Reported by Kuan-Lin "Connie" Wang This month, BLT Online Magazine is featuring a working professional who is using her martial arts skills every day at work. Hollywood stuntwoman, Nancy Thurston, has doubled this past season for actress Holly Marie Combs (who plays Piper) on the hit WB series Charmed. 35' Fire Dive KLW: What show(s)/film(s) are you currently working on, or worked on in the past six (6) months? NT: Charmed, for the past 2 years, and Mad TV - I love Mad TV - it's so much fun and I worked on Angel once - I got to do a fireburn on Angel. KLW: What is your martial arts specialty? NT: I was trained in Tae Kwon Do. I took a few months back in Illinois before I moved here (California) in 1990 and then I trained with a woman named Maria Dost who's an honorary member of this group, who helped me get into this group. She was my sponsor, and owned a dojo on Venice Blvd. for about 18-20 years in Tae Kwon Do. I trained with her for awhile - more for movies stunt than traditional martial arts. I didn't go through the belts, but I have had the Tae Kwon Do and basic training. KLW: What is your ranking? NT: No national ranking. White belt. KLW: Who do you double for on Charmed? NT: The character of Piper - Holly Marie Combs. KLW: How did you first get involved with martial arts? 92' High Fall NT: I've always been interested when I was younger. When I got out of college, I just went to a Tae Kwon Do place. I was working two jobs at the time, and I went for an hour of the kids' class and an hour of the adults' class. I would go once a week, but for two hours only. It was just something I was always interested in learning. I trained there for about two or three months. After I moved out here, I got to know Maria Dost. She was the one that guided me toward movie stunts and introduced me to some of the stunt coordinators. I learned a variety of weapons, Kali sticks, nunchucks...etc. KLW: Who were your early influences/role models? Any female role models/influences? NT: In the stunt business, of course, Maria was one of them. When I got in the group, got to know the girls - Jeannie Epper who's been in the group for a long time. Her and her family are very well known... You're not a real stuntperson unless you know an Epper... I worked with her and learned from her and admire her. Not only is she a good stuntwomen and has a lot of experience, she's a good-hearted person. A couple of years ago, she gave her kidney to Ken Howard, the actor. He needed a kidney transplant and she was like, "I like to help you out." KLW: Do you think practicing martial arts help you work on CHARMED? NT: I have a more of a gymnastics and diving background and a little bit of martial arts. People that have either of those backgrounds is pretty good - Martial arts helps with flexibility and big throw-downs, like judo, and you learn how to hit the ground and roll. It does help you with other things, like doing car hits and stair falls. Having aerial awareness and control of your body - both the gymnastics and martial arts background is very helpful with stunts. You don't have to have it, but it helps. I encourage people that get into the business to take either tumbling, trampoline, or martial arts class - if they've never had any experience. It helps. KLW: How do you collaborate with the director and producers on the fight scenes? Do you choreograph it or do they just say do some kicking/punching/flipping for us to see? NT: There's usually a stunt coordinator is the one who sets it up. If it's an elaborate - sometimes on big movies they will have a stunt coordinator and fight choreographer. Depending on the scene, the stunt coordinator will perform the scene him/herself. KLW: What is it like working with the actor you double for? Are they athletically capable? Do you coach them? Have they learned from you? NT: Obviously the more they can do, and capable of doing, the better. There are things like a back handspring or a front-and-jump kick - that's what we're there for. I've always had a good experience. Kids are always fun to work with. KLW: How long have you been in Hollywood? NT: Came out in '90. I was a professional high diver while I was trying to get into the business. I have competed swimming and diving from age 5 to 20. I was a springboard diver in college. My coach knew that I wanted to get into stunts after graduation. He told me that he used to work for high diving company called the U.S. High Diving Team in California. And he would try to introduce me to a guy name Bob Brown. I became Taft-Hartley-ed into the union in '92. It was my stepping stone - high-diving. KLW: What was your first job? NT: My first job was on a movie called Knights (1993, with Kathy Long, the 5-time world champion kickboxer. Extreme martial artist. I doubled her. It's funny. A lot of people were saying: "She's a martial artist, why would she need a double?" Well, she was extremely talented at that and a very strong woman. But tumbling, lighting yourself on fire? You have to know how to do safely. It was a lot of fun. KLW: Do you think martial arts helps young women? Is there any discrimination at dojos against teaching women? If so, in what way? NT: I haven't seen it (discrimination) these days. One thing that I encourage, for every woman, if she doesn't already take a full martial arts class, is to take a self-defense class. No matter how old are you are, take one for your own protection. It's a smart thing to do. Check out the different styles. Learn at least the basics. KLW: What advice do you have for young women who wants to learn martial arts or become a stuntwoman? NT: Other than the self-defense class, I recommend taking a tumbling class. Sample different classes. Research the different types of martial arts. When I started, I only knew of tae kwon do. I recommend a little bit of gymnastics, and a little bit of martial arts. The girls on Buffy uses both of that. I'm a little stronger in the gymnastics part. Having that aerial awareness is very helpful. KLW: Who is your favorite martial artist? NT: I love watching Jackie Chan. I used to watch Bruce Lee growing up. Then it was Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan, to me, is like Bruce Lee and the Three Stooges. He has got the talent with the comedy mixed in. He is so entertaining to watch. He is so creative. KLW: What is your worst injury as a result of a stunt/fight? NT: I've whacked my leg pretty hard. Only once I've been out on injury in twelve years. I was out for six weeks when I injured my knee. I consider staying in shape a part of my job. Because one, if you're in shape, you won't get hurt as easy, and two, you'll heal quicker when you are in shape. KLW: What is your most difficult/dangerous stunt? NT: Car hits or high falls. I've done a couple of 92-, 93-foot-high falls. I did a car hit a couple of years ago on Nash Bridges. I was doubling for an actress. In the scene, she's a counselor with a boy, and the bad guys are trying to run the boy over. The car came up, the boy jumped out of the way, and the lady got hit with the car kept going. I had to hit the windshield, flip over the whole car with the car moving. KLW: How do you keep in shape? What does your weekly regimen look like? NT: I've been doing more aerobics stuff this year. I used to do a lot of heavy weights, in college while I was competing. Out of college, I had friends that did bodybuilding, so they got me into free weights. I started to bulk up a bit. My dad looked at me one time, and said: "Oh my God, I have a son." And he has three daughters. I still do some weights, but not heavy. I don't want to bulk up, just stay toned. I also do bikes, elliptical machines and rollerblade. I try to work out four times a week, but I don't have a set schedule (due to my job).

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