- I've never had an experience before where they choreograph a few minutes before. My martial arts background definitely helped me to be fluid and... I have muscle memory when it comes to [the] sword and when it comes to martial arts, so choreography is not difficult for me to learn. I can learn it very quickly [but] I did have to adapt to that, of learning very very fast with a partner who possibly hasn't done as much fight choreography as I have. Luckily, Dean-Charles Chapman's a dancer and he picked up the choreography super fast and he was great to work with. Yeah, that's Dean and I fighting the whole time; there's no stunt double in that scene for either of us. So you see Dean and I fighting and it looks really raw and he's an amazing partner to work with. Such great timing, great rhythm and it's one of my favorite fights of the season. I believe it's one of the fights that they submitted for the Emmys.
- People are offering me other projects, that I'm turning down, because I only want to do stuff that's going to push that narrative forward, and represent in the best way possible. And that just goes for all actors of color, not just Asian Americans. We need to see a variety of spectrums, of all ranges, and all levels of depth, and all different characters. I think that represents the world appropriately. And we need to see that on screen.
- My father has a huge impact on my martial arts: he began training me when I was very young and we bonded over this time together. I used it to defend myself and be confident. I had some anger in my teens and fighting would help me release some of it. As I got older, I learned to use [martial arts] as meditation and it became a crucial part of who I am as a man. Understanding the body, who I am in my body, how I can use it and feeling, flowing, feeling connected to it or disconnected to it, how I express and what it means: it is all related to emotion and in return, it is related to my acting.
- It's like pounding on an old brick wall that has been cemented for 100 years. This art form that has changed and effected the world deeply has been mostly ignoring or stereotyping people of colour since it began. Obviously there are some great artists have opposed this, but from my experience it has been a battle. Things take time to change, especially in an industry with so many variables. I went through stages of frustration and anger but I decided to use it as fuel to my fire. I've dealt with poorly written characters, straight refusals because of my race, offensive stereotypes and judgements. Everyone just wants to be represented fully and share stories that are colourful and beautiful. It will only expand this art form that we love and give future generations a voice.
- When I am performing, a part of the character is being discovered through my own consciousness. In fact, it is even bigger than that - there is a sense of interconnectivity. We feel emotions like love, pain, fear all in the same way. We can relate to this understanding beyond all social constructs. It's an energy we tune into that never dies.
- Like every role, there is always preparation involved. Getting to understand the character, why he does what he does, his motivations, fears, desires and loves, then discovering how I can physically and emotionally embody it. I try new things, fail, try again until it connects and then finds its flow.
- There is a stereotype created long ago that Asian men are not attractive or masculine. Even recently, Steve Harvey made those comments on his show, in this modern time. I am happy to help break those lies and open up a new and more accurate way of thinking. I train a lot, not for vanity purposes but because I love martial arts. It is an integral part of my life, it helps balance my energy. I love being fluid and powerful, responsive and fast.
- Martial arts is just another form of expression, reaction, flow and story telling. The same way a dance can speak of love and pain, a good fight scene is no different.
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