Jeffrey Ross: From Sparring to Throwing Jabs Onstage
Jeffrey Ross: From Sparring to Throwing Jabs OnstageBy Jatinder Dhoot |
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Age: 41 Home Base: Los Angeles and New York Where You’ve Seen Him: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live Martial Arts Experience: karate, taekwondo Jeffrey Ross is well known for hosting Comedy Central’s roasts of William Shatner and Pamela Anderson, but few people know that the comedian packs quite a punch offstage, too.  While growing up in a poor neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, Ross’ mother and father decided to enroll their 6-year-old in karate. “My parents didn’t want me to become a wuss,” he says. “I was sort of scared at first, but it wasn’t long before I fell in love with it.”After switching to taekwondo and training daily for five years, Ross earned his first degree at age 10. “Apparently, I was the second-youngest black belt in the country back then,” he says. Ross enjoyed teaching and training at the House of Empty Hands, his dojo in Maplewood, New Jersey. With a room full of kata trophies and prizes he won in his teens at Gary Alexander’s East Coast tournaments, he’s still proud of his achievements. His advancement was sidetracked, however, when he tore some cartilage playing high-school football. “That slowed my kicks down, and I stopped competing,” he says. Nonetheless, the karate and taekwondo experience has stayed with Ross over the years. Overcoming fear and recognizing the potential within cleared many roadblocks on his personal and professional paths. “I’m more disciplined because of it, and I think karate taught me that hard work does pay off,” he says. “It also taught me that even a nebbishy, goofy fat kid from New Jersey could be anything when he grows up. It stays with you for life [in] the way you think and the way you move.”  Ross’ martial arts training became very apparent the day he made his first televised stand-up appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. It was his first experience doing his act without holding a microphone, so when the audience laughed and applauded, his hands were left to their own devices. “So I threw front snap kicks and a forward punch,” he recalls with a smile. “I guess that helped channel my nervous energy. You really saw my karate shining through.”Ross also relishes the confidence that accompanies an enhanced self-defense ability. “I make fun of the audience a lot, and I know that no matter how bad it gets, I can take care of myself,” he says. Early in his career, he recalls, an audience member was ready to attack him on an open-mike night, but Ross kept his cool. “I remember standing there, knowing I would kick this guy’s [butt] in front of the whole audience if he got any closer,” he says, laughing. Despite the colossal insults that Ross throws during roasts, he says he targets only people he loves. “In the dojo, you spend a lot more time sparring with your friends than your enemies,” he says. “Roasts are a lot like martial arts tournaments because you see guys out in the ring taking huge shots, basically trying to destroy each other. When you get backstage, it’s all hugs, love and a lot of camaraderie.” _____________ FOLLOW-UP: JEFFREY ROSS AND BLACK BELT APPEAR ON LATE NIGHT TV!  Comedian Jeffrey Ross, who appeared in the Celebrity Watch section of the July 2007 issue of Black Belt, was featured on ABC's late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, on Thursday, June 14. During their conversation, Ross and Kimmel referenced the comedian's recent full-page profile in said issue and held up both the Celebrity Watch page and the cover (featuring jeet kune do specialist Richard Bustillo) for the world to see. Photo by Scott Garfield/ABC WATCH RICHARD BUSTILLO'S COVER SHOOT FOR THE JULY 2007 ISSUE! |
