Sensei to Stunt Doubles - Joao Cimurro

Competing and throwing opponents all around the world in countries including Brazil, Germany, Austria, Israel and Peru, this young Judo and BBJ champion has decided to bring his talent to Australia.

Hailing from São Paulo Brazil, Joao has competed on the world stage in Judo in arenas such as the European championships. His highlights of 2024 are 2nd in the Australian national championship, 1st in Qld championship and 1st in the Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra international opens!

When Joao is not competing he is coaching out of the Virtue BBJ gym on the Gold Coast. I first met Joao when interviewing Bridget Burt, one of his students who is a professional stunt performer for my Immortals Project.

I was intrigued by Joao not just for his athletic performances but because at only 23 he is sensei to some of Australia’s elite stunt performers that double in massive Hollywood productions such as Mad Max, Planet of the Apes and The Fall Guy.

Joao teaches these ‘stunties’ how to throw correctly and be thrown correctly, how to fall safely, and choreograph fight scenes for the movies they perform in.

I find it so inspiring that a young 23 year old has traveled across the globe to a foreign country with a different language to spread the message of Judo. (1.maximum efficient use of physical and mental energy 2. mutual prosperity (Welfare and Benefit) for self and others).

I can’t wait to keep track of where this journey takes him and to hopefully one day soon see him doubling in the next Hollywood blockbuster!

That Was Close! - Karl Herman

I was about a meter away when Karl came screaming past on the mega rail feature, grabbing his board and giving me a quick glance before grinding his landing and boarding off for another lap around the wake park.

An extreme life enthusiast, Karl is a high level wake boarder, skydiver, wing suitor and base jumper and probably the most genuine bloke I know.

We spent a rainy afternoon in Mackay capturing these bangers for some of Karls sponsors.

I highly recommend checking out Karls Instagram because not only are his crazy antics very entertaining, but he is all a real inspiration taking life by the horns, not taking anything for granted and is in constant pursuit of his purpose.

Stunt Double - Bridget Burt

Coming off the set of 2 movies in cinemas now, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is larger than life adrenaline seeker and stunt double Bridget Burt.

Interviewing and shooting Bridget for my personal project ‘Immortals’ I could of literally talked to her for hours about all her disciplines including; skydiving, wingsuiting, flyboarding, drifting, Muay Thai, BJJ, motorbike riding, rock climbing, jet skiing, horse riding, gymnastics and shooting!

Bridget uses Muay Thai and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) to train for a lot of the physical stunts she performs as her role as an extra or stunt double in Hollywood movies.

The body awareness, flexibility and athleticism required for these sports lend themselves greatly to the fight scenes and stunts she has to perform on set.

When she is not training with her stunt double friends in fight gyms bridget is out doing something else considered crazy to us mere mortals. She is an avid skydiver and wingsuiter with hundreds of jumps under her belt but her current thrill she is chasing is upping her ability as a drift car driver.

Bridget can be found as a guest performer at the drift show at movie world but is currently spending a lot of time in Japan, learning how to ‘Tokyo Drift’ her way around the streets with some of the best drift car drivers in the world.

Growing up Bridget was not exposed to this extreme life and is now living out all her childhood dreams that she was deprived of. She started out with flyboarding which quickly led to her being picked up to perform overseas in China to crowds of up to… 80,000!

Bridget is an extremely humble and down to earth chick and I can’t wait to see where she takes her career in the future.

IRONMAN - Zac Dunn

This weekend I will be hanging out with IRONMAN athlete Zac Dunn again as he is in town to compete in the Brisbane Marathon.

Zac and I first met by a chance encounter with a mutual friend on our yearly snowboarding expedition to Japan. Ever since we have shared our love of sports, training and the outdoors.

Zac not only loves the challenge of endurance sports but is an avid lifter with a grueling training regime. This is what leads to his impressive physique, having him usually about 10-20kg heavier than his endurance competitors. 😂

I look forward to watching him rip the marathon and the post event meal we gorge ourselves on, with many laughs and tails of our 6 months since meeting last.