Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Krall.
Justin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I attended Niagara University for a BFA in Theatre, graduating in 2011. That’s where I was first exposed to stage combat, and I immersed myself in that training as much as I could. My interest led to my desire to take up martial arts. After I graduated, I continued acting, while saving money to move to the Maling Shaolin Kung Fu Academy in China for a year. At first, it was surreal, but the fantasy becoming a reality meant the most intense and difficult training of my life. While I expected to be taking a break from theatrical arts, I actually met some other actors at the academy. It was an internationally accepting academy, so I was privileged to meet other students from around the world, not only learning about Chinese culture first hand but getting worldviews from my new friends was incredible.
After returning home from China, I moved to Atlanta to pursue stunts and film. However, since moving back home to America, I have found my love for teaching grow exponentially. So I allowed myself to focus on teaching actors how to safely perform combat on stage and screen. My background in theatre, stage combat, martial arts, and film has helped me balance the need for martial logic, dramatic performance, and most importantly, teaching SAFETY. Now, I’m preparing to attend Texas Tech University for an MFA in Performance and Pedagogy, where I hope to further develop my understanding of the arts, as well as a teacher.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nope. No. no. No. no. No no. NOPE NOPE NOPE. Struggles are endless. In spite of meeting other actors at the kung fu academy, training in China did pretty much nothing for my networking in America. In fact, as much as I love what I do, networking has never been a strong suit of mine. In fact, I have always been someone who values training and art more than exposure, marketing and networking. While this is something I am working on, it has made progress slow. Because my focus is a physical art, the pressure of feeling like my body is on a clock is discouraging.
Naturally, it’s easy to notice others who have “found their crew” or network by now and be discouraged as well. As slow as my development as a teaching artist has been, I am eternally grateful for the handful of students I have been privileged to train. I make a great effort to be a resource to them, whether local or students, from a workshop in another state. Keeping in touch with students and always being available to talk and help near or far means a lot to me. My discipline is not a money-making machine, and I certainly wouldn’t be on this journey if the people and craft weren’t near and dear to me.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I offer fight direction for theatrical productions as well as teaching actors how to fight on stage and screen. Over the years, I have accumulated a decent education on various styles of performing combat. I can teach actors how to fake fight using a variety of different weapons: Swords, knives, shields, staff and more. Various unarmed styles are also within my repertoire, not just referring to martial arts, but genre. Not every “fight scene” is action-adventure and not every actor needs to portray a trained fighter, sometimes we just need training on how to REACT to strikes or how to fall safely. To be honest, I frequently find combat reactions are one of the major hurdles for actors new to performing combat. Martial arts and acting are difficult enough by themselves, and acting a fight is a unique beast altogether. However, my scope of practice may not be limited to just teaching and fight choreography. I could be a one-time consultant for a company or may offer to assist with renting and managing weapons for production as well.
I am fairly proud of my journey to China, as it speaks to my dedication to educating myself in martial arts so I can translate one art to another. I believe this sets me apart; my continuing education in martial arts and kickboxing has meant that my specialty is certainly unarmed combat and martial arts. However, I am just as happy with a rapier or sword and shield in hand.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Honesty, Communication, and collaboration.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 5853092418
- Email: JMKLiveArts@Gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_stuntcat_k/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.krall.7
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0mszXI8aeVKgupAc4DdQuw?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Tom Policano, Douglas Kenyon, Derek Graham, Else Remen
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