What You Didn't Know About Scott Adkins' Martial Arts Training

Whether an actor is cast as Superman or Kingo Sunen, one thing is certain in a comic book movie: The actors have to get jacked. 

While a lot of actors already stay in pretty good shape, most workout routines jump to the next level once production on a superhero movie gets underway. The actors need to embody these larger-than-life archetypes and that means hitting the gym, avoiding sweets, and practicing that superhero landing. 

While many superhero actors end up needing an equally buff stunt double, there are those who end up doing everything entirely on their own. That was the case with Scott Adkins, who played Lucian, a follower of the villainous Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), in 2016's Doctor Strange. In addition to his acting prowess, Adkins also likely landed the role thanks to his proficiency in six types of martial arts (Krav Maga, karate, ninjutsu, jujutsu, kickboxing, and judo) before he was even cast in the film.

A recent article from Health Digest breaks down superhero workout routines, and it turns out Adkins works out just as hard as Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot. 

Scott Adkins always keeps himself in top shape. It comes in handy, considering the British actor has starred in an array of action-packed films like The Bourne Ultimatum, The Expendables 2, and Ip Man 4: The Finale. Fun fact: He was also the stunt double for Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (after he gets his mouth sealed shut). He's a bonafide martial arts superstar, and even though he lifts weights and runs like everyone else, he makes sure to incorporate some extra flair into his workouts. 

Adkins detailed his training routine to Men's Journal where he discussed what a typical week at the gym looks like for him. He said, "I'm training about five to six times a week. Three of those days will be in the gym with weights. Two of those days will be cardio—I'm not a big fan of the running machine or running in general. I get it done, but I'd rather do some martial arts-type training. Depending on the part I'm training for, if I need to be bigger, I just train five times a week with the weights and mix it up."

While weights and cardio are common when it comes to superhero movie training, Adkins likes to incorporate his specialty (martial arts) into the mix. Fitness and staying in shape are a way of life for Adkins, so he's always ready to play whatever tough dude he's cast as. Considering Lucian's fate in Doctor Strange, it's unlikely we'll see Adkins in the sequel. Still, any action movie would be lucky to have him performing incredible stunts.