130 – Lessons in Getting Back Up: Hollywood Stunts, Martial Arts, and Defying Disabilities
- 130 - Lessons in Getting Back Up: Hollywood Stunts, Martial Arts, and Defying Disabilities 32:14
How do you keep getting back up when life knocks you down? For Kenneth Hill Sr., a Hollywood stuntman, and his son Kenneth Jr., a martial arts master with a disability, that question defines their lives. This father-son duo shares stories of grit, determination, and the power of resilience. Listen in for powerful life lessons that prove no challenge is too big to overcome.
“Life knocks you down, but you get back up, and that’s what makes you stronger.” – Kenneth Hill Sr.
“No matter how many people are against you, you stand your ground for what you believe in.” – Kenneth Hill Jr.
In this powerful episode, host Catryn Becker chats with Kenneth Hill Sr., a seasoned Hollywood stuntman, and his son Kenneth Jr., a martial arts master who defied a debilitating medical diagnosis. Kenneth Sr. shares his inspiring journey into stunt work, a career driven by his childhood love for Westerns, and the dangerous, yet thrilling experiences he encountered in films like The Italian Job and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Despite the physical risks, he continued to chase his passion and remained undeterred by naysayers.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Jr.’s story of resilience centers on his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary neuropathy that doctors warned would leave him in a wheelchair by age 35. Ignoring these grim predictions, Kenneth Jr. pursued his love for martial arts, earning five black belts and proving that with determination, anything is possible. Through martial arts, he learned not only discipline but also the importance of humor, self-acceptance, and celebrating the journey rather than just the destination.
This episode dives deep into the themes of resilience, persistence, and the power of making a choice to rise above challenges. Whether through high-flying stunts or mastering the art of self-defense, the Hills exemplify what it means to defy the odds and never give up.
Connect with Catryn Becker
- Website: https://optimizewe.com
- Email: Catryn@OptimizeWe.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catrynbecker/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheGoodBadAndUglyOfBusiness?si=2KYT_qpi6eOwEOQT
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relax_with_catryn
Connect with Kenneth Hill Sr and Kenneth Hill Jr
- Website: https://www.differentpathmartialarts.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005963259316&mibextid=ZbWKwl
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kenneth-hill-jr-3537026a
About Catryn Becker
Catryn Becker is a keynote speaker, international best-selling author, two-time Guinness World Record holder, and respected podcast host. As the founder of Optimize We, Catryn Becker oversees the design and implementation of comprehensive wellness programs for successful women and their teams.
Catryn challenges limiting stereotypes and encourages a re-evaluation of societal norms. Normal means average, and her clients are anything but average! She believes in thinking differently and empowering others to do the same. A key concept she champions is “pregret”—the idea that failing to learn from past regrets keeps us stuck in the present and prevents us from achieving our future potential. Through her holistic approach, which integrates cosmic elements and business strategies, Catryn has guided her clients from heartbreak to marriage, loneliness to family, scarcity to prosperity, and disease to freedom.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, a Master of Science in Environmental Systems Management from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA in Strategy and Innovation from SDA Bocconi School of Management. Catryn has certifications in Life Coaching, Aromatherapy, Feng Shui, and Digital Marketing.
About Kenneth Hill Sr
Mr. Kenneth Hill, Sr. began his career as a township police officer in January of 1967. During his 25-year career, he began his second career as an actor and stuntman. He has appeared in the movies DieHard with a Vengeance and The Italian Job as a stunt driver. His credits also include popular television shows such as Law & Order, NY Undercover, and Magnum, P.I.
In May of 1978, he was inducted into the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame. He received another induction from The Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in June of 2022 followed by a Grandmaster Cynthia Rothrock Hall of Honor Martial Arts Spirit Award. Since June of 1995, he has been working as a stunt performer at Wild West City in Stanhope, NJ. His duties include reenactments of Western movie scenes, shootouts, and horseback riding.
He is patiently waiting to start working on his first Western film.
About Kenneth Hill Jr
Master Kenneth Hill, Jr., has grown from a bullied childhood, suicide attempts, and a diagnosis of Charcot Marie Tooth disease to a multiple-time (16) martial arts Hall of Fame inductee with five black belts across the Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, and Tang Soo Do disciplines. In 1973, Master Ken got his inspiration from the classic Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon, meaning he has journeyed across fifty-plus years to master his craft. Master Ken is honored to be the gifted mentor of special needs and disabled children in his quest for mastery. His lifelong dedication to and engagement in the martial arts community cannot be overstated. Master Ken continues to inspire and influence practitioners, special needs community members, and disabled participants worldwide.
