RYAN PHILLIPPE - PHILLIPPE TAUGHT TO FIGHT AS A CHILD

RYAN PHILLIPPE was forced to learn how to fight at a young age in order to defend himself growing up in a tough neighbourhood. The FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS star grew up in a rough part of Delaware and earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He explains, "I started when I was eight years old. I was small for my age, I used to get beat up and I lived in a rough neighbourhood and my parents thought it would be a good idea for me to learn how to defend myself. "I did it until I was 18 and won tournaments and stuff. THE KARATE KID was part of the motivation. I think Karate enrolments went up probably like 90 per cent when that movie came out." The star admits he hasn't had the chance to use his experience to defend himself in real life. He adds, "You know, I've spent a lot of time being a dad and making movies, so there's not a whole lot of occasion to fight!"