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How Robert Alonzo taught Robert Pattinson Filipino martial arts in 'The Batman'

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Yong Chavez | TFC News Hollywood

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mlUEcbLGv88?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>For &#x27;The Batman,&#x27; Robert Alonzo taught Robert Pattinson Filipino martial arts and other moves from Southeast Asian fighting styles.</p><p>&quot;I did train Rob in closer range martial arts styles, which includes obviously, Filipino Martial Arts, eskrima, kali, arnis. And I also put in some pencak silat drills and and a lot of Southeast Asian styles like Muay Thai and obviously some boxing, some kickboxing, but a lot of it was to really primarily increase his spatial awareness in much closer proximity of engagement, as opposed to a different style,&quot; Alonzo noted.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Robert Alonzo in the behind the scenes look for " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tfc/03/16/20220316_robert-alonzo-deadpool.jpg"/><figcaption>Robert Alonzo in the behind the scenes look for &#x27;Deadpool&#x27;</figcaption></figure></div><p>Pattinson described Alonzo as an &#x27;incredible teacher&#x27; and &#x27;great choreographer.&#x27; He explained the technique that the Fil-Am martial artist instilled in him that significantly helped him in his performance.</p><p>&quot;I haven&#x27;t done martial arts since I was about 11. I&#x27;ve done boxing and stuff, but nothing really with weapons or any of this kind of stuff. And so I did a crash course. I finished Tenet, and then came to London and started working with Rob (Alonzo) for about three months, and we do kind of six hours a day, but he does this really interesting technique where he doesn&#x27;t really teach you the choreography that&#x27;s specific to the scene until right before the scene. He just teaches you the real martial art. And so you&#x27;re so familiar with a lot of the kind of basic moves that it feels like you&#x27;re really doing it by the time you get to the fight,&quot; Pattinson said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Robert Alonzo in the behind the scenes look for " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tfc/03/16/20220316_robert-alonzo-oblivion.jpg"/><figcaption>Robert Alonzo in the behind the scenes look for &#x27;Oblivion&#x27;</figcaption></figure></div><p>Alonzo entered the film and TV industry as a stunt performer in the &#x27;90s. He&#x27;s currently one of its most in-demand supervising stunt coordinators and second-unit directors. His long list of credits includes other box-office hits &#x27;Deadpool&#x27; and &#x27;Avengers: Age of Ultron.&#x27;</p><p>Alonzo said incorporating Filipino martial arts in his projects is second nature to him. &quot;I always try to put in something on any movies that I work on because I think it&#x27;s one of the most well-rounded styles of them all primarily because look at all the eskrimadors in the Philippines who are 80 to 90 years old. They&#x27;re still very hard to take down.&quot;</p><p>Alonzo added that &quot;we&#x27;re some of the fiercest warriors this planet has ever seen, as Filipinos. However, we&#x27;re also some of the most kindhearted as well. We are natural-born fighters, but we&#x27;re also natural entertainers.&quot;</p><p>For &#x27;The Batman,&#x27; Alonzo said that following director Matt Reeves&#x27; realistic and film noir approach without the usual superhero-movie-over-reliance to visual effects was challenging but ultimately rewarding, as their hard work paid off and the film continues to receive critical acclaim and box-office success.</p>

To play The Batman, Robert Pattinson learned Filipino martial arts and other Southeast Asian fighting techniques from Fil-Am supervising stunt coordinator and second-unit director, Robert Alonzo.