One Piece Star Trained 6 Months for Gravity-Defying Kicks

When Netflix's One Piece became the first live-action anime that fans actually loved, 30-year-old actor Taz Skylar knew the pressure was on. The Spanish-British star plays Sanji, a chef whose superpower is kicking enemies with gravity-defying moves, and he refused to let stunt doubles do the work.

For Season 1, Skylar trained relentlessly in Taekwondo, martial arts, and wire work before filming in South Africa. He brought in multiple trainers, stunt professionals, and martial arts experts to help him nail the character's impossible physicality from the beloved manga and anime.

But when Season 2 arrived, Skylar pushed himself even harder. He realized that just being "decent at Taekwondo" wasn't enough to capture the magic of a character who fights like he's dancing on air.

Working closely with his stunt coach, Skylar studied every scene's visual direction and asked one question: Have we seen this move before? If the answer was yes, they changed it.

He learned to use wire work creatively, not just to jump higher but to create moves that genuinely defied gravity. The result brought Sanji's anime-style combat to life in ways fans never thought possible in live action.

Why This Inspires

Skylar's approach reveals something powerful about mastery. He didn't settle for good enough when stepping into a role beloved by millions of manga readers worldwide.

His willingness to admit "I'm being harsh on myself" shows the mindset that separates adequate from extraordinary. By constantly questioning whether his work matched the character's magic, he pushed past his own limitations.

The actor even faced down a fighting otter, one of Season 2's stranger challenges in a show filled with talking deer and viking giants. Now filming Season 3, Skylar continues training, proving that real dedication doesn't stop when the cameras roll.

Fans worldwide have spoken: One Piece Season 2 works, and Skylar's obsessive commitment to his craft is a big reason why.