Celebrities studying martial arts?

[Scott R. Brown]

I have trouble buying into a 105 lb girl kicking the crap out of a 180 lb man.

Not sure why hollywood perpetuates that, but hey, if it makes the girls feel good and go train to defend themselves, so be it.

She's not that scary either!

Kate weighs 115. And I weigh 150. Okay, okay, 160.

Wait, are we still talking about a threesome?

Hey! I'm just minding my own business here! I'm supposed to be getting ready for sleep and you keep distracting me with your big city, fancy shmancy literary imagery!

[GeneChing]

From Washington to work out! Eva Longoria dressed down for martial arts class after attending President Obama's inauguration ceremony
By Hanna Flint
PUBLISHED: 04:07 EST, 24 January 2013 | UPDATED: 06:10 EST, 24 January 2013

She fought to get Barack Obama re-elected, and now Eva Longoria is getting combative in her work out.

The actress visited a mixed martial arts school in LA after returning from the President's inauguration in Washington D.C.

Dressed in dark work out gear and sunglasses, Eva looked ready for action.
Don't mess: Eva Longoria heads to a mixed martial arts school in dressed down work out gear


Don't mess: Eva Longoria heads to a mixed martial arts school in dressed down work out gear

The only thing soft about her outfit was the hearts printed on the front and back of her hoody.

The rest of her kit consisted of dark grey work out trousers and black trainers.

But although her gear had the colour theme of a ninja, her choice of combat class was cloaked just as stealthily for she could have been attending a boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu or mixed martial arts session


Ninja style: Her inconspicuous kit consisted of a black hoody, dark grey workout pants, black trainers and dark shades


First class free: From boxing to Jiu Jitsu, the actress had her pick of combat workouts

The former aerobics instructor clearly wanted to shake up her exercise routine for the new year who is known for following a strict fitness regime.

'My bachelor's degree is in kinesiology, so it's ingrained in me to work out," the Fronterra star told GQ magazine. 'I was an aerobics instructor, and a personal trainer in college, so I was addicted to exercise.

'I used to do an hour and a half to two hours a day. I'd teach a class and then train clients, and I realized I didn't need that much.'

Eva also includes yoga as part of her weekly work out and eats lots of fresh vegetables and lean protein to maintain her petite physique: 'Now I like weight training and abs. I hate the elliptical. I hate jogging. I despise cardio, so I try to do my cardio within the workout.'

Throwing kicks, punches and defending herself from attack in her martial arts class will no doubt keep Eva's mind off the cardio she hates doing so much.

Imagine ground fighting with Eva

[GeneChing]

Interview with ‘Neverending Story’ star Noah Hathaway
Noah Hathaway
February 10, 2013
By: Colleen Bement

Noah Hathaway, the Los Angeles born actor became a household name at the young age of six with his role as Boxey in the original 'Battlestar Galactica'. Yet by far he is best known for playing Atreyu in the classic film 'The Neverending Story'. Hands down one of the most genuine celebs to interview and amazingly easy to talk to. Interview took place at the GalaxyFest Convention this weekend, Feb 7-10. “We’re all the same people. I’m not better than anyone else. I just have a cool F***ing job,” Hathaway stated.

Q. You have been a part of many people’s favorite childhood memories with your roles in Battlestar Galactica and The Neverending Story. What is it like for you to meet your fans?

A. I wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for them. There are a lot of people who don’t realize what they have. A lot of people who are super narcissistic and you know what? I could be digging ditches in the cold, and fans are amazingly gracious and grateful. I love it. There’s just something about Neverending Story that just has this very fond place in people’s hearts that there aren’t very many movies made that are like that. I want people to meet me and think wow, that was the nicest, most down to earth person I’ve ever met. We’re all the same people. I’m not better than anyone else. I just have a cool f***ing job.

Q. What got you back in to acting?

A. I taught martial arts and I’m a tattoo artist. I was living in Amsterdam with my ex-wife and I got a Facebook message that said hey, we’re producing a movie (Sushi Girl) with Tony Todd, Mark Hamill and Sony Chiba and I thought wow, he’s the closest thing to Bruce Lee. I said hell yea! And I was on a plane at 1 am that morning. Packed one suitcase, brought my dogs, and I never went back to Europe. They say without big risks, there’s no big rewards. Now I’m working on writing and producing a couple of films.

Q. I just started my tattoo work when I turned 40 and I have 3. I want many more! Do you have a favorite tattoo and what is the meaning behind it?

A. I buried my best friend on ’96 and it’s my little memorial to him. My ex-wife did a bunch of them that mean a lot to me.

Q. I have a good friend named Mary who is a Jiu Jitsu fighter and I read somewhere that you trained and competed in boxing. How has training in MMA changed your world?

A. It’s changed everything. After Battlestar I was picked on at school and I started learning martial arts and nobody picked on me anymore. Martial arts gave me a sense of self and really gave me some focus. I’ve studied with the Shaolin Warrior Monks. On weekends I train with them, and during the week I train with my special forces buddies. I like to learn anything I can learn. I love what it does for kids. It changes people’s lives. I’m too old to roll around on the ground now away days so I have good takedown defense!

Q. I'm going to end with what's become my signature question. If you were a baseball player, what would your walk up song be? What song pumps you up and inspires you?

A. It’d have to be if I was walking in to a fight. I fall asleep in baseball. It would have to be something from Motorhead or the Johnny Cash remake of Soundgarden’s Rusty Cage.

Sushi Girl again. I'm glad we posted that story as it keeps coming up.

[GeneChing]

I know, I know, this one doesn't really count, but it's for the EastEnders fans here. Are there any? No? Okay fine then. Never mind.

Barbara Windsor's Charity Kung Fu
Former 'EastEnders' star Barbara Windsor has learnt kung fu for 'Comic Relief' and has filmed a comedy sketch with one of the charity's partners, Jackpotjoy.com.
11 February 2013

Barbara Windsor has learnt kung fu for 'Comic Relief'.

The former 'EastEnders' star - who had her fair share of onscreen fights when she played Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap - performed all her own stunts in a new comedy sketch made with one of the charity's partners, Jackpotjoy.com.

She said: "For me, the stunt moves where I had to duel one of the baddies with a wooden broom were definitely the hardest to master - we had to do about 20 takes of that sequence. It was a bit of a departure from what I used to do in the 'Carry On' days!"

And 4ft 11in Barbara enjoyed it so much, she wants to take on 6ft 1in comedian Miranda Hart.

She added: "Of course I would emerge victorious as I'm much smaller than her, which means I'm really nifty!"

'Comic Relief' takes place on Friday March 15 on BBC One and will feature stars such as One Direction, Holly Willoughby, Jessie J and Alex Jones all taking part to help raise as much money as possible.

[GeneChing]

Gisele's entries on this thread:
#1
#2
#3
#4
...but who's counting?

Gisele Bundchen Credits Kung Fu and Simple Diet Rules for Post Baby Body



Nine weeks ago supermodel Gisele Bundchen gave birth to her daughter, Vivian Lake Brady. The gorgeous model debuted her post-baby body in a black bikini on a recent vacation to Hawaii, as reported by People Magazine. Gisele has given birth to two children, yet she remains in tip top shape even within weeks of giving birth.

How does the Brazilian model get her body back in shape post baby? According to Shape, the supermodel is loyal to a strict kung fu workout routine. Gisele has been completing 90 minutes of kung fu three times a week for the past four years.

Yao Li, Gisele’s kung fu instructor, explained that, “Practicing kung fu improves muscle tone and flexibility in the lower body. Blocking drills and hand techniques do the same for the upper body, especially the shoulders and arms.”

When she isn’t practicing kung fu Gisele also enjoys jogging, lifting weights and yoga. And on trips to California she sneaks in visits to trainer to the stars, Tracy Anderson.

Gisele also keeps her diet in check by following three simple rules:

Don’t deprive herself of foods you love; instead control portions.

Fuel up on carbs to keep energy levels up.

Check your weight every week for motivation and accountability.

Another rule Gisele follows is splurging wisely. She was featured in Unreal’s promo video with her husband, Tom Brady. The pair admit they love Unreal candy because it’s a smarter indulgence since there are no artificial sugars or high fructose corn syrup.

In an interview with Vogue Magazine UK, Gisele commented on how she maintains her figure. “Like I tell my five sisters who don’t work at it [health] very hard at all: Whatever you put in, you get out. I’m not afraid of working hard at anything, whatever it is. I just always want to bet he best that I can be.”

February 12th, 2013

[GeneChing]

I didn't know who he was either. I've heard of Jersey Boys and Glee however.

Is John Lloyd Young, back in 'Jersey Boys' and singing his 'My Turn' show at Café Carlyle, 'just too good to be true?'
He's come back to New York from Los Angeles for a limited run as Frankie Valli, the role that made him a star, to debut at the Carlyle with songs of the 60s - and also finds time to start a new career in sculpture, practice kung fu and to use his starpower 'to motivate fans and friends into lending support to charity.'
By Tom Dworetzky / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, February 15, 2013, 7:53 AM


John Lloyd Young shows just a hint of danger shows just a hint of danger
Tom Dworetzky/New York Daily News

Actually, John Lloyd Young looks a little dangerous.

He tells the opening night audience at the Café Carlyle as he performs a few songs wearing impenetrable aviator shades – so that “we can be in a cocoon, just me, you and the music” – that he would turn off the lights in the recording studio AND wear the shades while cutting his debut album of 1960s songs “My Turn.”

And then there’s his mastery of Northern Shaolin style kung fu. He is nearly a black belt. “I use it on stage," he tells me after the Tuesday night show. The martial art helps with his focus, he says, which is evident when you are close and meet his steady, darkly penetrating gaze.

He’s approachable and friendly but seems to have just a hint of the edge of the outsider, a trace of the Frankie Valli from Jersey, maybe.

Perhaps he is still in character. He is, after all, back for a limited engagement run in “Jersey Boys” playing the Valli role that made him a star.

Young was starstruck by Broadway from the beginning. At age 2 he was singing; at age 3 he was performing.

At age 2, though, tragedy had already struck his family. He was only two years old when his mother, 26, died from cystic fibrosis.

This, he explains, is what has driven his charity work.

“My natural mother passed away from cystic fibrosis when I was a toddler, so I feel a great deal of empathy for people who are struggling with disease,“ he says. “As such, I've worked frequently with organizations who've asked for my help, such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Broadway Cares, amfAR and Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang.”

He feels that his popularity comes with responsibility. “During ‘Jersey Boys,’ I discovered one of the most rewarding ways to use your goodwill is to motivate fans and friends into lending support to charity.”

His love of theater not only began early, it was supported by his father and stepmother. “My interest in acting came from seeing Broadway shows on summer trips to New York as a child,” he recalls. “It was the original production of ‘A Chorus Line’ in an easy tie with the first 10-15 minutes of Dustin Hoffman in ‘Tootsie’ that hooked me on the romantic idea that the impossible, difficult life of a struggling actor was for me.”

While the life of Frankie Valli differed greatly from his own, being half Italian, on his late mother’s side, helped enormously, he says. “My natural mother's family was Italian-American from Brooklyn” he explains. “Not too far a cry from Italian-American from Newark. The energy was easy to tap.”

His musical tastes coincided with the 1960s music he is associated with, and which is featured on, his album “My Turn,” which includes such classics as "Hurt So Bad," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Unchained Melody" and "You Belong To Me." Despite being younger, he was exposed by his family to this music from an early age. He explains, “The songs of the 60s are, in my mind, standards just as much as the songs from the war era that we generally think of as standards. In the Sinatra era, singers all sang each other's songs, so long as they were good songs. I'm an interpreter of songs, and these are some of the best ever written.”

Since moving to Los Angeles, he has devoted himself to his sculpture as well as his music. These changes are very much a part of who he is and where he came from, he says. “Now I'm bi-coastal and love both cities.”

“With ‘Jersey Boys’ I achieved everything an actor can hope for in New York theater, after nearly ten years of struggle in New York City,” he recalls, adding, “I always wanted to go back West, where I was born, and involve myself in some other interests I always had.”

His award-winning performance in “Jersey Boys” made that possible. “I booked ‘Les Mis’ from New York, he recalls, “and playing for a sold-out, stadium-sized audience at the famous Hollywood Bowl was unforgettable.”

Then soon after, “I was the first guest star asked to appear on “Glee,” he adds, “which we all know became huge.”

There are some other favorite moments for Young. High on the list? “It was definitely a thrill to be on Katie Couric's final ‘Today’ show,’ he says.

And winning awards at the Tonys, Outer Critics Circle, Theatre World and Drama Desk Awards goes without saying.

Also, “the White House was great, of course,” he notes, adding, “But the most memorable and transformational event was looking out onto Times Square at a live audience of 1 million people for **** Clark's New Year's Eve and knowing countless other millions were watching at home.”

Broadway fame has also given Young a chance to pursue sculpture, his other art. He set up an art studio in Los Angeles, and in the last few years sold a few dozen pieces, a dream and a thrill for him.

Young reveals that the major artistic influences that show in his rhinestone encrusted sculptures include “Warhol and Pop, clearly,” he says, “but conceptually, I draw strongly from Duchamp and his ready-mades, Jeff Koontz, obviously, and less obviously from things like Meret Oppenheim's fur-covered teapot and the arte povera movement.”

With his return to “Jersey Boys,” the question arises, "why return, and more important, what is next for this award-winning, multitalented artist?"

Says Young, “there's no better feeling than to re-visit such a rewarding role in front of such a loving audience. I'm thoroughly enjoying working on my recording career. As for the future, I look forward with optimism to what the universe may bring.”

In an era of managed and manufactured celebrity, that openness to chance as an artist is just a bit ... dangerous.

His manager, Dona R. Miller, in the audience at the Carlyle that night, did seem a little nervous about the glasses and Young took them off after a few minutes. In the home of the late and legendary Bobby Short, maybe aviator shades worked; maybe they didn't.

But maybe taking the risk for the sake of trying something new, dangerous or not, worked *– and will keep John Lloyd artistically young forever.

[TaichiMantis]

"...he is nearly a black belt"

[GeneChing]

Former Bond Girl Learns Filipino Martial Arts In Action Series
By: Jecelyn B. Macahindog
Published: March 3, 2013

Ivana Milicevic does action and drama in ‘Banshee’

Viewers loved her as James Bond’s femme fatale Valenka in 2006’s “Casino Royale.” Now, Ivana Miličević returns as a thief-turned-family woman in her biggest action series to date.

Ivana, who plays Carrie Hopewell in Cinemax’s 10-episode “Banshee,” has undergone extensive physical training to meet the demands of her action scenes. It is interesting to know that the American actress, born to a Croatian family, actually loves Philippine martial arts

“I learned Kali, which is a Filipino martial arts. I also learned Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, among other trainings,” the former Bond girl revealed in a recent phoner with Bulletin Entertainment and other Asian journalists.

“The physical part is very hard... If you follow me on Twitter, I always post my bruises all the time. I even had a black eye – that was real! – in an episode. I sprained an ankle and my muscles sore all the time. I always hurt a little bit but not too bad,” she said.

It is indeed a challenge for her to play a character who was once a notorious jewel thief before living a quiet life in Banshee under an assumed identity, with a husband and children that know nothing of her past. “Going through the emotional cycle that the character had to go through and trying to play the balance between the two characters is very hard.”

Girl Power

What drove Ivana to take on Carrie Hopewell’s two-sided character is that she gets to uncover so many layers in the role.

“She’s a mother. She’s a villain. She’s playing a fighter. She’s playing someone who’s so much in love. She’s torn between two men in a way. She’s someone who needs to play this whole bunch of emotions,” Ivana described, adding, “The series has so much action, so much drama. It’s sexy, it’s fast-paced.”

Playing a serious mother role for the first time had also surprisingly been easy for the 38-year-old actress, who drew her emotions from experience.

Ivana related, “When we went to America, it’s like I raised my brother. So I had that very little maternal instinct. Also, I have a very incredible mother… I had an ex-boyfriend who had a son so I was like a mother to him as well... I love playing a mother.”

Not Your Ordinary Action

Ivana thinks that “Banshee” is setting a new action trend in TV “because we’re pushing everything.”

“You’ll see the fight scenes that you can’t believe are on TV. They are bloody, they are good. They are long, they are intense… Everything we did was fast-paced. It keeps going. We don’t save. We do the season that other shows do for five seasons.”

She also hopes for viewers to outgrow the stereotype that the action genre is for men only. “All of the female characters, in some way or another, are very strong. And apparently, all of these shows like ‘Banshee’ have so many women loving them as men. So it seems that women now are not shying away.”

Although a lot of violence is observed in “Banshee,” for Ivana, it is purely entertainment.

“I’m lucky enough that for me, I don’t have a violent life or upbringing. For me, the violence is in telling the story, is only entertainment – all pretended and make-believe… I don’t know why people like it a lot but for me, it’s entertainment.”

Too Sexy?

Since its premiere last Feb. 15, “Banshee” has been earning raves for its drama, action, violence, and most of all, sex.

Ivana, for one, managed to do a full frontal nude scene where she emerged dripping wet from a shower. She also did an explicit sex scene with Rus Blackwell, who plays her husband in the series.

Perhaps sex scenes prove harder to do than tough action scenes, as Ivana admitted, “Of course it feels awkward but I don’t like to fake it. I mean, like, I don’t want people to perceive that we are a fake husband and wife. Nothing is real, really. It is all ‘fake’ in Hollywood but the actors trust each other very much and (the) good thing about our show is that we (actors) are always pushed (to our limits).”

Despite revealing skin on the show, Ivana said that it is not her intention to portray a sexy image.

“Some people think I’m sexy, and some people think I’m not. I think I’m sexy enough but I wasn’t bearing about that too much in this show because I’m trying to play a real wife… I don’t know. I’m an actress, not a model, so I think I’m kind of real. I represent a lot of women… Some men may find me beautiful and some may find me not attractive at all. There’s always somebody for everybody,” she opined.

While she doesn’t want to spoil anything for the show’s upcoming episodes, Ivana announced that she is “lusting for ‘Banshee’s’ pretty intense second season.”

From the team of Alan Ball (creator of the hit vampire series “True Blood”), “Banshee” airs on Cinemax every Friday at 10 p.m.

Too sexy? Bloody fights? Banshee sounds amusing.

[GeneChing]

I'm not familiar with this Republica.

REPUBLICA STAR LEARNED MARTIAL ARTS OVER FAN FEARS
12th March 2013

REPUBLICA frontwoman SAFFRON took up martial arts to help her deal with overzealous fans.

The singer was left fearing for her life when a man sneaked into her room at a hotel in Germany in 1998 after convincing staff he was a friend and needed a spare key.

Saffron reveals, "It was like a horror film. I was half-asleep, my eyes were flickering and then I saw the door opening. I jumped out of bed and started screaming."

She suffered another scary run-in with fans when a group of men picked her up in a nightclub and attempted to carry her out of the door, and she admits the incidents spurred her on to learn self-defence techniques.

Saffron, whose mother has Chinese heritage, tells The Independent newspaper, "I have always had a call to the east because of my background and I got into it because I was curious. It's a female style of Kung Fu designed by a nun... The moves they use in (movie Kill Bill) are based on Wing Chun. It gives you inner confidence, so if somebody comes into your space you can dissolve the situation. I think it's calmed me down a lot."

[GeneChing]

Well, it's qigong, but we'll count it.

Adele on Qi Gong for Oscars
Added At: 2013-02-19 9:47 PM
Last Updated At: 2013-02-19 9:47 PM


LONDON: Singer Adele, who will perform at the Oscar ceremony on February 24 — her first stage performance since delivering a child, is practicing breathing therapy to beat her stage fright, as suggested by singer Robbie Williams’ wife Ayda Field.

Adele has been undergoing special Chinese Qi Gong breathing therapy. “Adele has suffered with terrible stage fright since she was 16, but now it’s worse than ever,” dailystar.co.uk quoted a source as saying.

“She knows all eyes are on her after almost a year out of the spotlight, so she needed something to help her with it. Ayda was the first person to tell how it had helped Robbie overcome his performing anxiety in recent years,” added the source. Adele will perform her James Bond theme song Skyfall during a special tribute to the British spy franchise. The number is also nominated in the best song category.

[GeneChing]

...and one more, but I won't spoil it.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 | The Rumble

[Jimbo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFKBM5adMo&sns=em

[GeneChing]

Bruce Leo! DiCaprio limbers up for dancing at Coachella with a spot of Tai Chi
By Mike Larkin
PUBLISHED: 16:47 EST, 14 April 2013 | UPDATED: 23:42 EST, 14 April 2013

He is hardly renowned for his prowess in action films.

But Leonardo DiCaprio proved he knows a bit about kung fu as he limbered up for a spot of dancing by doing some Tai Chi at Coachella on Friday night.

The jolly 38-year-old was spotted chatting with some much younger ladies when he suddenly sprung into action.



Well hello! Leonardo DiCapriosoaked up the female attention at Coachella on Friday night


In the groove: But the Great Gatsby star soon proved he should consider branching out into martial arts movies

Perhaps the Lothario thought he would be able to impress them with his physical prowess if he showed them some of his best moves.

Or maybe the Django Unchained favourite was inspired to perform an improvised kata after hearing a particularly catchy dance tune.

Whatever the reason he certainly showed some moves that would win a grudging nod of approval from fading action star and Aikido master Steven Seagal as he jutted out his arms and got his chi flowing.

Many will surely think he was being characteristically modest by wearing a blue handkerchief in the back pocket of his jeans, as his performance surely proved he is worthy of black.


Crouching tiger, hidden Titanic: He was certainly putting in a chi-mendous performance as he showed his skill


The man with the iron fist: No one would dare get into Leo's striking range as he went through his routine

The man with the iron fist: No one would dare get into Leo's striking range as he went through his routine


He's so modest: While Leonardo wore a blue handkerchief in his back pocket he surely deserves to carry black

His moves certainly went down like the Titanic in front of the crowd of revellers, with many smiling in restrained awe as he went through his paces.

And it certainly seemed to have impressed the ladies, as they seemed keen to ask him where he learned his moves afterwards.

Leo was taking a well-deserved rest ahead of what will surely be a gruelling promotional schedule for his forthcoming picture The Great Gatsby.

He plays the titular character in Baz Luhrmann's latest silver screen extravaganza, which is due to be released on May 10.


Quite the ladies man: But a gentleman like the Django Unchained actor never reveals his secrets

I saw What's Eating Gilbert Grape recently for the first time, and DiCaprio blew me away with his performance in that. I never knew he was that good when he started.

[GeneChing]

What is it with transgender MA lately?

Chaz Bono 60 lb. Weight Loss: Dancing, Martial Arts and Healthy Eating Helps Shed the Pounds (VIDEO)
By Anne Thomas , Christian Post Contributor
April 22, 2013|11:51 pm

Chaz Bono has lost 60 lb. and has proudly shown off his weight loss this past weekend.

The former Dancing With the Stars contestant has been on a huge weight loss mission over recent months, and he has told People magazine that his stint on the reality TV dance competition helped stir him into action to lose the weight.

Bono has said: "I still enjoy dancing. I still take classes."

However, he has been doing more than dancing, and he has also explained that he has taken up some martial arts training.

Completing his weight loss regime, Bono has also explained that he has completely changed the way he eats, and is now consuming much healthier meals and watching what he eats.

Bono has said that he initially started losing weight with Freshology, which is a meal delivery plan to ensure you are given exactly what you need to stick to the weight loss plan. However, since that he has moved on and has started cooking healthy food himself.

Bono said: "I've just changed the way I eat … Diets don't work. You just have to change what you eat, and I have. I cook a lot of different stuff. I really avoid grains and starches, so meats and vegetables and fruits are my diet. I make them all different ways to keep it interesting."

He has kept fans up to date with his efforts and has documented his weight loss on social media site Twitter.

Last November he announced to his followers that he was hoping to lose as much as 50 pounds, but it appears as though he has gone even better. But Bono has no plans to stop any time soon, and now that he is up to 60 pounds, he has set a new goal to reach up to 100 pounds weight loss.

[GeneChing]

Scar Jo's previous post here.

I tried to find the original source for this in OK! magazine, but gave up after a few minutes.

Celebrity Diet & Exercise - Scarlett Johansson Keeps Body Toned with Martial Arts
By Staff
Jun 24, 2013


Celebrity diet and exercise - Scarlett Johansson has a beautiful body and the well endowed actress tried to keep fit and toned using the ancient exercise routines of some of the martial arts.

The 'Avengers Assemble' actress has been working hard to get back into shape to play the Scarlett Widow in the superhero sequel with a combination of martial arts.

A source told the US edition of OK! magazine: ''Scarlett really got into martial arts. She has also logged a lot of time toning her muscles in the gym. She likes to mix up her workouts with circuits and resistance training.''

Scarlett has also changed her diet.

The insider said: ''She's a grazer. She will have between six and eight small meals a day.''

All Scarlett's training should also pay off for further movie roles, as she has already signed up for another action movie, 'Lucy'. The star will play a woman forced to become a drug mule, but upon ingesting the drug, she develops super strength, as well as the ability to absorb knowledge instantly and move objects with her mind in the Luc Besson film.