This is an interview graciously given to us at
Karate Kidz Online.
www.karatekidzonline.com
Interview with Martial Arts Action Star Suzzana
Stefankovicova interviewed by Louis Velazquez
I want to take this opportunity to
thank Suzzana once again for granting me this interview.
She is one
of the most genuine and sweet hearted people in martial arts and
Hollywood for that matter. I am proud to know her and be able to
tell her story to the young martial artist worldwide that have
supported Karate Kidz Online and Suzzana in our endeavors. She has
been and always will be an inspiration to me and I know that she has
had that effect on many young martial artist and action stars around
the globe.
December 2002 Interview
LV: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN MARTIAL
ARTS
SS: I started when I was ten. My father
decided to take me and my sister to dojo after a group of
older boys from the street we lived in, have beaten us up .
The moment I stepped in , I knew that the atmosphere there wouldn't
let me leave
so easily. I was amazed and fascinated by all those weird movement
our master
would teach us . It was fun for me, though my sister hated all that
running
around the dojo and as she confessed later on, while torturing
herself by
stretching her legs, she's been actually observing the details of
the fabrics
her tracksuit were made of . My sister quit to do dancing and i went
on with
karate.
LV: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING AND WHO WAS
YOUR MAIN INSPIRATION?
SS: It was in 1985 when I started martial
arts. At that time ,for most of the
people in my country, the notion of martial arts was something new
or even
unknown .There haven't been many martial artist in Eastern Europe at
that time.
Because the doors to the Western world have been closed to most of
the eastern
European countries , there were just few masters coming to our
country from
Asia to teach their culture and mainly martial arts. Because there
was no chance
for us to travel abroad at that time, it was very hard if not almost
impossible
to see any foreign movies in our theatres. There have been just few
action
movies we got a chance to see with Jean Claude van Damme in the late
80´s, but
that was about it. We never got to see Jackie Chan or Jet Li movies.
People
would talk about Bruce Lee in the dojo, but that's as far as it
went. However,
when I look back and think about movies with van Damme I have to say
I was
impressed. Even though I didn't have a chance to see many action
stars I must
confess that I really liked his style. I was impressed by his
flexibility ,high kicks and very clear technique , thought it was
really amazing . So... yes, I can say that he was my main
inspiration at the very beginning.
LV: MARTIAL ARTS HAVE BECOME A PART OF OF YOUR
LIFESTYLE, DO YOU PLAN ON INCREASING YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR ARE YOU
CONTENT?
SS: Oh yeah! I`m just little bit afraid that
one life would not be enough to learn everything I`m planning to!
There are still so many things to learn! I would
love to learn more and more styles of martial arts, get deeper into
psychology
and philosophy and to start writing more articles of this kind. To
motivate
people and encourage them to step out on their life journey in a
direction they
consider to be right and also not to be afraid to make their dreams
come
true. So let's go! Gooo! Me myself am only at the very beginning of
my journey ,in
a constant process of learning, exploring and I hope constant growth
too. I
know this process will take throughout my whole existence. But I`m
happy because
with each and every day I`m learning something new and with each day
I grow and
I don't know where the limits for this growth are. It's amazing
feeling and I'm
having a fun!
LV: DO YOU HAVE ANY MOVIES OR TELEVISION APPEARANCES ON
THE HORIZON?
SS: At this moment I`m probably gonna
disappoint most of my fans. I`m taking a little break from
action stuff , which means movies and TV works with martial arts
included. Well...I didn`t really plan this break, but unfortunately
my health condition is very weaken and doesn´t allow me to work .
Hopefully It`s gonna
take only a little time but I promise to my fans that all this
waiting will be worth it! Meanwhile they can see me in some
magazines here in US and in Europe. I however don´t drop out working
on films or TV projects , but as already mentioned , my health
problems don´t allow me to fully work at the moment .I will
definitely keep you updated ,indeed. I would love to thank to all of
my fans for their support and love!
LV: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW MARTIAL ARTS BECOMING A
MAIN STREAM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY?
SS: Martial arts is a life style and it has a
strong spiritual background . It can teach and help us to choose our
life journey , to step out in a direction that we consider thanks to
these spiritual influences to be the right one for us. It can teach
us to find important values in our lives , give us vital life
energy, positive thinking, vitality, discipline, self-awareness and
awareness of our needs. I also believe it does miracles to our body
and mind when they´re weaken and suffer from lack of energy .
What more can i add ???
I´ m really happy that more and more people are discovering the
beauty and the power of martial arts and I´m honesty grateful that i
can be a part of this all. I must have been blessed to be aware of
all that great things martial arts are bringing to our lives.
LV: DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE MORE MARTIAL ARTS STARS
EXPLODING ON THE SCENE OR IS THIS JUST A TREND?
SS: Definitely! It`s very hard to talk about
"trend" especially when we talk about martial arts movies.
There have always been martial arts movies and it`s stars,
when we look back in the past. Look at that awesome old Hong Kong
movies! Maybe hey haven`t been so popular and known on American
continent, but I am pretty sure they have been stars in Asia. The
fact that Hollywood have opened its doors to action world is truth.
The Hong Kong movie stars such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chow
Yun-Fat,Russel wong...became stars of Hollywood and this new wave of
oriental action movie stars coming here did start a new era of
Hollywood action movies.....that might be , as i believe, also due
to the cult movie Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon . However, now I´m
pretty sure, there are many " action stars" rising in
Hollywood. I can name so many gifted and talented colleagues -
actors and martial artist - like TJ Storm and many many more...well,
I would need much more place to mention all of them.. And let me say
that there will be no mistake much more in the near future!
LV: TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOLLYWOOD
EXPERIENCE
SS: Well, first I would like to say that there´s no
difference between hollywood experience or any other. On our way to
reach every great thing or success, there will always be barriers
and there will also be some very nice experiences. I think that
everything that is going on around us makes sense and has a
meaning. It is up to us if it can be useful for us, what can we make
out of it. I chose to fulfill my dream in Hollywood. No life journey
is easy. And so is not the one I chose. But I´m happy because by
breaking all barriers that are crossing my way I´m becoming stronger
and little wiser. Thank to them, I always move a step further. So
I´m here!
But however it would be too simple to talk about glint and tinsel of
this journey. In reality, however we have to face many problems.
Obviously there are also beautiful feelings from being successful on
my way. That is one of the reason why to follow our dreams!
Hollywood is one big dream, and in dreams everything´s possible,
indeed. You can become a star from one day to the next, but you can
also fall to the ground and begin from the very beginning. They can
find you there, but you have to be very careful not to get consumed
by it all.
LV: DO YOU MIND IF WE GET A LITTLE PERSONAL? , I AM
SURE THAT YOUR FANS ARE CURIOUS ON HOW YOUR PERSONAL LIFE IS GOING.
HOW ARE YOU DOING IN GENERAL, YOUR FAMILY ,YOUR CAREER?
SS: I´m doing fine, thank you , although my
body doesn´t always agree with that. I just got back from Los
Angeles to Europe for a period of some 2-3 months, while I
have to undergo my medical treatment to get better soon. This period
of time I´d love to dedicate to gaining a vital energy my body
needs to heal itself , to meditation , writing and spending my time
with my family, friends and my
fans. I´ll spend it with my loving family who are helping me as much
as they can by their endless support and love . After this period of
time I will definitely come back to LA for longer time . At the
present time, here in Europe, I´m about to do a couple of interviews
following weeks so I will not stop working here in Europe as well.
LV: WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON YOUNG MARTIAL ARTIST
TODAY?
SS: Truly, most of time I do spend with my
colleagues and unfortunately i don´t have many chances to meet with
young martial artists. As mentioned earlier, only recently i´ve
started writing articles , that should be a challenge and motivation
mainly for young martial artists .I do believe in their strength and
spirit and wish them lots of dreams and courage!
LV: AND LASTLY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THE MARTIAL
ARTIST READING THIS INTERVIEW?
SS: Dream, desire, wish ! And believe that
your dreams can be fulfilled. Never stop believing in yourself, your
dreams and direction you choose ! Start to change your barriers into
a springboards to your dreams . Please stay yourself , don´t
let success or failure to change you. I used to say to my friends in
Hollywood : „Don´t let this place to change you .Be yourself , stay
the same lovely human being , no matter whether you ´re a star or
not. „ . After all, there are so many shining little stars we meet
everyday and don´t even know about them. And last , but not least
..... Don´ t forget that a good attitude toward life is the
key to being beautiful . So smile, as soon as you wake up. Nothing
makes one more beautiful and sexy . Don´t take yourself too
seriously, have fun ! Life ´s too short for negative emotions.
I believe in you,
With all my love,
Suzzana
This was a very insightful
interview by a wonderful person, I know that when I say this I am
talking for millions of people that we look forward to seeing her
back in action and on the big screen continuing to inspire people
into accomplishing great things in their lives. Thank you again
Suzzana you are great.
Keep updated with Suzzana and her
upcoming events and movies by logging into
www.suzzana.com,
You can hear her interview with KKO Founder Louis Velazquez on
www.ucwradio.com
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