For my friends, fellow martial artists, trickers, and sport karate competitors present and future:
My dear friend John Brenkus was the director/producer of the #discoverychannel documentary The Hidden World of Martial Arts, later retitled XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts. It aired in over 170 countries and translated into more than 35 languages. Together with his partner Mickey Stern, and Century Martial Arts, John helped bring #xma to the world. That project would go on to inspire #fightscience on #natgeo and six Emmy Awards as host of the #ESPN hit series #sportsscience
John’s creativity sparked a movement that reshaped an entire generation of martial artists and our industry. As a result, Xtreme Forms and Weapons divisions, Team Sync, and Demo Team categories were popularized across all major #sportkarate tournament circuits worldwide.
XMA and XMA Tricks Battle Champions went on to become A-list celebrities, top #marvel and #dc #stunt doubles, fight/stunt coordinators and 2nd Unit Directors now working on Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters. The innovation and incredible action of XMA performers can be seen in everything from #powerrangers , #kamenrider to #thekaratekid franchise, The #twilightsaga , to #marvel , #starwars , #cobrakai , #mortalkombat and more.
Most know #johnbrenkus as “the Sports Science guy” who made science fun and accessible. But to me, he was a father, friend, leader, positive force, and one of my greatest supporters. The dinners, calls, projects, pitches, shows, BBQs, car rides, brainstorming sessions, development periods, and our kids, he was there for all of it. From the very first time I met him in his Brentwood apartment when he cast me for the documentary, he believed in me relentlessly.
I am blessed and grateful for the time I had with him and the legacy we built together. His contributions sparked innovations, launched careers, and helped shape a new era in martial arts and action cinema.
I’ll be sharing more to help document and preserve John Brenkus’s incredible impact—for future generations and the world of XMA.
Thoughts and prayers are with you Mickey, Mary & Rose. 🙏 Rest in Paradise JB 🖤
🙏 “The Tony Hawk of Martial Arts” - XMA Xtreme Martial Arts
*In dedication to my friend, director/producer #JohnBrenkus
Co-Star: Matt Mullins
Producer: Mickey Stern
Stunt/Fight Coordinator: James “Dragon Master” Lew
There’s no amount of money that would buy someone’s time, energy, and heart to always show up for you, especially during the hardest times. You can’t pay someone to always believe in you, even in the times you don’t believe in yourself. It’s not something you buy, it’s something they decide to do for you and to be for you. It’s what MASTER CHAT has done for me. So important, so rare, and so special.
Words of gratitude? There aren’t enough. 🙏🏼 But just know that I am and will always be so so grateful to have you as my instructor and mentor. 💫 Thank goodness they had late registration for your seminars. If you know, you know. . .😆
Happy birthday, Master Chat!!!! Today is going to be awesome, and this next year is going to be NEXT LEVEL!!! 👊🏼💥🎂🎉🥳
Da kid,
Charlie 😎
Stunt Life royalty - @mikechatxma and @jeffwolfedirector - sat down for an entertaining, informative 1:1 about the action movie grind, what it takes to be successful, and stories about their journeys and accomplishments. Check it out now on their respective channels!
#action #stunts #movies #stuntlife
Thank you @brittonrizzio and @jtnein for an incredible evening of insight, perspective, and generosity. The level of clarity you both brought to discovering talent, importance of theme, voice, story and navigating this industry made a real impact on everyone in the room!
Shout out to @abbyallsop for doing a great job in putting this together, and to @davidmleitch@kmc_87n for creating a space like this, where the community has real proximity to high-level leaders shaping the entertainment industry
This is what moves the industry forward. Looking forward to the next one!!!
#87north #xma #RapidSuccess #filmmaking
Emmy Award Winning Jeff Wolfe’s Masterclass is a must watch if you’re serious about a career in the entertainment industry. Dropping today on my YouTube @mikechatxma at 12:00pm noon PST!!!
Everyone says they want a career in the entertainment industry.
Very few are willing to do what it actually takes.
Jeff Wolfe didn’t graduate high school.
He wasn’t handed opportunities.
He created them, relentlessly.
He chased down auditions until doors opened.
Worked for free to build relationships that paid later.
Shot a directing reel before anyone gave him permission.
Wrote and directed a short film in one week to prove his value.
Worked through injury because momentum mattered more than comfort.
That’s how he went from stunt double,
to working with Jackie Chan and Jet Li,
to Emmy-winning director,
to independently financing a feature that hit #2 on Hulu.
This masterclass breaks down what most people never understand:
It’s not talent.
It’s not luck.
It’s preparation, persistence, and creating opportunities before you’re ready.
If you’re serious about acting, stunts, or filmmaking,
this is not optional.
This is the blueprint.
#RapidSuccess #ExecutionOverExcuses #HighPerformanceMindset
#MentalDiscipline StrategicMindset
This is what real persistence actually looks like.
Jeff Wolfe @jeffwolfedirector went from stunt double on The Scorpion King… to Emmy award-winning stunt coordinator … to independently raising the financing to direct his first feature film Outbreak, which hit #2 on Hulu for three straight weeks.
But here’s what matters—none of that happened by accident.
He created opportunities before he was ready.
He worked for free and created relationships which later got him hired.
He wrote and directed a short film in a few days just to prove he could do it.
He even worked with a dislocated shoulder because he refused to lose momentum.
And one of the biggest lessons he shares?
Even stunt professionals need acting training—because at the highest level, it’s not about moves… it’s about character.
This Monday, you’ll get full access to his masterclass from Rise and Reclaim event, where he breaks down persistence, preparation, and how to actually create opportunities in this industry.
If you’re serious about your career, you don’t want to miss this.
*Grab my Free How to Break Into Stunts Handbook! Link in bio! 💥
#RapidSuccess #ExecutionOverExcuses #HighPerformanceMindset
#MentalDiscipline StrategicMindset
Most People Quit Right Before It Works
Most people in Hollywood don’t fail.
They quit too early.
Before the credits.
Before the breakthrough.
Before the one opportunity that changes everything.
Jeff Wolfe @jeffwolfedirector didn’t follow the “normal” path.
No high school diploma. No shortcuts.
What he did have? Relentless consistency.
He showed up.
Audition after audition.
Rejection after rejection.
Until one moment changed everything.
That moment turned into a career—
working with Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Sammo Hung… 100+ directing credits… 200+ film and TV credits… Emmy award-winning stunt coordinator to director.
Same industry. Different result.
The difference wasn’t talent.
It was staying in the game longer than everyone else.
This Monday, I’m dropping the first masterclass with Jeff Wolf breaking down exactly what it takes to last long enough to win.
Click link in bio for my FREE How to Break Into Stunts Handbook 💥
#RapidSuccess #ExecutionOverExcuses #HighPerformanceMindset
#MentalDiscipline #strategicmindset
Who better to guide you on your quest to become an action movie stunt performer than a world champion with his own action figure? Download our latest episode featuring an interview with the legend himself, then check out @mikechatxma ‘s official guide to getting started using the link in our bio!
#action #movies #stunt
If you’re a fan of Stunt Life, you know that all out guests - the true action heroes of entertainment - receive their own personally customized, 100% official-ish action figures courtesy of @bootlegafstudio .*
*This is an unofficial WMAC Action figure and we are in communication with the @wmac.masters brand license owner!
For Mike Chat, we made two. The first is inspired by the genesis of XMA, and his wicked demonstration form that officially kicked off the era of Xtreme Martial Arts.
The second is inspired by Wizard, the mysterious martial artist who debuted on @wmac.masters . (We’re still waiting for the conclusion of that season two cliffhanger!)
COMMENT BELOW: Which action figures from YOUR childhood (or adulthood) would you like to see battle these two?
And don’t forget to SHARE!
#toys #actionfigures #martialarts #stunts #movies
Mike Chat is an amazing coach.
I know this because I was a student at 1998’s Camp Chat—a true martial arts fever dream. One day, you’d nearly collapse after brutal forms conditioning and stadium runs at UCLA. The next, you’d attend seminars with Sammo Hung and learn screenwriting from Sheldon Lettich (Bloodsport, Only The Strong), all while surrounded by the most elite martial arts competitors and performers in the world.
The architect behind it all was Mike Chat, transitioning at the time from competitor to stunt performer, coach, and all-around force in modern martial arts.
Camp Chat culminated in a trip to that year’s U.S. Open, where we performed during the nighttime finals. I was assigned a standing back tuck alongside three other campers. I’d done them before, but with each stumble in rehearsal, my confidence slipped. By the final run-through, I wasn’t sure I could land it.
Mr. Chat pulled me aside and told me I already had everything I needed. I’d done it before. I was just in my own head. If I could sync my body with my mind, I’d land on my feet.
I’d love to say I had some cinematic moment of clarity when it counted—but it was a blur. All I knew was that he believed I could do it. That was enough. I committed, rotated, and landed it—just like he said. (Swipe for pic, taken by my mom.)
When I reached out about coming on the show, I hoped we’d reconnect (assuming he even remembered me). We ended up talking for nearly an hour. By the end, I felt completely recharged—talking possibilities, plans, and what a stunt-focused podcast could be with the right passion.
It was a classic Mike Chat chat.
It reminded me how much those memories still matter. Even if the details have faded, the energy hasn’t. And it’s fair to say Stunt Life wouldn’t exist without him.
Our latest interview with the legend is live now wherever you get your podcasts.
Check our IG stories and reels later today for an exclusive, must-read PDF—Mike Chat’s guide to breaking into the stunt industry with intent and confidence. It’s the perfect place to start. (LINK IN BIO)
#stunts #action #movies #motivation
Photo credit: @seb_stills@christensen_chris
PS - The music? IYKYK
