Kicks, Camera, Action: The Vince Murdocco Story Part 1 by Kyle Green

Vince Murdocco, world class kickboxer and actor, most remembered from the 1991 film Kickboxer 2 (Murdocco), playing opposite of Mohammed Qissi (aka Tong Po) (Pyrun, 1991), has had an amazing life story from being a martial artist, actor, stunt man, and of course "Canadian Cruiserweight & North American Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion" (Murdocco)!

He was gracious enough to let us get an insight into his amazing life story.

As Vince Murdocco started his journey he was seeking fitness due to being overweight as a kid and self defense from bullying that stemmed from that. He grew up in Vancouver, Canada when he had the opportunity to train with "a man from" New York City who went to Vancouver "to train" in "monkey style" kung fu (Murdocco).

After striking "a deal" with this martial artist that Murdocco would "feed him sandwiches everyday" and when the man showed up to his hometown, the "summer" of "martial arts fever" (Murdocco) began for this destined legend of movies and combat sports!

As time progressed, he "signed up with Tae Kwon Do taught by chief instructor of the Korean Army 9th Dan C.K. Choi", who he calls "one of his biggest influences", he "started in the back of the room and inched his way closer to the front", showing up and putting in the time training (Murdocco).

He could see a transformation happen, his "baby fat turning into muscle", but more importantly he found his "passion and it felt great" (Murdocco).

From there Vince Murdocco entered kickboxing, acting, and "Japanese shootboxing". Because he was doing kickboxing "is the reason", Murdocco got into acting, he "was down in Florida" at the time of a sanctioned fight when he "first met...WKA World Kickboxing Champion" Maurice Smith (Murdocco).

Later he would meet a woman by the name of Amy Lynn Baxter, who at the time had been "a Penthouse Pet of the Year" and "on the back cover of the Howard Stern book Private Parts (Murdocco).

Having this encounter, Baxter went to "Vancouver" and was doing an audition for the sequel to the "cult classic" Flesh Gordon , when Murdocco drove "her up for the audition" only to make an amusing discovery, "the guy" that was "on the poster" looked like him (Murdocco)!

After trading conversation with the producer on auditioning, because of him being "a fighter" and being "talked into it" by Amy, Murdocco auditioned and got "the lead role in the movie" (Murdocco).

Once he broke the ice into acting, then came his next role, Kickboxer 2 (Murdocco), in the movie he trains with his co-star's character that eventually breaks from him pursuing the fame of being a kickboxer, but the false ego gets Murdocco's character into trouble when his fight is switched with the formable villain Tong Po (Pyrun, 1991).

He was also in Ring of Fire with "Don The Dragon Wilson" that year among several others in the 1990s (-et al. 2015). Since then he has been a stunt performer in legendary 20th Century Fox/Marvel film X-Men: The Last Stand , the Marvel Studio 2008 film The Incredible Hulk and The A-Team remake, and the wolf based thriller The Grey starring Liam Neeson (- et al. 2015). He even made an appearance on the popular hit CW show Arrow (IMBD.com, n.d.) But it all started with Flesh Gordon 2 & Kickboxer 2 (Murdocco).

Just going to Los Angeles for Kickboxer 2 opened doors for him, by having the opportunity to train with a true kickboxing legend Benny The Jet Urquidez, where he got real hands on training by doing punching and kicking drills where Urquidez gave him encouragement, after that 10 time Kickboxing Champion Don The Dragon Wilson, which got Murdocco into "a martial arts magazine", something he feels "blessed" for (Murdocco).

But the person he calls his "dream" of meeting was Bill Superfoot Wallace, who he got to meet "in Tacoma" because Wallace was refereeing "a match" that Murdocco has down there for the "World Kickboxing Championships" (Murdocco).

His other influences include Kelly Gianoini, Farid Dodar and the "undefeated" Peter Sugarfoot Cunningham, someone he feels "is the best of the best", going as far as labeling him "the Sugar Ray Leonard of Kickboxing" (Murdocco).

Even now as a martial artist, he isn't "afraid to make a difference", and he takes what his "father instilled" in him to be a "problem" solver, this he carries into his professional career (Murdocco).

He is very passionate about the lifestyle that martial arts teaches. Saying "When you have a great foundation it's easier to build. Martial arts gives you that foundation" as "it grounds you with you". because "When you live life, it loves you back" (Murdocco).

The meaning of life to Murdocco is "to find your Gift" and the purpose "is to give it away", this provides him much happiness and satisfaction in his life (Murdocco).

Martial arts and acting maybe a main passion to him, but his true passion is "trying to give his gift away to as many people as possible...to make the world a better place" (Murdocco).

As part 1 closes, he gives advice that everyone needs to hear aspiring to be a great martial artist, "train hard and never give up and when you think you have nothing left turn up the heat cause your a fireman, you love the heat and do your best work in the heat" (speaking metaphorically) (Murdocco).

Adding, "This is where you want to be and get it done...If your just starting your journey in martial arts I want you to look around you and see that this group of you are going to become great friends and will embark in a life changing journey which will always remember." (Murdocco).

Sleep is something he recommends to keep up on, because according to Murdocco, it "recharges your batteries", also he recommends, eating "healthy and drink water" (Murdocco).

Lastly, turning "off" the "phone" to eliminate distractions to "focus on the task at hand" (Murdocco).

A life that can inspire anyone and advice any one of us can use.

Photos used with Vince Murdocco's permission.

References:

IMDb.com. (n.d.). Arrow. IMDb. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2193021/characters/nm0613741

Vince Murdocco. By Martial Arts Entertainment -et al. (2015, May 19). Martial Arts Entertainment. Martial Arts Action Entertainment. https://www.martialartsentertainment.com/vince-murdocco/

Murdocco , V. (2024, September 17). personal.

Trimark Pictures (USA) & Vision International (Non USA). (1991). Kickboxer 2: The Road Back . United States of America .

Disclaimer:

Any advice here in this article is not meant to prevent, treat, or cure any diseases or illnesses and you should seek the advice of a licensed medical professional as nothing here is meant to replace or supplement that.