HK: Various articles say you've trained in Shaolin Kenpo, Bjíquán, boxing, and kick boxing. Can you tell us what age you started and what motivated you? We're also interested in why you selected mostly Chinese disciplines, and if you trained in any traditionally Japanese martial arts.
TS: I think that the most important thing for martial arts is to have balance along your median line. Bjíquán makes your lower body stronger, which helps you keep your balance easily. So I started practicing that when I was 15 years old.

HK: There are many internet reports about how you started your career as a "street fighter." Our readers are very interested to know exactly how this started, where these fights were held, and anything else you might want to share about your experience fighting. Was it similar to MMA fights being held today (i.e. with rules and a referee), or was it something more underground like the movie "Fight Club"?
TS: I also fought in MMA fights, but I fought in fist fights to help my action acting. I fought in a secret underground place to really put my life on the line. I was undefeated in 35 fights. I had offers from all sides to become a professional martial artist, but I turned them all down for my action acting.

HK: It's well known that Ryuhei Kitamura "discovered" you, but we couldn't find any information on exactly how it happened. Could you please elaborate on this?
TS: 11 years ago, when I was an action actor, someone thought "Why don't we properly use Tak Sakaguchi's fighting in a film," and my relationship with Director Kitamura started. Director Kitamura liked my really violent action and martial arts techniques.

HK: A lot of fighters have a difficult time making the transition to acting, but you've done an amazing job and had incredible success right off the bat with "Versus." Did you ever have any formal acting training prior to filming "Versus"? And was acting something you wanted to do prior to meeting Kitamura?
TS: I'm a natural born fighter, so I didn't need any acting training. I have not changed at all from before I started acting.

HK: A lot of actors who try directing flop, either critically, or go so over the budget that the film fails financially. But by all accounts, "Samurai School" was a resounding success. Our readers are interested in why you wanted to make the transition to directing and where you got that sense of humor. "Samurai School" is very funny, and we're honestly surprised to see such a fun, lighthearted film from you, knowing you also wrote the screenplay.
TS: Director Yudai Yamaguchi is my best friend, and I think my sense of humor has developed through the films we've made together. My final goal is to make something which hasn't been done yet; an action comedy film that has no language barrier. If I succeed in that, I would like to buy a farm in Texas and ride horses screaming "Yeehaw!" (laughs)

HK: Everybody keeps asking us if you have plans to make a Hollywood film. Any plans?
TS: If I get any offers, I would definitely like to.

HK: Thanks Tak, we really appreciate your time.
TS: Thank you very much.