Christopher Cole

interviewed by Aurelien Henry OBAMA

Shiai Magazine : Welcome my brother Christopher Cole to Shiai Magazine, can you tell us what pushed you in practices of martial arts and your life in general?

Christopher Cole: Thank you so much for having me. I began practicing martial several years ago after healing from an injury from playing professional sports. Martial Arts is an art of self-discipline and self-recognition and I have always lived my life in a disciplined manner. I was raised in a very disciplined family, my parents installed discipline to my brother and I at a very young age, growing up I didn't quite understand why my parents were so strict, especially my father but it made me into a man, and what I mean by that it created discipline, hard work, Integrity, and most importantly faith, in order to be successful at anything you must have those four key ingredients.

Shiai Magazine : Are you aware of the existence of African fighting systems ?

Christopher Cole: Yes I' am. My Sifu, by the name Sifu Sam Norman and Sifu Joe Jackson have been broadening my knowledge of the roots of martial arts. Many People who are not studying the art may think it originated from Asia, but that is not true. If you were visit Asia you would see that they give homage to the Africans for their influences in Martial Arts and History as well.

Shiai Magazine : Have you been to Africa before?

Christopher Cole: Yes, I was actually blessed to visit Cairo, Port Said, Alexandria and Giza Egypt two years ago, but I have not been to southern Africa. I was able to see the pyramids and the mystical sphinx and be in awe of the great empire that our ancestors created.

Shiai Magazine : Have you worked or trained with Africans/ Blacks in martial arts ?

Christopher Cole: There are many cultures that study martial arts, and through this discipline, I have had the honor of meeting many talented individuals some of who are African/Black. My core teachers, who I call the three wise men, which are my three Sifu's are all black, and one of my most prominent mentor is from Ghana Africa.

Shiai Magazine : Have you experienced racism in the martial arts ?

Christopher Cole: As a man of color I have experienced racism in many aspects of my life. As humans beings we all have our insecurities and down falls, but I think many people have the misconception that only Asians are skilled martial artists, but that’s not the case. I recently visited the Martial Arts Museum in Burbank California, and there is a no acknowledgement towards African Martial Arts. While I may have not faced overt racism in martial arts, I feel that by not acknowledging a culture as the true originators of martial arts keep a lot of people in the dark.

Shiai Magazine : What is difference between sport martial arts, real life fighting situation and film fight choreography ?

Christopher Cole: Sport Martial art: There are rules that one has to abide by such arts include Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Boxing even MMA. Real life fighting arts include Kaliescrima, Silat, Jeet Kune Do just to name a few, they have no rules you can do anything and use anything as a weapon, In film fight choreography everything is at a controlled speed and power that looks great for camera, heavily rehearsed until both parties or however many are in the scene are ready to acquire the most realistic shot.

Shiai Magazine : What advantage do you gain by practicesing several form of martial arts and cross training ?

Christopher Cole: The advantages I have is that I can go into Gung-Fu, then back to Boxing, over to Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, JKD, Kaliescrima and Wingchun. There is so much beauty and richness in all martial arts and the more you study the more humble spirited you become. I have played Football at a Professional along with Track and played baseball semi-professionally, so I approach Martial Arts, Entertainment Business with the same relentless commitment and passion, with all areas of my life with a strong body, mind that can only be developed through development of exploring yourself knowing who you are most importantly developing you're spirit, that’s were the Martial Arts or as my Sifu always says the Martial Science comes into play.

Shiai Magazine: Today many Africans and Africans of Diasporas are promoting their cultural influence in the martial arts through books, films, DVD, seminar, events and so many other things. What do you think about it?

Christopher Cole: I think, well excuse me I know we as a people and culture need the truth too much in modern society has been fabricated or hidden, the truth has been hidden for so long but it's up to us to make sure no one is left behind, so we must educate the ones who don't know or are to closed minded to accept the truth it seems like it's a hard pill to swallow but as they "It is what it is" I love this quote they say the truth will come to light, you cannot hide the truth, People have gone to great lengths to bury, burn, shoot up ,destroy the truth but to GOD be the glory, people of multiple cultures are finding out the truth, but it's our responsibilities to pass it on to the  younger generations and give them something to pass on to the next.

Shiai Magazine: Do you think Africans can succeed in martial arts film industry?

Christopher Cole: Yes Anyone can succeed, you just have to know what your product is and how to sell it not someone  else's but your own and what makes you unique and continue to perfect your craft.

Shiai Magazine: Tell us more about your film career?

Christopher Cole: I'm still new to L.A. but my experience spreads from T.V. and Film, Commercial, and Music Videos I also have a B.A. degree in Mass Media Productions so I did a lot and I mean a lot of Student Films lol :-) I'm still new to L.A. six months in, I'm still green as they say here, but I've already done major commercial, appearances on CSI, Criminal Minds and Recently the Closer, and hopefully an upcoming spot on Steve Harvey's new movie think like a Man. I will continue to work on larger projects, but I have to say some of the most fun and creative sets have been on small budget projects, were we are filming in what we call gorilla style get it how you live man that's the most liberating feeling as an artist, for example using car head lights while filming fight scenes and the budget being to small to even have craft service, speaking of crazy it reminds me of Arena Football were they barely make enough money to pay a phone bill lol:-) but I see any job regardless of the pay as a way to better my talents, But I work to provide a better life for me and my  family and love ones ,friends, frienmies or whatever to provide them opportunities that I had to bust my hump to get and allow them to pass through the doors with out having to go through all the trials heartaches and tribulations that I had to go through, that’s my motive.

Shiai Magazine : In Africa upcoming movies like Dangerous men (Nigeria) , Who owns da city (Ghana), Lost Brother (Cameroon), Countdown (Mali) , Tribe (Pan african) and many others are coming out proving that Africans can make great action films with fight sequences , what do have say about the evolution in African cinema ?

Christopher Cole: You can't hide the truth; we have something very natural or organic as they like to say in L.A. the rhythm, footwork, athleticism the list goes on. I think NO I know that if shot right; using marketable talent it would take the action game to another level. African/African American has an organic swagger about ourselves, it's not practiced or put on, it is what it is man, it's something that can't be duplicated.

Shiai Magazine: What advice can you give to African child who suffers in life but want to succeed in life?

Christopher Cole: Trust In GOD, work hard, dream harder, Inspire to be a game changer in anything you do, there is beauty as well inspiration around all of us, take pride in you and know despite you're circumstances GOD has created you in his vey own Image you are not a mistake, three greatest key to happiness in life is Faith, Hope and love, treat others as you want to be treated, think and live B.I.G. " Believe in GOD Believe In Your Greatness Cris Cole"

Shiai Magazine: Do you have any upcoming project?

Christopher Cole: } A few Martial Art short film, I’ve been doing a lot of auditions currently, and working on my music and voice, along with practicing martial arts four to six days a week, the crazy thing about being new or a small fish in a big pond sometime you get a lot of scrapes and sometimes you don't, you just keep working stay positive and at the right moment I will become a big fish, that's how it works in this town so to keep it short and to the point it is unpredictable.

Shiai Magazine: What do you think of this online African martial arts, do think it should be supported by international martial arts community?

Christopher Cole: Normal 0 21 false false false FR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable : It's a great opportunity to show the World great martial artist such as yourself (Aurélien Henry OBAMA), Master Bakeri, Kilindi Iyi and others such as a Sifu Sam Norman Sifu Joe Jackson (Kick boxing Hall of Famer) to name a few, we need more seminars across the States for them so more cultures can see for themselves especially Shackled hands technique literally blew me away.

Shiai Magazine: Do you have any last words?

Christopher Cole: I just want to say thank you Brother Aurelien for the opportunity, may GOD continue to shine HIS light on you and bless you and all the ones you love and inspire. GOD Speed Cris Cole

Shiai Magazine: Thank you for accepting our interview, I hope you shall visit us in Cameroon “Africa in miniature”, God bless you and your entire family