Want to be a stunt actor (scott adkins), what styles help?

[UriBoyka10]

I started training 2 years ago when i was 19 in Taekwondo WTF style. I was doing well and got up to my green belt only in 8 months time.

For whatever reason, i decided to take a break from TKD and try Kyokushin. I did Kyokushin for a year and competed in a tournament.

Now i started Judo and got my yellow belt.

My concerns:
I want to be an actor but i also want to be competent in my fighting abilities. I don't want to be all show and no go.

I enjoy both TKD and Kyokushin, but here are some of my problems with both styles. TKD has very flashy spin kicks which is nice, but there is nothing else too it, and it is generally quite expensive.

Kyokushin is good, cheap and effective, but lacks the flashy factor and it requires a lot of commitment. These dojo's are quite serious, put a lot of emphasis on hard sparring and conditioning. My life can't revolve around the dojo all the time, i have other aspirations and want to train in other arts.

I love Judo and want to keep it around. Learning the break falls is very important for me and some of the big throws and flying arm bars look good on screen.

What should i do?
1) Go back to TKD, get good at spin kicks, eventually get my black belt, then leave and train Muay Thai or boxing with Judo

or

2) Train Kyokushin and Judo and try to learn the spin kicks on my own

My goal is to become like Scott adkins (Yuri Boyka in Undisputed). He's done Taekwondo and kickboxing with some grappling. He has a very flashy style of fighting which looks good on the screen.

 

[Headhunter]

You want to be an actor go to acting school want to be a stunt man go to stunt school. Just because you do martial arts doesn't mean you'll get anywhere. Scott Adkins hasn't just done martial art roles he's done other stuff to. Frankly martial arts stars aren't that big anymore most of their stuff is direct to DVD or tiny bit part roles.

Thing is learning martial arts to simply look good isnt the best idea. Good martial arts doesn't look good on screen because it's very basic stuff. The kicks adkins throws while Impressive wouldn't be realistic in a fight and any martial art school would be training you for self defence or ring fighting not acting

 

[UriBoyka10]

You want to be an actor go to acting school want to be a stunt man go to stunt school. Just because you do martial arts doesn't mean you'll get anywhere. Scott Adkins hasn't just done martial art roles he's done other stuff to. Frankly martial arts stars aren't that big anymore most of their stuff is direct to DVD or tiny bit part roles.

Thing is learning martial arts to simply look good isnt the best idea. Good martial arts doesn't look good on screen because it's very basic stuff. The kicks adkins throws while Impressive wouldn't be realistic in a fight and any martial art school would be training you for self defence or ring fighting not acting

I'm already majoring in theatre, i wasn't asking for advice on acting in itself, i meant stunt acting.

I'm well aware of the ineffectiveness of the kicks Adkins throws, i was discussing self defence.

My point is he's well trained in both "screen style" fighting and actual combat arts like kickboxing. I'm sure he can hold his own in an altercation, especially after seeing his power kicking demonstrations. He's more skilled than your average Taekwondo practitioner. My question was what path or style would help with getting the best of both worlds.

 

[Headhunter]

I'm already majoring in theatre, i wasn't asking for advice on acting in itself, i meant stunt acting.

Again martial arts isn't about fancy looking stunts it's about self defence and combat. You say you want to do Muay Thai well Muay Thai would look boring as hell on the screen as it's mainly low kicks no flashy jump kicks or spinning stuff but it's effective for fighting.

 

[UriBoyka10]

Again i'm well aware of that, i've had a few full contact sparring matches, i know what martial arts is about. That's what i'm saying it does look boring as hell.

That's why i plan on picking up 3 styles at most, but obviously one after another.

Taekwondo first then Muay Thai, would that make sense?

or continue with my Kyokushin Karate then add some boxing and tricking later.

 

[Headhunter]

Again i'm well aware of that, i've had a few full contact sparring matches, i know what martial arts is about. That's what i'm saying it does look boring as hell.

That's why i plan on picking up 3 styles at most, but obviously one after another.

Taekwondo first then Muay Thai, would that make sense?

or continue with my Kyokushin Karate then add some boxing and tricking later.

No it doesn't make sense because you're still just learning real fighting that doesn't look flashy at all you're just learning more of it.

The best thing to do is a stage combat type of thing. Look at jackie chan and sammo hung those guys got into it not by being great martial artists who had numerous black belts but by training at the peeking (spelling) opera school where they learnt acting, stunts and theatre combat

 

[UriBoyka10]

Ugh...Taekwondo first to pick up those spin kicks as an asset, then transition into real fighting arts to up your coreography...how does that not make sense?

Donnie yen 6th dan TKD, Adkins 1st degree in kickboxing, Tony Jaa in a wide variety of arts including Muay Thai...

You what never mind, thanks i think i indirectly got my answer from your logic.

 

[Headhunter]

Dislike my posts all you like but it's the truth. Not a single martial art was created to look good in movies. Scott Adkins didnt start training so he could get into movies. He trained because he wanted to learn how to defend himself he then progressed into the acting business. Also don't be fooled by movies either. Adkins is a very athletic and talented guy but the magic of movies can make people look better than they are. It can make a guy like Liam neeson look like an expert

 

[Headhunter]

Ugh...Taekwondo first to pick up those spin kicks as an asset, then transition into real fighting arts to up your coreography...how does that not make sense?

Donnie yen 6th dan TKD, Adkins 1st degree in kickboxing, Tony Jaa in a wide variety of arts including Muay Thai...

You what never mind, thanks i think i indirectly got my answer from your logic.

Yeah and did any of these guys get into martial arts to do movies? No they got into it to learn martial arts..and no instructor is going to appreciate you coming in saying I want to learn this so I can be a stunt actor since you won't take the theory side or the kata seriously you'll just want the cool moves and that's not what it's about

Also tony jaa yeah he does Muay Thai but compare his movies to a real match totally different you walk into a Muay Thai gym you won't be leaning spinning elbows or flying knees or flashy stuff like that, you'll be doing jabs, crosses, leg kicks clinch work, fitness work and only very very very later you may start learning that stuff.

Oh and my logic is perfectly sound and you won't get a different answer don't cry because you didn't get the answer you want my friend. Best of luck with it but I stand by my opinion go to a stunt school not a dojo. If you want to learn simply to learn how to fight do martial arts if you want to learn how to look good on camera do a stunt man course.

Again I'll use jackie chan as an example he didn't start out as a martial art actor he started out as a stuntman. His first big role was being a double for a guy Bruce lee kicked through a window. That's how most of these guys started there careers and a lot of luck. Martial art ability is very low down the list

 

[Tez3]

I don't know where you are but in the UK you need to be registered and to be registered ( you won't get work if you aren't, I imagine it will be the same in most countries, it's for your safety as much as anything).
"This shows employers that you’re JISC qualified, recognised as a professional stunt performer and can perform hazardous or specialist stunt work.

To get onto the JISC register, you’ll need to show you’ve qualifications and skills to the required standard across at least 6 different sporting areas across the following groups:

• fighting – martial arts or boxing
• falling – trampolining or high diving
• riding and driving – horse riding, driving cars or riding motorcycles
• agility and strength – gymnastics or rock climbing
• water – swimming or sub-aqua

Skills required

You’ll need:

• 
  
  
  • ability in several sports and outdoor pursuits
  • good communication and 'people' skills
  • quick reactions and calmness under pressure
  • a willingness to work in dangerous situations
  • a high degree of responsibility and health and safety awareness
  • good planning skills and attention to detail
  • some acting skills (although formal experience isn’t essential)

What you'll do

You’ll use highly-developed physical and sporting skills to make them look natural and part of the action, like:

• 
  
  
  • gymnastics or high diving, for performing all types of falls
  • fighting skills, possibly with weapons
  • swimming or diving
  • horse riding
  • advanced driving techniques, for performing car chases and crashes

You’ll set up, plan and perform stunts, usually whilst being supervised by a stunt coordinator.

Health and safety is very important as the work can be dangerous. You’d need to carry out a full risk assessment and complete detailed paperwork before you performed each stunt."

Rather than worrying about what martial arts you need I think you'll have to look at your wider skills as well. Good luck.

 

[Headhunter]

I don't know where you are but in the UK you need to be registered and to be registered ( you won't get work if you aren't, I imagine it will be the same in most countries, it's for your safety as much as anything).
"This shows employers that you’re JISC qualified, recognised as a professional stunt performer and can perform hazardous or specialist stunt work.

To get onto the JISC register, you’ll need to show you’ve qualifications and skills to the required standard across at least 6 different sporting areas across the following groups:

• fighting – martial arts or boxing
• falling – trampolining or high diving
• riding and driving – horse riding, driving cars or riding motorcycles
• agility and strength – gymnastics or rock climbing
• water – swimming or sub-aqua

Skills required

You’ll need:

• 
  
  
  • ability in several sports and outdoor pursuits
  • good communication and 'people' skills
  • quick reactions and calmness under pressure
  • a willingness to work in dangerous situations
  • a high degree of responsibility and health and safety awareness
  • good planning skills and attention to detail
  • some acting skills (although formal experience isn’t essential)

What you'll do

You’ll use highly-developed physical and sporting skills to make them look natural and part of the action, like:

• 
  
  
  • gymnastics or high diving, for performing all types of falls
  • fighting skills, possibly with weapons
  • swimming or diving
  • horse riding
  • advanced driving techniques, for performing car chases and crashes

You’ll set up, plan and perform stunts, usually whilst being supervised by a stunt coordinator.

Health and safety is very important as the work can be dangerous. You’d need to carry out a full risk assessment and complete detailed paperwork before you performed each stunt."

Rather than worrying about what martial arts you need I think you'll have to look at your wider skills as well. Good luck.

I don't think we'll see him again I think I upset him because I didn't tell him if he trains 3 styles he'll be the new Bruce lee

 

[Paul_D]

Again martial arts isn't about fancy looking stunts it's about self defence

Martial arts are self defence are two different things.

 

[drop bear]

I don't think we'll see him again I think I upset him because I didn't tell him if he trains 3 styles he'll be the new Bruce lee

Yeah. But do you know?

I don't what it takes to be a stunt man so I couldn't say either way.

 

[Tez3]

I don't think we'll see him again I think I upset him because I didn't tell him if he trains 3 styles he'll be the new Bruce lee

His loss I think, I think he'd be disappointed to find he has to be qualified otherwise reputable film and television programme makers won't touch him as a stunt man/performer. They can't afford to take someone on just because he does martial arts, he'd have to join Equity for a start and they'd want to see he could do the job otherwise he's putting people's safety at risk and that would mean money.

This is the UK Equity on stunt performers, I have no doubt the US and other countries rules are the same if not more stringent even. Stunt peformers - Equity
If OP comes back I strongly recommend he reads this.

 

[Headhunter]

Yeah. But do you know?

I don't what it takes to be a stunt man so I couldn't say either way.

Not for myself but I've had friends who wanted to get into it and they were fantastic marital artists and looked great but couldn't get any more than very small work as extras or doing basic stunts

 

[Tez3]

Not for myself but I've had friends who wanted to get into it and they were fantastic marital artists and looked great but couldn't get any more than very small work as extras or doing basic stunts

I have a friend who is a stunt 'performer', you have to be able to do a lot of things to keep in work not just martial arts.

 

[drop bear]

Not for myself but I've had friends who wanted to get into it and they were fantastic marital artists and looked great but couldn't get any more than very small work as extras or doing basic stunts

You could have lead with that.

 

[Tez3]

You could have lead with that.

Hubris again.

 

[drop bear]

Hubris again.

Well not really. More about humility. The message is true because of the evidence not the speaker.

So If you come up with an opinion. Then why you came up with it should be included.

 

[Tez3]

Well not really. More about humility. The message is true because of the evidence not the speaker.

So If you come up with an opinion. Then why you came up with it should be included.

So someone has an opinion, they state it, he doesn't need to say why he came up with it, it's an opinion not a fact. My opinion is that dark red potatoes are under-rated. I don't need to give any evidence, it's just my opinion. If I state it as a fact then you can ask for evidence.