Kelly Slater: The Surfer Who Loves Martial Arts

Kelly Slater is widely considered as the greatest professional surfer of all time. He became an 11-time world champion and at just 20 years old he became the youngest surfing world champion.

However, Slaters career runs deeper than Surfing as he has been on films, TV programmes, an author for books, and also has a passion for martial arts. Let’s dive in (excuse the pun) and find out more about the famous Kelly Slater.

Who is Kelly Slater?

Kelly Slater was born Robert Kelly Slater on the 11th February, 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA. Slater is a son of a bait-store owner, so grew up near the water, and he began surfing at just five years old. It wasn’t just the water Slater had a passion for as alongside his legendary surf career, Slater has nurtured a lifelong love for martial arts, a passion that for him, is deeply incorporated with surfing.

Early Influences: From Kickboxing Kid to Surfing Phenomon

Slater’s martial arts journey began in childhood when he and his brother trained under Don “The Dragon” Wilson, a world kickboxing champion, practicing karate and taekwondo. As Slater has said, even at that young age, he felt a natural pull toward martial movement and discipline.

In interviews, he’s called surfing itself a martial art — comparing the flow, efficiency, and balance in surfing to the principles of combat disciplines.

As crazy as it may sound but both surfing and combat sports can work hand-in-hand with eachother as they both require a flow state, mental focus, and discipline. Ironically, the original MMA shorts were based on Surfing board shorts.

As Slater’s surfing talent progressed, his martial arts training took a backseat and eventually surfing became his primary focus, but the pull never fully went away.

Slater first tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in the early ’90s, during a trip to Brazil. It was there that he connected with the legendary Gracie family, who play a foundational role in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In a story that perfectly blends his two worlds, Slater once struck a deal with Rickson Gracie: he would swap surfboards for jiu-jitsu lessons. Over the years, he’s trained with some of the biggest names in BJJ — Rickson Gracie, the Mendes Bros, and even Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida.

Kelly Slater Net Worth

It is reported that Kelly Slaters net worth is approximately $40 million USD. Apart from an incredible surfing career, Slater has had many other streams of revenue. He has been on films, played Jimmy Slade on the TV program Baywatch. He’s got a surfboard brand (Slater Designs), a clothing company (Outerknown), a footwear line (KLLY), a wave pool business (Kelly Slater Wave Company), and a skincare venture (Freaks of Nature). Not to mention all his winnings over the years—it’s been a while, but still—and his endorsement deals. It makes sense that, although speculative, Slater would top this list.

Final Thoughts

Kelly Slater’s martial arts journey isn’t a side story — it’s a parallel path that echoes the same principles that made him a surfing legend. His practice of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combined with his early Kung Fu / kickboxing roots, reflects a lifelong quest for mastery. For Slater, the wave and the mat aren’t separate — they’re complementary arenas for self-expression, discipline, and growth.