Who is Iko Uwais?
Iko Uwais is an Indonesian actor, stuntman, and martial artist who has gained international recognition for his roles in action films. Born in Jakarta in 1983, Uwais began his career as a delivery man for a telecommunications company. He was discovered by filmmaker Gareth Evans while teaching Silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art, and was cast in the lead role of the 2009 film “Merantau”.
Since then, Uwais has starred in several other action films, including “The Raid” and its sequel “The Raid 2”. He has also made appearances in Hollywood films such as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Mile 22”. Uwais is known for his impressive martial arts skills and his ability to perform his own stunts.
Upcoming Movies
Uwais has several upcoming projects in the works. He is set to star in the action-thriller “Wu Assassins”, which will premiere on Netflix in August 2019. Uwais will play the lead role of Kai Jin, a young chef in San Francisco’s Chinatown who becomes the last Wu Assassin and must save the world from supernatural forces.
Uwais is also set to star in the action-comedy film “Stuber”, which will be released in July 2019. The film follows an Uber driver who picks up a cop on a mission to catch a killer, and Uwais will play the role of the villain.
Martial Arts Style
Uwais is a practitioner of Silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art that emphasizes strikes, joint locks, and throws. Silat is known for its fluid, graceful movements and its emphasis on practical self-defense techniques.
In addition to Silat, Uwais has also trained in other martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. He incorporates elements of these styles into his fight scenes, creating a unique and dynamic fighting style that has captivated audiences around the world.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Uwais had a small role in the 2015 film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. He played the character of Razoo Qin-Fee, a member of the Kanjiklub gang who confronts Han Solo and Chewbacca on the planet Takodana.
Although Uwais’ role was brief, his martial arts skills were on full display in the fight scene. He used his Silat techniques to take down several stormtroopers and hold his own against Chewbacca.
Pronunciation
Uwais’ name is pronounced “ee-koh oo-wah-ees”. The first syllable is pronounced like the word “eek”, and the second syllable rhymes with “cow”. The third syllable is pronounced like the word “wah”, and the fourth syllable rhymes with “fleece”.
