Arms Quote by Chad Stahelski
“With John Wick we wanted to do something like that. So rather than punching, kicks - and for the kind of way we wanted to shoot it, which is longer takes - our initial instinct was let's go with a throwing or grappling arm.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing John Wick film techniques, 2014
The creators chose a grappling arm to emphasize fluid, longer‑range combat over simple punches.
In simple terms: They used a grappling arm for dynamic action.
Key Takeaway
Explore innovative fight choreography.
Themes
creativity
cinema
action design
Mood
analytical
excited
Type
cinematic
technical
When to use this quote
- film direction
- martial arts training
- video game design
Key Concepts
kinematics
visual storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does weapon choice affect storytelling?
- What balances realism and spectacle?
A Different Perspective
It may complicate practical execution.
![“Laurence [Fishburn] helped redo some of the dialogue [in John Wick 2], he and Keanu [Reeves] workshopped it. And he couldn't have been more respectful couldn't have been more brilliant on set. I said, "look, I'm gonna have to work you a little bit here cause I only get you for three days." He…” quote by Chad Stahelski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1d2/chad-stahelski-32714_always-working_laurence-fishburn-helped-redo-some-of-th_2598113.jpg)
![“When I first met Laurence I was Keanu's [Reeves] stunt double on the first Matrix. So, a little evolution there with career status. But then cut to the thirteen/fourteen years later where now I'm asking Laurence Fishburne to trust my directorial capacity [in John Wick 2].” quote by Chad Stahelski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5c/chad-stahelski-32714_asking_when-i-first-met-laurence-i-was-keanu-s_2472077.jpg)
![“We're under Rigan Machado, who I think is one of the best jiu jitsu instructors at least in Los Angeles, if not in the world. We have a lot of his instructors here, as well as Japanese jiu jitsu, Japanese judo, and sambo. That was Keanu's [Reeves] recipe [in John Wick 2].” quote by Chad Stahelski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/082/chad-stahelski-32714_ifs_we-re-under-rigan-machado-who-i-think-is_2036150.jpg)
![“Keanu and I were in New York, I was prepping John Wick 2. And when Keanu [Reeves], [writer] Derek Kolstad, and myself sat down and wrote the character, it was completely, one hundred percent based on Laurence Fishburne. Like, in my head I saw this guy.” quote by Chad Stahelski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/429/chad-stahelski-32714_character_keanu-and-i-were-in-new-york-i-was-prepp_1942045.jpg)
![“For the gun work, I had more of the basic training from the previous [movie John Wick] and the weapon work I have done in the past. In the second movie [John Wick 2], it really went on into another level. I've done the three gun training, where you worked with the pistol, rifle and shotgun. So…” quote by Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5fc/keanu-reeves-2935_basic-training_for-the-gun-work-i-had-more-of-the-basic_1000083.jpg)
![“I did do some things different [in John Wick 2], but it's different on basically the same things. Because I have the background from the first film, it was really the first time I was doing judo and jiu-jitsu.” quote by Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6f3/keanu-reeves-2935_backgrounds_i-did-do-some-things-different-in-john-w_1192315.jpg)
![“I loved the role [of John Wick]. I loved the action. I loved all the new characters. The world expands into the Underworld. It's getting bigger. Yeah, it was a really great experience [in John Wick 2].” quote by Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e00/keanu-reeves-2935_action_i-loved-the-role-of-john-wick-i-loved-th_987680.jpg)
![“I spent a lot of time with both [Laurence Fishburn and Keanu Reeves], obviously, on the Matrix trilogy. Worked a lot, on a day-to-day level, with Laurence Fishburne. And then we'd bumped into each other through the film community for years and years.” quote by Chad Stahelski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ccd/chad-stahelski-32714_community_i-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-both-laurence_1194792.jpg)
