I put so much pressure on myself to raise the bar with each and every project. I treat it like every film is my last, and I make sure I pour everything I have into every film I make because if I'm not trying to improve, someone else will.

I did martial arts since I was 10 years old, and I've got as much love for the movies as I have for martial arts, so when I was 18 years old, I started studying performing arts with the eye of getting into the film industry and went to drama school after that.

I turned to my mom and said, Im going to be a martial arts movie star. She didnt believe me, and neither did my dad. They both thought I would grow out of it. That it was a phase. I decided then I was going to do it or die trying.

Whenever you're looking at new ways to get in shape, first you have to decide what you want. Do you want a more muscular look, or do you want to slim down and appear more toned and ripped? I adapt my training and diet with each role I do, depending on the image I want to convey.

I've been typecast. People don't want to take a risk or a chance. Quite a few times they've come up to me and say We want you to do that Russian accent. And I'll be like, How about if I do an Irish accent or a South African accent, and they don't trust that you can properly pull them off.

When I was ten years old, my dad and brother did JUDO so I went along because I felt like I was missing out. They eventually gave up and I continued, then moved into Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing and various other martial arts. I did lots of different things, but mostly things like Wushu, Jeet Kune Do, Krav Maga and stuff like that.

I just remember Bruce Lee blowing my mind on the screen, and I thought to myself, Thats what I want to do for a living when Im older. Bruce Lee was so magnetic and charismatic and held the screen so well.

I'll be honest, I never saw myself making a ninja movie, never entertained the idea. I think ninja films can be quite cheesy unless you do them in feudal Japan.

I prefer to play the villain or the antihero.

You've got to be a certain type of person to be a professional fighter. I prefer to do it for pretend.