Hollywood Stuntman Charles Ramsay Speaks to British Taekwondo

BT: If you could start by telling us about the influences that initially got you participating in Taekwondo?CR: Well, back in the 90’s martial arts films were a massive part of my childhood: Jackie Chan, Van Damme and Steven Seagal were my idols. My classmates in school used to watch them all the time. Then they started training, first in

Taekwondo with Graham Preece, Jerry Joyce, Alvino and Derek Mathews. They asked if I wanted to go with them,

obviously I said yes! I began by thinking that I was gonna be the next Van Damme, then slowly realising that getting hit actually hurt - I wasn’t going to be Van Damme over night. Any way, all my mates left, and I was the only one

who stayed. I made some great new friends there; they’re more like family now.

BT: And what inspired you to be a stuntman? (It’s quite a niche career choice)

CR: like I said, I loved film – loved action. But it took me a long time to come to the realisation that it was

British Taekwondo [BT] has the privilege of speaking to successful Hollywood Stuntman Charles Ramsay [CR] about his exciting career, his taekwondo background and just what it takes to be a real-life action man.

“We make the impossible look possible, in the safest way”

absolutely achievable. It seemed to be one of those jobs that “someone else” does. Sad story, but I lost my older brother. After that it made me ask myself what I wanted to do with my life, and suddenly everything became clear. Charlie Ramsay, who grew up on a council estate in South London was going to be a Hollywood stuntman.

BT: Is it right to say your training in Taekwondo made you a good candidate for a stuntman career? CR: Well yes. Fighting is one of the main qualifications that you need to become a stuntman. I was a Third Dan when I started my training as a stuntman, so it was a relief that I didn’t have to learn a fighting art from scratch.

BT: Tell us about some of the things you do in your career…CR: well being a stuntman is more than just jumping off ofbuildings with Jake Gyllenhaal, or being set on fire doubling

Jim Sturgess. Even galloping on the beach

in an army with Chris Hemsworth. The safety of others is probably the most important thing we do: people on set, the stunt performer performing and the actors that we rehearse the scene for. Accidents do happen (believe me) but we try to minimise this as much as possible. We make the impossible look possible, the safest way possible… possibly… We also set up our wire rigs, drive big machines and get the teas in as much as we can.

BT: Although we’re focusing on Taekwondo, you also have many other physical and sporting capabilities (i.e. Driving, Falling, Burns, Horse Riding, Rock Climbing) Does your extensive training in

Taekwondo feed into

any of these in a beneficial way?

CR: Well, I think one of the most important things I learnt from taekwondo was persistence. Graham Preece had me wait a year before my 1st Dan to make sure I was ready - you definitely need patience to achieve all the skills you need. It’s not easy, there were many times I wanted to give up, through skills changing and failing exams, but patience saw me through.

BT: Do you see yourself as being able to offer varied work (as you can perform many stunts) and does this give you an edge in the industry? CR: Not really – I think if you are a stunt performer you would be expected to be able to do all things to a certain extent. I think what gives you an ‘edge’ is common sense and your performance skills. Remember, we have

to act

when performing a stunt. You maybe able to do all the back flips in the world but if you can’t act; you may as well pack up your bags and leave.

BT: Does being a 3rd Dan make you eligible and in higher demand for the more dangerous stuff as well as fighting stunts? CR: No – it doesn’t really. I think if you can make your kicks look good and work on your acting you don’t really need to be a 3rd Dan.

BT: Agility and flexibility are a big part of Taekwondo – Does it help to be agile and flexible in all of your stunts? CR: Oh yes definitely… especially as you get older. I’m having trouble touching my toes now. But sometimes I think if god wanted me to touch my toes he would have put them on my chest... But

keeping up your stretching and your agility allows you to be free , move better and perform better.

BT: You must have to be really fit to perform all of the various stunts you do. How have you managed to bring your physical fitness up to this level?CR: I still train often, in all sorts of physical activities: weights, dance, Taekwondo. I also watch my diet and eat well. Jerry used to say to us “we are what we eat”. In that case as a kid I was sausage and chips, but now I’m avocado and steak.

BT: You have to be mentally disciplined too we imagine - how do you keep and

maintain this mental focus?CR: I think its years of practise really. When I do a stunt, nothing else matters. I’m there, in the moment, concentrating on timing, reaction, where the camera is. Then it’s…3 …2… 1… action!

BT: Is pain intolerance something you have to deal with in your job? CR: Pain is pain – it hurts. You do have to brush stuff off and then be prepared to do the action again. But, I don’t want to sound tough and play up to a mean stereotypical expectancy here. We try to make the impossible possible in the safest way, so no one gets hurt. But then, there are those stunts where you think: “Boy, this is gonna hurt!”

What’s the worst injury you’ve sustained?

CR: Broke both legs on the same day on Gulliver’s Travels with Jack Black. A wire rig went wrong and sent me crashing from 45ft to the concrete below… ouch.

BT: Does your mentality help you cope with the possibility of injuries and recovery?CR: I think things like that just come with the job. If you’re a stunt performer you should have the mental stability to cope with it. This job is not glamorous, there are no red carpets; you will get hurt. A friend of mine is paralysed from the waist down from an accident on a movie, when I look at him, I think: “wow you are so strong.” Its puts all of our injuries to shame: broken legs, arms… all that will heal.

BT: You’ve been in tons of action films, Harry Potter… Sherlock Holmes… What would you say is the biggest film you did to develop and establish your successful stuntman career?CR: Prince of Persia – sands of time.

BT: Name the most exotic, and the worst place you’ve ever stunted? CR: Exotic? Well - we normally end up in Spain or Morocco. The worst place was… Spain or Morocco. Bloomin’ scorpions…

BT: Tell us the craziest thing you’ve had to do as a stuntman?

CR: Galloping through explosions on the beach in Wales. It was for Snow White and the Huntsman, and I was on a crazy horse in an army of 80.

BT: What has been your favourite stunt in a movie and why?CR: Easy: Golden Eye: the bungie jump sequence. Thinking of it; that may have been one of the things that triggered long-term aspirations of being a stunt man.

BT: You’ve also worked with huge names in Hollywood…Is there a particular film-star who does their own stunts that you admire/ draw inspiration from?CR: There are loads! Sylvester Stallone, Harold Lloyd, Tom Cruise - he is tough, believe me. When he says he does stunts, he means it. I’ve seen it with these eyes, the guy is hard-core! And of course, the legend; Jackie Chan.

BT: Who’s the most famous person you’ve stunted for and/or worked with?CR: Well I’ve worked with them all really: Robert Downey, Chris Hemsworth, Jude Law, Jack Black, Rachel McAdams, Angelina Jolie, and I’ve doubled. Doubles include Chris

Pine, Mark strong, Chris O’Dowd, Jim Sturgess and others I can’t remember.

BT: Do the stars you work with show an interest in your skill background/ abilities? CR: Some do, some don’t. Depends on their personalities.

BT: Have the female stars you’ve worked with ever been impressed by and wanted to try out your moves?CR: Only on the dance floor. It’s very rare that a kick on a movie will ignite attention, it would have to be a very specific fighting style for the film if I did. But we often have to work with them on their reactions, to make the fight look real. This is for everyone though, not just the girls.

BT: Within your career you put Taekwondo moves (along with other fighting styles) into dangerous, action-packed situations… and it looks very impressive! Would these moves realistically be useful in life situations if they were to happen? CR: In the real world! Well, punches and kicks, sure. But the majority of stunt work is performed solely to look good on screen, and is highly unrealistic.

BT: You’ve unfortunately died many times though we suppose… What’s

been your favourite

CR: A 40 ft high fall from a bridge on to a moving truck. Though, my death in Persia was pretty epic: Jake Gyllenhaal stabbed me through a gate. Nice bit of screen time, and an Oscar winning death.

BT: Actors win Oscars … is there such a thing as Stuntman Awards?CR: We have the Torus awards.

BT: Have you ever won any, or do you aspire to win any?CR: No – thanks for that! Though I think I may have been nominated for something.

BT: What prospects do you have planned

for the future, how do you see your career developing? CR: Really, I would just like to continue building my knowledge, and for the next ten years be the very best performer I can be. We will see what happens later. Who knows…

BT: Finally then, would you encourage other Taekwondoists to diversify their training and put it to use in other ways?CR: I think that if we study Taekwondo in the right way, we can implement it in

everything we do, physical or mental. Taekwondo is not something we just do twice a week in a DoJang (minimum). Taekwondo is something I take with me everywhere, it’s not something I have to consciously pack in a bag, it’s not something I just do when I’m wearing a Dobok. It’s with me always. I’d like to acknowledge my Mentor Terry Noonan, for instilling the values I carry with me. My instructors were like sticks of rock, you break them in half, and it will still say taekwondo. I like to think I’m the same way.

For further details contactAdrian Tranter PresidentBritish Taekwondo

Mike Mckenzie Development OfficerBritish TaekwondoOr:Bethany Bishop Media Officermedia@britishtaekwondo.org

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