90-Day Black Belt: Matt D'Avella's Extreme Skill Acquisition
Matt D'Avella earned a Taekwondo black belt in 90 days. His extreme challenge offers founders a brutal method for accelerated skill and personal change.
90 Days to Black Belt — What It Actually Takes
With Tim Ferriss, Matt D'Avella · Sunday, April 19, 2026
Tim Ferriss interviews Matt D'Avella about two of his most transformative personal challenges: achieving a Taekwondo black belt in 90 days and attempting Houdini's water torture cell escape. D'Avella details the intense physical and mental demands of these feats, from the discipline learned in martial arts to the unique challenges of breath-holding and large-scale engineering. He emphasizes the profound personal growth and unexpected skills gained through pushing his limits.