Fight Like Everyone’s Watching! What It’s Really Like to Be a Martial Arts Performer
- Mark Jacobs
- Apr 29
- 4 min read
Most of us would love to be in movies.
Unfortunately, no matter how good we are, most will never get a chance to perform on film. The next best thing to appearing on the silver screen is appearing onstage. Fortunately, that's an area where many martial artists are getting an opportunity to show their abilities, pick up some new skills, and even earn a decent paycheck.
“Some of the live-action shows can pay pretty well, especially if they take you out of town to perform,” said Jessie Graff, a martial artist, gymnast and stuntwoman. Graff gained some of her early experience while doing live performances at theme parks in Southern California. “I did a show called Spy Girl at Six Flags, and they had a wushu world champion doing the choreography,” she said. “Working in that show, I got great training for free.”
