INTERVIEW•GIANNI DECENZO
CAREER KICK-START Rising star Gianni DeCenzo describes the double dividend of playing Cobra Kai’s Demetri
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S a young actor and fledgling martial artist, Gianni DeCenzo landed a dream combination when he was cast as loveable nerd Demetri in Cobra Kai. In addition to shooting him to stardom as part of one of the world’s most-watched shows, the big break provided the 19-yearold with the chance to hone both his screencraft and combat skills alongside some of the best in the business. “To work on a show of this magnitude is huge because chances like this don’t come around often,” Gianni told Shimbun, explaining how his previous television and film forays had been limited to one-off or bit-part performances. “I don’t think anybody on the show expected that it would grow as much as it has, but when we moved to Netflix the response was incredible. It is so cool to be a part of something like this because I can finally develop and grow with a character. “When I got the part I thought Demetri was going to be in the show for a while but just in the background to the main protagonists,” the Californian actor added. “I honestly had no idea that he would have such a crazy arc, from the nerd in the cafeteria to now kicking ass as part of Miyagi-Do and making out with girls in hallways.” And having enviously watched the majority of the opening season’s action scenes from the sidelines, Gianni is thrilled that Demetri has since spent more time in the dojo.
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SHIMBUN
Issue #5
Courtesy of Netflix © 2020
“I HONESTLY HAD NO IDEA THAT HE WOULD HAVE SUCH A CRAZY ARC, FROM THE NERD IN THE CAFETERIA TO NOW KICKING ASS AS PART OF MIYAGI-DO AND MAKING OUT WITH GIRLS IN HALLWAYS.” Picture: Mark Hill
“For a few years now I have done Krav Maga, a form of selfdefence and physical training which was developed by the Israeli Army in the 1940s and is based on the use of reflexive responses to threatening situations,” he added. “I describe it as trying to gouge someone’s eye out, kick them in the groin and then run. Having background knowledge of it helped me out with the physical side of filming because we have to train a lot of hours to get up to speed before shooting the show. My limbs don’t bend quite as well as people like Jacob Bertrand [Hawk] and Tanner Buchanan [Robbie], so it has taken some practise and I have had to do a lot of stretching, but I am getting there.” Gianni’s martial arts progress is certainly in safe hands. Ahead of each season he and his cast-mates are put through an intensive two-week masterclass led by Hollywood stunt coordinators — and husband and wife team — Hiro Koda and Jahnel Curfman. As sensei go, they are a formidable double act. Hiro, who has worked on more than 150 films and television shows, is a fourth degree black belt and a Shihan in US Yukoshai Karate, and has multiple championship victories to his name. While former competitive gymnast and professional dancer, Jahnel has brought her weapons and fighting skills to bear on the sets of blockbusters such as Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. “They are the best team,” Gianni said. “We train as a group and there are other people on the stunt crew that will help us out with any issues during the season.
