding at age twelve when a neighbor introduced him to the sport. Together, they built their own ramps, launching what would become a professional career sponsored by industry giants Independent and Santa Cruz. His competitive spirit and technical precision, honed through years of martial arts training, translated seamlessly to skateboarding’s demanding requirements.
Today, Knox operates Elite Team Visalia, his own BJJ academy where he has developed numerous champions and produced three athletes who have signed with the UFC.
Knox’s competitive achievements in BJJ are particularly impressive for someone maintaining parallel careers. This year alone, he captured gold in the Master 3 black belt Medium Heavy division at the IBJJF European tournament, followed by victories at the IBJJF Pan Americans and Nationals in the same category. His Pan Americans performance was especially dominant, winning all matches by submission.
The connection between his two passions runs deeper than simple cross-training. Knox views skateboarding as complementary preparation for jiu-jitsu, explaining: “The balance, cardio, and technical knowledge are needed to skate, just like for Jiu-Jitsu.”
His martial arts credentials extend beyond BJJ, having achieved second-degree black belt status in judo and earning recognition as the 2019-2020 number one ranked IBJJF black belt in the Master 4 division.
While preparing for the upcoming IBJJF Masters Worlds Championship, Knox simultaneously works on filming for a new Santa Cruz skateboarding video scheduled for November release.
