Today I'm chatting with a rising action star Brahim Achabbake, who recently played the role of Broto in the new Jackie Chan film "Vanguard: Arctic Wolves". I have no doubt that you have seen him in many other films along with Scott Adkins, Van Damme, Keanu Reeves and even in the famous television series "Counter attack".
Your kicking technique is phenomenal. Could you tell us what (or who) brought you into martial arts and what arts you studied?
Brahim Achabbake: Thank you for your complimentary words about my footwork skills. I started doing martial arts after watching the movie "First hit" с Jackie Chan, when I was 14.
At that time, in my homeland there wasn’t much to choose from, so I first signed up for aikido at the age of 14, and then also Wado-ryu karate, because I wanted to throw more strikes, and not just make grips.
Two years later I discovered tricking thanks to a friend who took me to watch a tricking competition. I loved it with all my soul and immersed myself in this discipline for many years. My kicking technique and acrobatic skills come directly from tricking. I have never done gymnastics, and my somersault style is more of a trickster style.
When I started my film career, I realized that a lot of the kicks and acrobatics had to be adjusted for films and camera angles, so I adapted my style to work in films. I also studied boxing, some Muay Thai, and currently practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at least 4 times a week when I'm not working.
I heard you were training with the stunt group Cascade. Could you tell us about these guys and what they do?
Brahim: And you prepared well, I actually started training with this group, I’m surprised that you know about it. Team Cascade was a group of martial artists who at the time organized classes for children wanting to learn tricks and compete in musical forms.
Each of the teachers had experience in Taekwondo or Vovinam. The head coach was Maurice Chan, who still manages the group, but these days it is more focused on large events as well as stunt work for films in Europe. I trained there for 3 years.
I believe you have been acting in films since 2007. How did you get into this business?
Brahim: I taught tricking classes in Paris on weekends in a group X Swipe. After traveling to the USA and participating in several tournaments there, I thought it was time to stop tricking for fun and start making a living at it.
In 2006, I gave up competition and focused on getting into stunt work in France first, but quickly realized that the market in France was controlled by a few senior performers who were not allowing young and hungry guys like me to break through. I attended various castings and often could not even pass the selection; I was in a very depressed mood all year and stopped making any effort.
And then one day the owner of the school X Swipe asked us if we would like to go on vacation to Thailand and at the same time take part in the casting for the film "Ong Bak 2". The flight was fully paid for and I didn't have a job in France, so I just packed my bag and followed my friends.
We landed in Bangkok completely exhausted, I remember going to bed and waking up around 2 am. I went out into the street and experienced culture shock. At first I hated it all and just wanted to get out. But my friend convinced me to go to the casting first. In general, we went to the casting and, naturally, flew by.
But then we met Tony Jaaa, took a few photos with him, and the bulk of the guys boarded a plane to France to return to their normal routine. But my instinct told me to stay, so I told my friends: "Guys, I'll stay here a little longer."
My intuition told me to stay, I felt that something was about to happen. After I ran out of money after 2 months, I had to return to France, but I was able to meet several people who were filming films there.
Returning to Paris, I found a few simple jobs to save money and in 2007 I packed my bag again, but this time I made a promise to myself - if I don’t have a stable film career in 3 years, I will give it all up and find a work.
With great difficulty, I managed to make my dreams come true and to this day I work in the film business.
I remember the first time I noticed you in “Tai Chi Master” with Keanu Reeves and Tiger Chen in 2013. What was it like working with Keanu?
Brahim: Working with Keanu Reeves was an amazing experience. I got the role in the film through my very good friend, who I consider my big brother, he's a great friend of mine. Mike Leader. He asked me to send him a showreel demonstrating my kicking technique. I did just that, and within a week I was on a plane to start working with Keanu and Yuen Woo-Ping. Keanu Reeves - such a down-to-earth person.
You have already acted in several films with Jackie Chan. How did you meet him and his team?
Brahim: I met Jackie Chan's stunt team back in 2014 when I was working on the film "Dragon Sword". They needed action actors who looked like the Romans. They contacted me back in January 2014 and at first I thought it was a joke so I didn't take it seriously, but later around July of the same year they messaged me again asking if I had a Chinese visa , and, fortunately, I had it.
The next day, after three flights, I was in the Gobi Desert, getting ready to work with Jackie Chan. It all seemed kind of crazy because suddenly, out of the blue, I finally got the opportunity to work with Chan and his team.
You also worked with Van Damme on several of his films. What was your most memorable moment on set?
Brahim: Jean-Claude is one of the friendliest actors I've ever worked with. We always speak French on set and when I first met him on set "Eagle Way", he told me that I reminded him of a French Muay Thai fighter Didou Diafata.
Then it was already "Pound of Flesh", where Mike invited me to work, Jean-Claude took me to this film. I remember how he brought me to his trailer and showed me footage from the filming "Eagle Way"When I last saw him in China, we were talking about his old films and how to stay in shape over the years.
I'm a big fan of the series "Strike Back", how did you get there and get the role of a Russian soldier?
Brahim: I started working on "Retaliatory Strike" through a casting director from Malaysia. They've filmed in Thailand before, but for some reason I didn't get to work on that show until Season 7.
I'm guessing you're spending a lot of time in Thailand now, where a lot of films are being filmed. What made you move there, like so many other stuntmen?
Brahim: As I said earlier, I didn't initially plan to move to Thailand. I just decided to take a vacation, but everything turned out completely differently. After "Ong Baka" Thailand became the new Hong Kong for martial arts films, and many Westerners began moving there in hopes of fulfilling their dreams of starring in such films.
Here I met people who became my best friends, the same Tim Man. This was surprising because we had at least 20 Westerners training in our gym, and we were all going to the same auditions or the same jobs. It was almost like a foreign legion, and every job had guys with big egos, or guys who would come for a few months, then realize how tough the business was and go back home.
Do you remember your first day on set when you had to act and not just fight?
Brahim: That day I was filming a movie "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li". According to the script, I had two lines and a short fight with Kristin Kreuk. In fact, I never worried about acting, because, by and large, I never considered myself an actor, and I still don’t. I'm just a guy who likes doing action movies, and if there are lines in the movie, I'll say them as naturally as possible without thinking too much. I think this is where people get the wrong idea about fighting and acting. Doing stunts for me is acting.
You don't say the words, but instead play with your body and face. So for me, I've been acting since my first stunt job, but lines are just words to me, so when I had to say something, I tried to be as natural as possible, just like when doing a stunt .
I always laugh when I read how other supporting actors like me talk about what method they used to get used to a particular role, I think this is already fanaticism. We're not doing Shakespeare, at least not yet, so let's keep things simple.
I believe most fans know you from your role as Igor Kazmir in the movie Undisputed 4. Who invited you to this role and why did no one invite you to previous films?
Brahim: I met Tim Man in 2007 in Thailand. He was already a stuntman in Sweden and worked a lot in Thailand. I remember emailing him when I was in France asking questions about how to get into the film business. He was very kind to take me to some of the films in which he was involved as a fight coordinator, such as "Kill them all" и "Ninja 2".
We met Isaac on the set "Ninja 2" and, of course, with Scott. Later, when they were filming "Undisputed 4", they were having a hard time finding someone to play Igor Kazmir, and Tim suggested they cast me. I think they were certainly a little skeptical at first, as it was a very important entry in what many considered to be the best Western martial arts franchise.
So Tim convinced Isaac, Isaac convinced Scott, and that's how I got into the film. I didn't have a chance to work on the previous parts because I was still quite skinny at the time and it took me a while to build up muscle. Luckily, I work out regularly and am always in good shape, so I didn't have to work out too hard to become like you saw me in the movie.
You doubled up for Scott Adkins and performed some of his signature flying kicks in his place when he injured his back. Was it difficult to replicate what Scott did?
Brahim: The hardest part was getting the same hairstyle as his ha-ha-ha. Scott does all the moves that I do and honestly it wasn't hard since we have a very similar style plus the same body type and height. Scott is an amazing martial artist and a wonderful person. Today I am glad to call him my friend and he has been very supportive of me over the years.
Please tell us about your character Broto and why he is so good in Vanguard? Any plans for a spin-off?
Brahim: I am very happy that people liked the character I played in the film. Broto is a commando who does all sorts of dirty work in the Middle East. He is hired by Omar, who wants to kidnap an accountant who once worked for his father. Broto goes on a mission, but is then stopped by a Vanguard group led by Jackie Chan. The story then takes us from England to Dubai.
I don't know if there will be a spin-off, but if Stanley Toon wants me to go back to "Vanguard 2", I'll be happy.
What's your favorite role to date?
Brahim: Broto's role is my favorite so far.
Do you have a dream role and who would you like to work with in the future?
Brahim: I would like to return to the film series "Undeniable" and show more of Igor, because I think that something else can be done with this character, like what they did with Boyka in the third part. So why not film another part? "Undeniable" and not to bring Igor back, I would love to return to this role.
Could you name three of your favorite martial arts films?
Brahim: "Drunken Master 2", "Drive" и "Kickboxer".
Official source: budomate.com
Translation: Black Dragon
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Tags: Brahim Achabbake, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Keanu Reeves, Mike Leader, Scott Adkins, Tim Man
Tags: Brahim Achabbake, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Keanu Reeves, Mike Leader, Scott Adkins, Tim Man
Thanks again for the interview! With them the site really comes to life.
If there is time, we could translate the interview with Philip Tan -> https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-philip-tan/
Danil Chupakhin,
Please! Yes, interviews are a rather interesting format, in the sense that you learn information directly from people working in this industry. This, by the way, is very interesting. Philip says a lot of interesting things there. I'll translate it when I have time.