December 11, 2025, 2:10 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
There’s a reason Jason Statham is Hollywood’s go-to action star. At 58, he’s in top form on camera and seems mentally ageless. FITBOOK editor Michel Winges explores why that might be.
Exploration as the Key to Healthy Aging
Statham’s ability to deliver at 58 is likely due to his lifelong enjoyment of sports. In an interview with “Men’s Journal,” he shares how he maintains his drive: “I love wakeboarding and doing all these crazy things with the jet ski. Windsurfing. Water skiing. I’ve tried almost every martial art over time. I’ve tried so many things.” Even a wingsuit flight is still on his bucket list.
Research Proves It!
Studies show that constantly seeking new challenges keeps both the body and mind fit.1, 2, 3 Those who continue to embrace new experiences in later life, whether learning new skills or trying unfamiliar activities (perhaps not wingsuit flying over 60), have been shown to maintain cognitive function longer. This might explain why Statham remains so impressively fit—both physically and mentally.
Prison-Inspired Strength Training
When preparing for his role in “The Expendables,” Statham drew inspiration from the training methods of inmates in a California state prison. “They trained with body weight and time-tested fitness techniques that worked wonders. Weights were banned in the prison yard.”
He and his trainer, Logan Hood—a former Navy SEAL, developed a program combining bodyweight exercises with targeted weight training. According to Hood, every movement should be functional and natural, allowing the body to build tension like a coiled spring.
For the film “The Beekeeper,” Statham also trained with two-time Taekwondo world champion and former UFC fighter James Moontasri. Moontasri told “Men’s Journal” about Statham: “Jason does pull-ups and muscle-ups like it’s nothing.” Notably, he reportedly does these on gymnastic rings. This might be one of Statham’s secrets, as training on rings forces the body to stabilize every movement, engaging not only large muscle groups but also the deep stabilizing muscles more intensely than any other strength exercise.
“I lifted weights for 20 years—if only I had done Muay Thai.”
BJJ black belt holder: “This is what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does to your personality”
Getting in “Prison Shape”
To get into the “prison shape” Statham fondly refers to (as opposed to the “gym shape” he disdains), you don’t need to have been a member of the British national diving team for 12 years like he was. But that certainly helped him be in good shape even before his acting career.
He also started martial arts early, learning Chinese martial arts. Specifically, he holds a black belt in Karate and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has also practiced kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun.
And nowadays, he occasionally adds yoga to the mix, as he reported to “Tagblatt“: “I’ve also started doing yoga now. But I still have room for improvement!”
“Training is part of my daily routine, whether I’m working on a film project or not. It’s in my nature,” Statham told “TV Spielfilm.” That’s how the athletic body of the now 58-year-old movie star comes to be.
The Be-All and End-All
What drives Statham is less the desire for muscle mass and more the focus on functionality. “I’ve never been about having the biggest, bulkiest, and most noticeable muscles—functionality is the focus of my training,” he says in an interview with “TRAIN Magazine.” He usually trains in the morning, often simply in his garage—without much equipment but with high consistency.
In “Men’s Health” he explained in 2021: “If you train in the morning, you can never use the excuse that you ran out of time or an appointment got in the way—that just doesn’t count.” He also shares another piece of wisdom: “Thirty intense minutes are better than a half-hearted hour.”