Shiai Magazine : Hello Erik BETTS, you have been studying martial arts since age of 11 and also a self taught gymnast, can we have better knowledge of your life and martial arts film career?

Erik BETTS: Absolutely

Shiai Magazine: Exactly which system of martial arts have you been studying?

Erik BETTS: My mother couldn't afford to put me into a martial arts school. So she got very creative and got a compass and a map and circled a 5, 10, 15, miles from our house radius! Then she looked in the phonebook and we tried all the FREE TRIAL classes in each of those circles until we exhausted the 5 miles and moved to the 10 miles...and that's how I got my start!!! I loved Kung Fu theatre on television that showed a lot of martial arts films and I would study them too!!

Shiai Magazine: Are you aware of the existence of African martial arts?

Erik BETTS: I am aware of African martial arts back in my hometown of Roxbury Massachusetts.

Shiai Magazine: Tell us exactly what is all about Hollywood Kung Fu?

Erik BETTS: Hollywood Kung Fu is the art of motion through the projection of emotion. In other words "film fighting". But not just throwing kicks and punches or forms and weapons but finding out how to discover your true "SELF" and as a result learn to listen to others better. Communication is 90% non verbal therefore physical actors learn to listen and communicate none verbally better than those used to speaking with only their mouth. This enables a practitioner of Hollywood Kung Fu to better read, counter, and attack their opponent safely take after take!!

Shiai Magazine: Have you been to Africa before or acted film there?

Erik BETTS: I have not had the honor of working or visiting Africa yet but it is my dream... And I'm sure I will in my lifetime!!

Shiai Magazine: Give us more details about mobile gym called "Flip N Kick Acrobatic Centers"?

Erik BETTS: I have a mobile gym called "Flip N Kick Acrobatic Centers". "Gymobile". It's a program where I teach acrobatics combined with martial arts-film fighting, action-reactions, and much more to different martial art, dance, cheerleading and stunt facilities nationwide. Its unorthodox approach to martial arts and acrobatics makes it a unique and endless experience. I believe, we are forever experiencing, therefore we are always changing. HKF has no set forms or stances, or kicks and punches. It is formless and waits for its practitioner before taking mold.

Shiai Magazine: Being a black man in martial arts film industry, is it easy for you to obtain roles in films and TV series?

Erik BETTS: It definitely IS NOT easy to find work!!! Period!! But you have to be like my mother and find a way to make it happen for yourself. Let nothing stop you from getting your dream. If you have to write a screenplay and make it yourself then do it!! If you can find a video camera and perform it yourself then do it...if someone doesn't have a video camera then find a tourist and show them what you can do and ask them to put it on youtube.com and put your name on it....you can go to the local library and watch your performance and send it to people worldwide for consideration of being in their projects. What I'm saying is work in the industry is difficult and even more as a minority, but don't use that as a crutch ... throw it away and let the obstacles make you more creative!!!

Shiai Magazine: You have trained Will Smith on the set of "Wild Wild West and also Helped train Christian Bale for Batman Begins (2005) and numerous people. How is it like being behind preparing an actor to be ready for fight scene in a movie?

Erik BETTS: Its funny gettin the opportunity to train a famous actor because you think I'm gonna help this person become the best in the world!! WRONG!! If you re lucky you'll get to work with them for a few minutes each day for a week... if you're like the rest of us you won't have enough time with them at all and have to do the best you can in a short period of time!! So what's it like..... FRUSTRATING!! hahaha!

Shiai Magazine: Will you be willing to come to act a movie in Africa?

Erik BETTS: If someone said I have a film for you to shoot in Africa but we need you there tomorrow.... I would pack my family up tonight and I'll see you guys for dessert!!

Shiai Magazine: On March 14, 1996 playing the « panther » in "WMAC MASTERS" on fox, you broke your right hip and thigh. You took almost 3 years to recover and also you are legally blind in the right eye. After all these experience and hardship, you decided to be full fledge actor. What truly motivates you?

Erik BETTS: The power of God is the only way to go!! My son's name is Jaden "Isaiah" Betts, and I named him Isaiah because of my favorite verse in the bible (Isaiah 41:10) that gives me strength when I feel weak... Fear thou not for I am with thee Be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee Yea, I will help thee Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of thy righteousness!!

Shiai Magazine: Can you tell us any recent film project you have participated in?

Erik BETTS: I have two big movies coming out!! The first one would be AVATAR with James Cameron from TITANIC!!! The second one is called THE LAST AIRBENDER with M. Knight Shyamalan. AVATAR is the most expensive movie of all time with a budget of over 400 million dollars to make it!!! I worked on it on and off for over a year and a half! It comes out on DECEMBER 18th Worldwide!!! The other movie THE LAST AIRBENDER is a fun martial arts film that will be out in the summer of next year!! So watch out for both!!!

Shiai Magazine: are you aware of the African martial arts film project "The way" of Ray Muhammad starring Khalil Maasi in United States and also "Money Bag" of Aurelien Henry OBAMA starring Joe ATEBA in Cameroon. Do you think that Africans/Blacks can make it big in Hollywood? Will you support them?

Erik BETTS: No I'm not aware of the films The Way or Money Bag. Although I've been pretty busy on other films and haven't had a lot of time to keep up on my current films. As for do I think men of color can make it big in Hollywood...I'm for everyone having a chance to speak their voice! I DON'T just want to hear BLACKS, WHITES, or HISPANICS. I want to hear women, children, young, old, terminally ill, psychologically unstable, straight, or gay!!! I want to hear ALL OF GODS CHILDREN have a fair and equal opportunity to have their voices heard!!

Shiai Magazine: Do you have any future projects in which you will like to talk about?

Erik BETTS: Known to talk about now... but its funny you should ask.... life is about evolving and that's exactly what's been going on in my life and career! I have amazing scripts and books and videos that I've evolved into working on...so I look forward to sharing these things with all of you and the world! Coming soon!!!!!!

Shiai Magazine: You who grew up with your mother, grandmother, aunts and uncle who raised you up to become a true man, what advice can you give to African child who wants to succeed in life although things are not always easy in Africa?

Erik BETTS: I love this question. On television my 7 yrs old Jaden and I used to watch the discovery channel that shows what life is like in other countries around the world! We... ok, I choose Guana.... and we watch what life was like for people there! We wore the same clothes as this tribe that was being followed and we turned off all of our lights and introduced my child to what life might be like for these people without TV and video games and electricity!! I then explained to him that we still don't understand what it truly is like until we live there!!! You never know what someone is going through unless you walk a mile in their shoes!! My advice to the next generation of up and coming superstars from around the world and my African brothers and sisters is to keep your head high!!! As difficult is it may be... remembered there is ALWAYS someone suffering more than you and they still came out on top!! As an adult you will look back and release how you became who you are... so surround yourself with a family that can find sweetness and joy when life experiences taste bitter!!! Our trials and tribulations define us and prepare us for a higher calling! If life is feeling unbearable...it's because you can handle it and because God is preparing you for GREATER things!!! So, watch out world because you will be unstoppable!! You have to be BRAVE enough to dream Big....nope...bigger than that....nope ... even bigger!! Show me your most ridiculous dream and you will just be starting to understand how big I want you to dream....your word creates your world....think small and you will be small....think big and you give yourself permission to receive big...and believe me when I tell you ..... GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS!!! So pray big and pray a lot... and let go and let GOD do the rest!!!

Shiai Magazine: What is your opinion of this online African Martial Arts Magazine whose objective is to promote Blacks/Africans who practises martial arts and African martial arts in general?

Erik BETTS: I think this Magazine is an awesome opportunity for many people to have their voice heard...and I m glad that someone like yourself took the time to care!! Its not easy to keep up on running a business like this and arranging the talent and constantly promoting, advertising, publicizing and network this as a one man show...so continued success and blessing to Shiai Magazine for all of your work in promoting Africans/Blacks who practice martial arts and especially African martial arts!!

Shiai Magazine: Any last words?

Erik BETTS: I want to leave you guys with a couple of words. Jeremiah 33:3 in the Bible says... "Call to me and I will answer you and show you GREAT and MIGHTY things that you won't BELIEVE!!" Any and everything can be done for those who believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior. Trust in God and watch the Holy Spirit lead you to Gods plan for your life in Gods time!! Like a caterpillar spinning a cocoon from its mouth to start its change into something bigger and better - we create our own bondage that will begin our transformation into what we will become! So speak slowly and with divine wisdom!! Thank you and continued blessings!!

Shiai Magazine: Thank you brother in accepting our interview for Shiai Magazine "The International African Martial Arts Magazine", we hope to see in Cameroon "Africa in miniature", God bless you and your family. Let our ancestors guide your path.

Erik BETTS: Thank you for finding and inviting me to be a part of this historical magazine and the opportunities that you are affording our brothers and sisters. No matter how much time or circumstance may come between us our lives are interwoven forever. The only true gifts are the portions we share of ourselves, so thank you Shiai Magazine for the opportunity for me to share a portion of my life!!! God Bless!!