Jon Valera

Jon Valera: The Martial Artist Behind Hollywood's Best Action Scenes

Born on October 2, 1975, in Roanoke, Virginia, Jon Valera has made a significant impact on Hollywood with his masterful martial arts skills, breathtaking stunts, and innovative fight choreography. His dedication and passion for martial arts have earned him an array of awards and recognition that stand testament to his talent and hard work.

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Martial Arts Journey and Competitive Career

Jon Valera started his martial arts training at just eight years old, beginning with Freestyle Karate before exploring other styles including Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Kempo, and Kickboxing. By age 12, he started competing in martial arts tournaments, quickly climbing the ranks and dominating the junior division in forms, weapons, and sparring.

His competitive career was nothing short of extraordinary. He received numerous awards, including the 1995 Number One Korean Forms Champion, the 1996 Otomix World Forms Champion, the 1997 ISKA World Forms and Weapons Champion, and the 1998 ISKA World Forms and Weapons Champion. Valera's reputation in the martial arts community reached a pinnacle when he won both the forms and weapons overall grand championships at the prestigious Diamond Nationals in 1999, marking a poignant end to his competitive career.

Transition to Hollywood

While martial arts competition brought him accolades and recognition, it was the world of Hollywood that offered Valera a new arena to showcase his talent. During his travels for martial arts tournaments, he had the opportunity to meet and train with professional stunt performers. Inspired by their work, he ventured to Hollywood, and soon enough, he joined their ranks as a professional stuntman.

Valera quickly made a name for himself in the industry and became a member of the renowned stunt team, 87Eleven Action Design. Known for their work on high-profile action films, 87Eleven became a platform for Valera to elevate his martial arts expertise to new heights.

Shaping Action Cinema

Over twenty-five years in the business, Jon Valera's contributions have been seen in a variety of blockbuster action films. He has left his mark on movies such as "300", "The Expendables", "Man of Tai Chi", "Atomic Blonde", "xXx: Return of Xander Cage", and the "John Wick" series.

One of Valera's significant roles was as a fight coordinator for James Wan's underwater superhero epic, "Aquaman". This project posed a unique challenge of creating riveting action sequences in an aquatic environment. He successfully brought the comic book action to life, impressing audiences and critics alike.

He has also worked extensively in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe, contributing to projects like "Thor: Ragnarok," "Black Panther," "Aquaman," and "Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).”

In "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "The Wolverine," Valera was not just a fight coordinator but also appeared as 'Killer' showcasing his acting chops alongside his stunt skills. He further exhibited his versatility by performing utility stunts in "Deadpool 2”.

A Legacy of Action

Despite his success, Jon Valera remains grounded, always looking for ways to innovate and push the boundaries of action cinema. His journey from a martial arts competitor to one of Hollywood's most sought-after fight coordinators and stuntmen is a testament to his relentless passion, creativity, and commitment to his craft.

In recognition of his contributions to the film industry, Jon has received numerous awards and honors. His work has been recognized by the Taurus World Stunt Awards, and he has received nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture. These accolades underscore Jon's standing as a leading figure in the world of action cinema.

Today, Jon Valera continues to contribute to the evolution of action cinema, and with his talent and passion for martial arts and film, the future of Hollywood action is undoubtedly in good hands.