Star Trek star John Cho is no stranger to physically demanding roles, but when he took on the challenge of portraying the iconic Spike Spiegel in the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. he knew he had to step up his game. In a recent video with Men’s Health, Cho revealed the rigorous training regime he underwent to transform into the bounty-hunting, wisecracking character from the beloved anime series.

Fans were left in awe as they witnessed Cho’s impressive dedication to embodying Spike’s essence. Let’s take a closer look at Cho’s journey to becoming Spike Spiegel and the intense workout routine he embraced.

How did Cho prepare for the role of Spike?

Spike is known for his lean yet muscular build, effortless agility, and combat skills. To do justice to the character, Cho knew he had to push himself beyond his limits. Cho embarked on an intensive training regimen with the guidance of top fitness professionals. This process involved a combination of strength training, martial arts practice, and conditioning workouts to achieve the desired results. During a Q&A video with Men’s Health, a fan said, “My guy John Cho looking ripped. I wonder how he trained for this.”

Reacting to this, Cho replied, “You know, you go in the gym, you do what they tell you and I was doing a lot of martial arts training at the time, and you try and lay off the aforementioned White Castle during that training period. It was brief, but it was a glorious, glorious two minutes where I looked like that.”

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For the role of Spike Spiegel, martial arts proficiency was non-negotiable. Cho dedicated significant time to mastering various martial arts disciplines, including judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Jeet Kune do, the martial art founded by Bruce Lee. These disciplines allowed him to learn how to perform impressive fight sequences and execute Spike’s signature kicks and punches convincingly.

A comprehensive approach: John Cho’s nutrition and training journey

Physical training was only one part of Cho’s transformation journey. The actor also paid close attention to his nutrition to support muscle growth and overall health. As the actor jokingly stated, he followed a balanced diet that included lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats and avoided cheat meals and unnecessary sugar as much as possible. Adequate hydration was also crucial to support his training intensity and recovery.

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John Cho’s journey serves as a reminder of the dedication and hard work that go into preparing for a physically demanding role. His efforts not only demonstrate his passion for the craft, but also his determination to pay homage to the iconic character of Spike Spiegel.