June 21, 2026, 3:10 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Joe Taslim has been fighting in films and series for 15 years, showcasing his skills in Hollywood blockbusters such as “Fast & Furious 6” and “Mortal Kombat.” He also has a successful judo career to his name. The man knows his way around martial arts of all kinds and shared with FITBOOK what really matters in self-defense and which disciplines he recommends to his children and others.
Train Endurance for Self-Defense
Joe Taslim knows how to take down opponents and has worked with many other professionals throughout his career. He likely has plenty of good tips, especially for his three children. But what does he advise them to do if they ever find themselves in a dangerous situation?
“Run away!” In real life, fights rarely have good outcomes. Either you end up in jail for injuring someone, or you land in the hospital. Martial arts are meant for situations where there’s no way out and survival is at stake. They’re not intended to hurt others. “If you can run away, run away.”
That’s why you should train your fitness for self-defense–it’s the most important thing. “If you’re fast, no one can catch you. If you have endurance, you can run for 30 minutes and escape problems,” says the film star.
The Best Martial Art for Self-Defense
“But if you’re cornered, you need to know how to survive.” Perhaps not entirely unbiased–as a former professional–he considers judo to be great because he believes it is realistic and effective. Why?
“Most real fights end in close combat. In movies, there’s always distance and spectacular moves. In real life, someone suddenly grabs you–and everything is immediately up close.” That’s why judo and also jiu-jitsu are particularly effective for physical confrontations in real life. Of course, you should also be able to punch. But anyone can do that. “Not everyone can throw someone or break their arm in a controlled manner. You have to learn that.”
If you want to learn something from Joe Taslim, you can currently do so in theaters. His new film “The Furious” has been playing in Germany since June 18.