B.J. Penn Biography: Jay Dee “B.J.” Penn III born December 13, 1978 is a retired American mixed martial artist and a 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He is a former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion, making him the second fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes. Before transitioning to MMA, Penn made history as the first non-Brazilian to win the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the black belt level. Throughout his MMA career, he competed in the UFC and K-1 across a wide range of divisions, including Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight/Openweight. Notably, Penn fought Caol Uno to a draw in the UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament.
B.J. Penn Biography
B.J. Penn was born to Jay Dee Penn, who is of Irish descent, and Loraine Shin, a third-generation Korean-American. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of seventeen after being introduced to the discipline by his neighbor, Tom Callos. Callos had posted flyers at local gyms seeking training partners, and Penn’s father responded, expressing interest on behalf of his sons. Callos began teaching B.J. and his brother the fundamentals of BJJ. Soon after, B.J. moved to San Jose, California, to further his training at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), where he worked with coaches Dave Camarillo and Bob Cooke. He lived with them during this period, developing a close friendship and deepening his dedication to martial arts. It was during his time in San Jose that Penn made the decision to seriously pursue a career in martial arts—though not specifically in MMA at first.
B.J. Penn Biography Details
| Born | Jay Dee Penn III December 13, 1978 Kailua, Hawaii, United States |
|---|---|
| Other names | The Prodigy |
| Residence | Hilo, Hawaii |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight (2014–2017) Lightweight (2001–2003, 2007–2010, 2018-2019) Welterweight (2004, 2006, 2010–2012) Middleweight (2004–2005) Openweight (2005) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Team | B.J. Penn’s MMA |
| Trainer | Jason Parillo |
| Rank | 5th degree black belt in BJJ |
| Category | WWE News |
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About B.J. Penn
Jay Dee “B.J.” Penn III is an American former professional mixed martial art fighter and 5th degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. A former UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC Welterweight Champion, he is the second of nine fighters in UFC history to win titles in multiple weight classes.
- Born: 13 December 1978 (age 46 years), Kailua, Hawaii, United States
- Weight: 77 kg
- Martial arts: Mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Height: 1.75 m
- Nicknames: B.J, Baby Jay, The Prodigy
- Nationality: American
- Children: Aeva Lili’u Penn
Early Life and Education
B.J. Penn was born in Hawaii to Jay Dee Penn, an Irish American, and Lorraine Shin, who is of Korean and Hawaiian descent. At 17, he was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by his neighbor, Tom Callos. Callos had posted flyers in local gyms seeking training partners, and Penn’s father responded, expressing interest for his sons. Callos began teaching B.J. and his brother the basics of BJJ. Not long after, Penn relocated to San Jose, California, to train at the Ralph Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy under Dave Camarillo. He lived with Camarillo, and the two formed a close friendship. It was during this time that Penn made the decision to pursue a career in martial arts.
B.J. Penn Facts & Wiki
Where does B.J. Penn live? And how much money does B.J. Penn earn?
| Birth Date | 13-12-1978 |
| Heritage/origin | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion – believes in God? | Non-religious |
| Residence | He owns a house in Hawaii. |
B.J. Penn Net Worth 2025, Salary
B.J. Penn is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who has a net worth of $22 million. He is currently fighting in the UFC and was the former UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC Welterweight Champion. Penn is also the first non-Brazilian winner in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship black-belt category.
| Estimated Net Worth | 22 million Dollar |
| Yearly Salary | N/A |
| Colleagues | Din Thomas, Caol Uno & Paul Creighton |
B.J. Penn: Girlfriend, Dating, Family & Friends
Penn is currently in a relationship with Shealen Uaiwa. The couple is currently living happily with their two children and they are not in a hungry to tie the knot.
| Relationship status | Dating |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Current Girlfriend of B.J. Penn | Shealen Uaiwa |
| Ex-girlfriends or ex-wives | |
| Has any kids? | Yes, father of: Kulia Penn, Aeva Lili’u Penn |
Family
He might have befriended Din Thomas, Caol Uno & Paul Creighton, but what about family? Names of father, mother, kids, brothers & sisters:
- Jay Dee Penn (Father)
- Loraine Shin (Mother)
- Aeva Lili’u Penn (Daughter)
- Kulia Penn (Daughter)
Friends
- Matt Hughes
Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos, Skin, Hair & Eye Color
This tough athlete originating from Hawaii has a athletic body & round face type.
| Hair color | Bald |
| Hairstyle | simple |
| Beard or Mustache | Beard |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Height | 175 cm |
| Weight | 76 kilo |
| Feet size | N/A |
| Does B.J. Penn smoke? | No, never |
| Does B.J. Penn have a tattoo? | No |
| Fitness, workout and diet | Penn workouts five times a week. He would cover a range of training sessions including cardio and running. |