From Indonesian judo champion to one of Hollywood’s most respected martial arts stars, Joe Taslim has built his career on authenticity, discipline, and an unwavering willingness to embrace pain. In this exclusive AMFM Magazine interview with Paul Salfen and Remington Rafael, Taslim discusses his latest high-octane martial arts thriller The Furious, the brutal physical realities of shooting authentic fight sequences, and the hard-earned philosophy that has defined his journey from the judo mat to the silver screen.
There are actors who play heroes on screen. Then there is Joe Taslim — a man who has lived the pain, sacrifice, and quiet triumph that true action cinema demands.
Born in Indonesia and forged on the judo mats by a father who refused to let him quit, Taslim carries a depth of discipline and emotional resilience that shines through every brutal fight sequence he performs. In an exclusive, heartfelt conversation with AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen and Remington Rafael, the star of Lionsgate’s The Furious reflects on his remarkable journey, the raw physical and emotional cost of his craft, and why he still believes in giving everything — even when it hurts.
Taslim’s voice warms with gratitude as he remembers his beginnings. “My dad forced me to do martial art,” he shares, a soft laugh masking deeper emotion. “Judo is the martial art that my dad picked for me. I didn’t like it at first, but I did it for my dad until I won my first national championship back in 1997. And I realized… hey, he was right.” That single victory changed everything. He would go on to represent Indonesia’s national judo team for twelve years, earning hard-won medals at the Southeast Asian Games. But it was his father’s unwavering belief that planted the seed of discipline that would one day carry him to Hollywood.
Growing up mesmerized by the fearless Hong Kong action legends of the ’80s and ’90s, Taslim dared to dream bigger. After seeing Gareth Evans’ The Raid, he took a bold leap of faith — messaging the director on Facebook, asking for a chance. That single message would change his life forever. “My life was never the same after that,” he says, the weight of gratitude clear in his words. From Sergeant Jaka in The Raid to Jah in Fast & Furious 6, Manas in Star Trek Beyond, Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat, and now the relentless journalist Navin in The Furious, Taslim has built a career defined by one unshakable principle: absolute authenticity.
In The Furious, Taslim’s character teams up with a grieving father (Xie Miao) in a desperate, no-holds-barred fight against a criminal network that has torn their families apart. The story of vengeance, loss, and unbreakable alliance hits close to home for an actor who understands what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself.
Yet Taslim is refreshingly honest about the emotional and physical toll this path demands. “There’s a lot of pain involved,” he admits quietly. “Not just me. I think all of us.” Bruises, swelling, and exhaustion are constant companions on set. But for Taslim, that pain is not something to avoD, it is something to embrace. “The pain, the agony… has been helping me in my performance because I need that exhaustion level and that pain for me to react,” he explains with raw sincerity.
He shares a particularly moving memory of working with longtime friend and collaborator Iko Uwais (whom he calls “Iron”). Since The Raid fifteen years ago, the two have shared real hits, real bruises, and real laughter through the pain. “Every time we accidentally hit each other… it’s just like fun. ‘Oh man, it hurts. Are you okay? Let’s do it again.’” There’s an almost brotherly, masochistic joy in their bond — the kind forged only through years of trusting someone enough to bleed with them.
When asked what advice he would give to the next generation of aspiring action stars, Taslim’s answer comes from the soul: “Make friends with pain. Once you make friends with pain, I think everything else should be okay.”
He speaks passionately about the difference between true dedication and modern shortcuts. Comparing it to an actor learning violin for a dramatic role, Taslim argues that action performers owe their characters and their audience the same level of commitment. He holds Jackie Chan in reverent awe, the man who literally risked his life for cinema. While Taslim acknowledges the realities of insurance and production safety today, his heart clearly still beats for that old-school honesty on screen. “For a good action movie that people remember for another decade… that’s impossible without paying the price.”
As the interview draws to a close, Taslim’s excitement about The Furious is palpable and deeply moving. This is more than just another film for him it is another chance to honor the craft, his father’s legacy, and the fans who crave real, visceral storytelling.
From a reluctant young judoka pushed by his late father to a globally respected martial arts actor who still chooses to feel every kick and every fall, Joe Taslim continues to prove that the most powerful performances are the ones that hurt the most. In The Furious, audiences will once again witness not just choreography, but heart, soul, and the beautiful, bruising truth of what it means to give everything for your art.
Interview conducted by Paul Salfen and Remington Rafael for AMFM Magazine. Lionsgate presents The Furious, an Edko Films and Zhejiang Hengdian Film production, in association with XYZ Films.
