Walt Weiss: Braves Manager’s Martial Arts Background Revealed

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss utilized his martial arts training to intervene during a benches-clearing brawl between the Braves and the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on April 8, 2026.

The confrontation erupted during the game after tensions built throughout the evening, resulting in players, coaches and bullpen personnel converging on the field. The altercation involved shoving and punches, specifically between the Angels’ Jorge Soler and the Braves’ Reynaldo Lopez.

As the scrum expanded, Weiss, 62, intervened to separate the players and restore order. During the process, Weiss tackled Soler, who is 34, to the ground with ease.

Martial Arts Background

The incident highlighted Weiss’s extensive training in combat sports, which began after his professional baseball playing career. Weiss earned a black belt in taekwondo, a detail noted in a 2013 ESPN profile.

Following his time in traditional martial arts, Weiss transitioned into mixed martial arts (MMA). He stated in 2016 that he began training in MMA approximately 15 to 20 years prior.

Weiss’s training included sessions at the 3D Martial Arts gym in Commerce City, Colorado. There, he trained with Clarence Thatch, a prominent early MMA fighter, and a group of other fighters. While Weiss attempted cage fighting, he never participated in full-scale professional competitions.

Peer and Manager Perspectives

Former teammates and managers have previously commented on Weiss’s physical toughness and his ability to fight. Chipper Jones noted that Weiss was one of those MMA guys and claimed he could tie anybody from their team up in a pretzel in 20 seconds.

Tony La Russa, who managed Weiss at the beginning of his career, also commented on Weiss’s martial arts pursuits.

I knew [Weiss] was tough, I didn’t know he was nuts.

Tony La Russa

Weiss has previously credited his study of martial arts and weightlifting as primary methods for maintaining discipline and staying in shape.