Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast

Joe Taslim always wanted to be an actor, even before he became a martial artist. Growing up poor in South Sumatra, Indonesia, his family only took him to judo lessons because they were free. With his dad as his coach, he would go on to become a national judo champion in a career spanning well over a decade. Ironically, it was his skills in the martial arts which would eventually lead him back to his true passion - acting - when his breakthrough role as the tough special forces sergeant Jaka in Gareth Evans' smash-hit film, 'The Raid: Redemption' (2011), saw him become an overnight sensation. Joe has since enjoyed success in multiple territories; in Indonesia, where he has worked consistently with the Uwais fight team on projects including the violent masterpiece, 'The Night Comes for Us' (2018), and the action comedy, 'Hit & Run' (2019); in Hollywood, where he has collaborated with the producer and director, Justin Lin, on 'Fast & Furious 6' (2013), 'Star Trek Beyond' (2016), and the TV series, 'Warri