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Hollywood is brimming with skillful actors who perform their own stunts, but not a lot of major A-listers are well-trained and actual fighters. We know the likes of Tom Cruise, who delivers death-defying choreography in his movies, and we know Sylvester Stallone, who has been an iconic action star since the ‘70s.
This is not to discredit their works because they are truly one of the hallmarks of action films, but we are talking about actors who can genuinely fight in real life and have in-depth knowledge of their respective martial arts.
1Jason Statham
We’ve seen his fight moves in action thrillers likeThe MechanicandFurious 7, and they were all impressive – thanks to his expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The actor also trained in several martial arts disciplines such as karate, Wing Chun kung fu, and kickboxing, as perBleacher Report. However, the latter is known to be his preferred fighting style.
Decoding Jason Statham’s Martial Arts Style in Movies – Which Style Does the Action Star Prefers the Most in His Real Stunts?
What’s more interesting is thatJason Stathamrarely discusses his specialties in interviews, but he frequently attends international kickboxing tournaments such as the 2024 GLORY Grand Prix.
2Idris Elba
The English actor and Golden Globe winner is a professional kickboxer who competes in professional tournaments. While most athletes reach their peak at around age 30, he started his career in the sport at 44.
Moreover, Discovery Channel made adocumentaryof his twelve-month kickboxing and mixed martial arts training journey entitledIdris Elba: Fighter, where viewers get a glimpse of how he prepared for – and won – his first-ever fight against a younger and more experienced Dutch opponent.
3Jackie Chan
Well, there’s really not much explanation needed when it comes to one of the most iconic and influential martial artists in the history of cinema. The Hong Kong star broke into the Hollywood scene via the 1980 movieThe Big Brawl. He received international recognition for his works inRumble in the Bronx,Rush Hour, andThe Karate Kid.
Jackie Chanusually combines acrobatic fighting style with his comedic timing, making his action films amusing to watch. He is well-versed in multiple forms of kung-fu, as well as karate, judo, taekwondo, and jeet kun do. Over the span of six decades, he has made more than 150 films.
4Keanu Reeves
The actor holds a black belt in karate and judo, but he has also mastered several martial arts through the years because of the diversity of his movie characters. As perMen’s Journal, he learned how to use a samurai sword for the film47 Ronin. Reeves also trained in kung-fu forThe Matrixand even learned how to ride a horse forJohn Wick.
You Can’t See Bruce Willis as John Wick Anymore But He Does Kick Ass Like Keanu Reeves’ Baba Yaga in These 3 Movies
At this point, the Canadian star already sounds dangerous, but in real life, he is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood because of his genuine kindness and philanthropic works.
5Tom Hardy
TheVenomstar is also a legitimate martial arts fighter who entered and won a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition in 2022. He maintains a grueling fitness routine when it comes to preparing for his films.
In his interview withThe Guardian,Tom Hardyrevealed undergoing two hours of boxing, two hours of muay thai, two hours of jiu-jitsu, and two hours of weightlifting every day for seven days for the movieWarrior.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3532
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Idris ElbaJackie ChanJason StathamKeanu ReevesTom CruiseTom Hardy
