Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was a lifelong advocate of physical fitness and athleticism. Throughout his life, he engaged in a wide array of sports—from hiking, horseback riding, and rowing to tennis and jiu-jitsu. However, the sport he was arguably best at—and most passionate about—was boxing. He also had a love for wrestling and the martial arts. This begs the question, was Teddy Roosevelt the first ever MMA president?
Roosevelt began boxing as a student at Harvard University, where he competed as a lightweight. Though he never won any titles, he was known for his grit, determination, and surprising toughness in the ring. He continued boxing recreationally into adulthood, often sparring with younger, more skilled opponents during his political career—even while serving in the White House.
One famous story tells of Roosevelt engaging in a White House sparring match with a young Army artillery officer. The future president, well into his 40s at the time, took a punch so hard that it left him permanently blind in one eye. Yet, he never made a fuss and only quietly stopped boxing afterward, shifting to other sports like jiu-jitsu and hiking.
Boxing symbolized Roosevelt’s philosophy of the “strenuous life”—a belief that hard physical labor and rugged living built character and leadership. While he enjoyed many sports, none captured his spirit of tenacity, courage, and self-discipline quite like boxing.
As previously mentioned, Roosevelt eventually moved away from boxing in favor of other activities such as hiking, climbing, and wrestling. Roosevelt enjoyed jiu-jitsu in particular because much like boxing, it aligned perfectly with his philosophy centered on discipline, toughness, and constant self-improvement. He saw the martial art not only as a form of physical exercise but as a way to sharpen the mind, build character, and cultivate personal courage.
Additionally, being president during a time of increasing U.S.-Japan relations, Roosevelt’s interest in jiu-jitsu reflected his fascination with Japanese culture and martial tradition. He even brought in Japanese experts—like Yoshiaki Yamashita—to teach him and members of his inner circle at the White House.
Roosevelt was the first U.S. president known to study and participate in martial arts. His enthusiasm helped generate early American interest in jiu-jitsu and, later, judo. It’s not a stretch to say he planted the seeds for MMA’s modern day popularity and that if he were president today, he would he be sitting front row at the big UFC events.
FreeSportsMagazine.com 