TRIVIUM’s MATT HEAFY Just Earned His Black Belt In Jiu-Jitsu At 37 Years Of Age

TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy has been awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The 37-year-old Heafy, who has been training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for the last ten years, was granted the new rank by Gustavo “Gutty” Muggiati, who heads up Gracie Barra North Orlando in Matt’s hometown of Orlando, Florida.

On Saturday (March 4), Matt Heafy shared a photo of him with Muggiati to social media, writing in an accompanying message: “03-13-13 was the first day for me in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. BJJ did not come easy for me… in fact – it was one of the most difficult undertakings I’d ever started in my life.

“For the first year – I wanted to quit – but despite that. I’d go 5+ days a week – multiple hours a day. It didn’t make sense for the first 3 years. I didn’t retain what I needed to for the first 5 years. But still – I stuck with it and put in the time. Year 6/7 – it started to make sense. Year 8/9 – I felt I started finding my groove (finally). Year 10. The black belt is not the end. It’s the beginning.

“Thank you to every person I’ve ever trained with, learned from, lost to; my family and friends for their support; my teammates; my academy… but most importantly: my professor Gutty. Gutty, you changed my life; you’ve made every one of your students’ lives better.

“Here’s to the next 10 years.

“My advice to all of you. Start BJJ. Now.”

The TRIVIUM frontman also shared a video of him being hit with belts by each of his fellow practitioners as he walked past them in celebration. It’s a custom in the martial art that serves as a method of team building and reinforces camaraderie between classmates.

Heafy previously relayed to HardDrive Radio that the martial art had “become the biggest part of my life outside of music. Music is probably first, then jiu-jitsu,” he said. “That’s why I’ve gotten so intense with my practice schedule — I’ve had to learn something from the ground up.

“I remember the first time I ever grappled or sparred or fought. I was against someone who was probably 60 or 70 pounds lighter than me who was 17 years old. I thought, ‘I got this.’ And he choked me out in 20 seconds. I was like, ‘All right, I don’t know anything about this at all.’ And I love that. I like things that are humbling.

“I like the fact that my entire life, I’ve been playing guitar and singing in TRIVIUM. I joined the band when I was 12, so to pick something up new that I didn’t understand that was frustrating, weird, and difficult, and seemed impossible, and still seems impossible some days, it was a metaphor for life, learning jiu-jitsu. It’s about learning about yourself, the habits you have, and what you like. And how you learn; I’ve learned that I’m a slow learner.”

Speaking of TRIVIUM, the band have announced a run of U.K. dates for their “Goblins And Wizards” summer tour.

The band will be hitting the road throughout the UK commencing August 23 for a trek that is set to include stops that TRIVIUIM haven’t played in over 15 years.

Joining the band as special guests will be BLEED FROM WITHIN and ORBIT CULTURE.

You can get the full tour listing below.

TRIVIUM’s “Goblins And Wizards” 2023 UK tour dates:

Aug 23: Cambridge Corn Exchange

Aug 24: Norwich UEA

Aug 25: Nottingham Rock City

Aug 26: Oxford O2 Academy

Aug 28: Stoke Victoria Hall

Aug 29: Liverpool O2 Academy

Aug 30: Sheffield O2 Academy

Aug 31: Newcastle NX

Sep 02: Edinburgh O2 Academy

Sep 03: Leeds Stylus

Sep 04: Bristol Academy

Sep 06: Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall

Sep 07: Southampton O2 Guildhall