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An Interview With Buster Reeves by Gary Turner
Buster Reeves has had a career that most of us envy. Competition wise, he is a five times World Ju-Jitsu Champion, competed at Mixed Martial Arts events, and posses a kicking ability that rivals, or indeed surpasses in my opinion, that of Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace. I have been fortunate enough to have been a team mate and training partner, friend and confident, to Buster, also having lived with him also whilst he was filming The New Avengers movie at Pinewood Studios. During these years, I have discovered Buster to be one of the World's greatest athletes, combined with a mental will power to succeed at everything that he applies himself to. He has an incredible sense of humour, and has a natural ability as a showman and entertainer, combined with a more personal spiritual and philosophical side. Buster is one of several fighter's personally known to me that have pursued a career in the movies and on television - and is rapidly earning a reputation as a stuntman that can perform stunts that no other can. After a long hard climb, Buster is reaching towards the top of his profession, but only because of the effort and devotion he has applied to achieving his goals. Hopefully this interview will give you a good broad brush approach to the complex life and abilities of Buster Reeves - if not, at least you can look at some pictures of his incredible flexibility!! Gary Turner
GT: My first memory of you was watching The Record Breakers television show, setting the world record for the fastest number of kicks in one minute. Do you still hold that title? Tell us about that performance. BR: Yes. I still hold it after 14 years. It was an amazing thing for a kid to be on national television, it's all kind of a blur because it happened so fast. I just remember the producer of the show ringing the house, me agreeing to go for the record again, getting on a train to London, staying in the Hilton (very posh for a Yorkshire man!), going to the studio a having a crack at my own record. GT: Can you still do as many? BR: Don't know about that! These joints aren't what they used to be and besides - I haven't tried. GT: I remember your nose standing out from that show - lets set the record straight - has your nose been broken?! BR: No! But I've had some really good clouts on by you! (Laughs…) GT: Going back to the beginning, how did you get started in the martial arts, and why? BR: Watching Jackie Chan's Snake In Eagles Shadow and of course Enter The Dragon. I started because like everyone else I thought I would be able to kick ass like them. Then I discovered that’s not what it's all about! Discovering that at an early age put me in good stead for being the man I am today. GT: How did you develop your incredible flexibility? I've got photos of you doing the box splits everywhere. BR: Yep no matter where in the world some-one has a picture of me doing box splits. You must have quite a collection going now Gaz? From Las Vegas, to Auckland in New Zealand - even on a plane in Bali if I remember correctly! As far as I know I never really worked at my flexibility I achieved the splits one night at home training and just maintained them from there.
GT: Bob Sykes has obviously been a big part of your training, and it appears that you share the bizarre love of Emmerdale television show! How did you get to be on the show? I know Bob has a great sense of humour - was it done to wind him up? BR: No, not at all! You know me Gary, I don't wind people up?!! (Yeah right!! GT) I only found out that he was in the fan club after I had filmed it. I did it for the screen time so I would be used to being in front of the camera by the time I became a stunt man. GT: The peak of your career was winning your first World Ju-jitsu title in New Zealand in 1995. Many people don't realise the camaraderie that happens on these trips - what part stands out for you? BR: Winning and for the boys who were there who will understand this: “MASSAGE!!!” GT: You won your second World Title in West Virginia, 1996. The organisers had brought in the movie actor Don 'Dragon' Wilson as a guest, but with the incredible fighting performance you put in, you were signing more autographs! How did that feel for you? BR: Great but I don't think he was that bothered. We became really good friends after that. Especially when I moved to Los Angles and trained at Gold’s Gym, I walked in and he went nuts every body wondered who I was. Then he told of the fighting and that was it. Open invitation to all martial arts gyms - but I mainly chose to train under Benny "The Jet" Urquidez. GT: West Virginia was a bizarre trip. I remember signing autographs with you everywhere, even people coming up to us at the airport, to return to Gatwick where we walked through with these massive trophies being ignored, then walking onto the set of Mortal Combat Annihilation with you!! From stars, to nobodies, to a movie set! How do you handle going from one extreme to another? BR: I have a good family and a great set of friends who always keep my head out of the clouds. GT: You returned to win your third World Ju-jitsu Title in Reno, USA, in 1998 with relative ease, picking up the sportsman of the year award too. Did you feel the pressure in returning to competition after a relatively long layoff? BR: A diamond is nothing but a lump of coal that came good under pressure. You should know I love being under pressure!
GT: Was the pressure made all the more easier by the relief of not being killed by the bears we happened upon by Lake Tahoe?!! You definitely got closer than me, and there're photos to prove it! BR: I put not being killed by the bears down to my connection to the native Americans and an understanding between myself and a respect for the earth and Mother nature and all her animals. As you know Gaz I'm a very spiritual person.
GT: Moving on from fighting, you entered and appeared on Gladiators. What motivated you to get on the show? BR: Why does someone choose to fight? Easy. To prove to themselves that they can do anything they put their mind to. A lot of people went on the show before and after me to get discovered and shoot to stardom and that’s why they didn't do well, their mind wasn't on the agenda ahead. GT: At one stage you accidentally knocked into a certain body part of Ulrika as you were taking tape off your hands - erm - do you think they satisfied Sven? I had to ask… BR: I can't vouch for Sven but they felt o.k. to me!! GT: What happened in the final - you were going great guns, only to be pipped at the end. BR: I dislocated my shoulder in Powerball and had to have it put back in. Through the course of the day I was having injections in the shoulder. In the Eliminator I dislocated my shoulder again on the hand bike - the pain was intense and my mind was on just finishing the course, and not on my opponent. GT: After Gladiators you started the long path to becoming a professional stuntman. What processes are involved in getting on the stunt register? What disciplines did you complete? BR: A long drawn out process is involved and you have become very capable at lots of different sports. GT: Returning to your stunt work, you've now appeared in some high profile films, including Tomb Raider and Blade 2. In Tomb Raider Eunice Huthard (female Gladiator champion, and former World Champion Points Kickboxer) trained Angelina Jolie for her role - do you think you could have done better? BR: I think Eunice did a very commendable job at training Angelina for the part, she’s someone else from fighting who has successfully made it in the film business.
GT: You worked with Wesley Snipes on Blade 2, is he really a good martial artist? BR: Any one who has a 15year background in anything should be good! GT: Could you kick his butt? BR: Depends what stunt it was!
GT: You worked on The Parole Officer with Steve Coogan. Is he as funny in real life? BR: Yes. As Steve was telling me when we had a break from filming, people expect him to be funny all the time, even when out shopping at the super market. Just as he was getting serious he would say something that would double me up laughing! GT: What's the best stunt you've carried out to date, in your opinion and why? BR: That’s a hard question to answer! One of the stunts I did on Blade 2 was a physically hard stunt to do because it was very acrobatic. But the stunt I did on the latest Bond movie was hard mentally. I had to react to two gun shots, set my two squibs off, fall to the floor rotating, all while firing a machine gun following a trail of bullet hits in the floor, wall and ceiling - all in about 1 1/2 seconds with a big co-ordinator watching!! When I was done we watched it on the monitor and he turned and said “perfect timing”. So you can see how hard it was to determine which one was hard, they all are in some way shape or form. GT: Your stunt career is really starting to take off - what are we going to see you in that's coming up? BR: Where the Heart Is episode 6, Nintendo Game Cube ad, Sony Playstation ad and a Levi commercial - and of course the Bond film! GT: You've appeared on television and film - what direction do you see your career taking? BR: Haven't thought about it! I'm just trying to be the best stunt man I can be and carry on being a part of the greatest team in show business. GT: Mixing with stars during the course of your work, give 'us some gossip. Anyone you've found to be full of themselves? Who actually turned out to be really nice? BR: I've heard stories on the news but I haven't meet any one like that they have all been cool. GT: You often stay with former Hollyoaks star and top fighting competitor Alex Reid (stage name Alex Thorne). Any plans to work together? BR: We have said that when he gets to the big time I'll be his stunt double!! (Laughs…) GT: Who would you most like to work with, and why? BR: Arnie or Stallone because they do true action films. GT: You've competed at ju-jitsu, kickboxing, points kickboxing, mixed martial arts - and have never been in a better physical shape - any plans to return to competition? BR: Watch this space! I'm sure you will keep everyone informed… GT: Your physical condition is outstanding, having trained with you over the years I consider you to be one of the world's greatest all round athletes. What sort of training programme developed this, and what are you currently doing to maintain/improve this condition? BR: Thank you Gary. Just a lot of trial
and error, find out what works for you and what doesn't. Your diet has a lot to
do with it - you are what you eat! If you eat crap, your performance will be
crap, and you'll look crap. Discipline is the key. (I must look like a
chocolate bar then! GT) GT: Finally, any advice for anyone wanting to get into stuntwork? BR: Be prepared for a long haul! GT: Buster, thanks very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with us. Good luck in all your endeavours! BR: Thank you Gary. Best of luck to you. Good luck with the site! |
Buster
and Gary - training in Bali prior to Auckland World Championships
On
a plane in Bali!
Chillin'
with the British Ju-Jitsu Team in Auckland
Now
that's just posing....Bali with Dylan Carter and Gary Turner
Buster,
Gary and a bl**dy heavy team trophy! Double World Champs, Auckland
Buster as Zirax, evil ninja warrior
in Mortal Combat, 
Splits in the Nevada mountains by
Reno
Nice
shot in the Nevada mountains by Reno
Ok,
this is as close as I got...
But
Buster got close enough to take this...!
Buster with Wesley Snipes on the set of Blade
2
Buster with the gun, The Mummy
Returns 2001
Buster with Adrian Paul on the set of
Highlander
Buster and team, Reno