The well-known UFC trainer and coach, Firas Zahabi, has playfully accused actor Keanu Reeves of borrowing some of his distinct techniques for a film.
Zahabi runs the famous Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada. He’s particularly recognized for training former welterweight champions, especially the legendary Georges St-Pierre.
During a podcast, Zahabi reminisced about a time he was teaching when he discovered that one of his students shared a name with the famous actor. This led him to wonder why someone of his cultural background would have the name Keanu. The student revealed that Reeves was actually born in Beirut, and his parents were fans of that name.
This revelation amused Zahabi, who remarked that Reeves “stole one of my moves years ago.” He joked about how surprising it was that a fellow Lebanese would take his style without consulting him first. Specifically, Zahabi pointed to a scene in “John Wick: Chapter 2,” where a jiu-jitsu move he calls “web guard” is used—it involves jumping and then pulling an opponent to the ground.
“It was a solid move,” Zahabi stated, referring to the web guard. “When people would grab me, I’d respond with it, especially if they had me in an underhook.”
Zahabi presented a clip from the movie alongside footage of him demonstrating his techniques in the gym.
“I must admit, I took this move out of practice,” Zahabi continued. “But then here comes a guy named Keanu Reeves, who essentially ripped me off.”
“I’m not too bothered when others take from me. I mean, I’m kind of expecting that. But a fellow Lebanese? That’s another story.”
Even though much of his commentary came off as lighthearted, Zahabi did express some insistence that Reeves, along with the movie’s fight choreographer Chad Stahelski, had in fact taken his technique without his acknowledgment.
Some of Zahabi’s remarks ruffled feathers, perhaps jokingly suggesting that while he’s accustomed to seeing techniques appropriated by others, having it done by a fellow Lebanese was a different matter altogether. “Now that I know he’s one of us, I might just have to confront him about it,” Zahabi quipped.
It’s worth noting that while Reeves was indeed born in Lebanon, his parents are English and Hawaiian, which might shift perspectives on Zahabi’s claims.
Stahelski reportedly started his MMA journey in the early 90s, whereas Zahabi’s own martial arts path began in 1998.
