Biography

James Moontasri is a highly accomplished martial artist, stunt professional, and fight choreographer whose diverse expertise is rooted in an elite competitive career. Born on April 10, 1988, in Frankfurt, Germany, to a Korean mother and Thai father, Moontasri has been a lifelong athlete.

He first achieved prominence as a decorated competitor in Tae Kwon Do, earning the title of 2x USA National Champion and being named the 2007 USA Tae Kwon Do Male Athlete of the Year. That same year, he added a Pan American Games Silver Medal to his accolades. Moontasri subsequently transitioned to a successful career in Professional Mixed Martial Arts, where he competed as a six-fight veteran in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

His profound mastery of combat sports is demonstrated by his high-level rankings across multiple disciplines: he holds a 5th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, the title of Kru in Muay Thai, and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Following his competitive fighting career, Moontasri seamlessly transitioned into the film industry, where he has become a sought-after stunt and fight coordinator. His notable work includes serving as a martial arts trainer for Jason Statham on the films Hobbs & Shaw, Fast X, and The Beekeeper. He further expanded his role while working with Queen Latifah on CBS's The Equalizer series, evolving from trainer to Fight Coordinator, Stunt Coordinator, and actor.

In a landmark credit, Moontasri joined the film The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie. On this project, he made history as the film industry's first-ever credited Mixed Martial Arts Coordinator, while also portraying the character of Akira Shoji.
- IMDb mini biography by: James Moontasri