Episode 702 - Walter Jones

Walter Jones is a Martial Arts practitioner and played the Black Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers TV series.

What Martial Arts taught me was not to fight. It taught me the ability to walk away and to stand strong and be like: I’m not afraid of you, so what are you gonna do? And if you strike first, now I have the permission to kick your butt.

Walter Jones - Episode 702

Being bullied is one of the top reasons why kids get into Martial Arts. Our guest today, Walter Jones, is not any different. Little did he know, training in Martial Arts would not only enable him to defend himself but eventually help him become the original Black Ranger from the Mighty Morphin’ Power rangers.

In this episode, Walter Jones talks about Martial arts on television as well as Martial arts as a form of self obedience and self-confidence. Listen to learn more!

Show Notes

Check out and follow Walter Jones on Instagram

Show Transcript

You can read the transcript below.

Jeremy Lesniak:

What’s happening everybody and everyone. Welcome this is whistlekick Martial Arts Radio episode 702. Whatever it is, my guest today is Walter Jones. Stick around. I'm Jeremy Lesniak. I'm your host here for the show founder of whistlekick, where everything we do is in support of the traditional martial arts. You want to check out everything that we're doing to that end, check out whistlekick.com, and our online home. It's also the easiest place to find our products. Yeah, the stuff that we make, and you're probably gonna find something in there that you like. So head on over. And don't forget, when you check out, use the code PODCAST15, that'll save you 15% on anything we have there.

Now, if you want to go deeper on this episode of the show, or check out the other episodes, go to whistlekickmartialartsradio.com, you'll see new episodes of the show twice a week, and the whole purpose of everything we do. Well, it's to connect, educate and entertain traditional martial artists throughout the world. If you want to support that work, there are lots of ways you can help out. You could make a purchase, it'd be to tell a friend about us or join the Patreon. If you think these new shows are worth 63 cents apiece, not to mention all the old episodes you get, consider supporting us at $5 a month by visiting patreon.com/whistlekick and you can sign up if you do you're gonna get access to more exclusive content, bonus merch, all kinds of cool stuff. We're in there every single week, dropping new stuff for you. And if you want the full list of all the ways you can help us out, as well as a constantly shifting mix of stuff behind the scenes, photos, cool stuff like that. Check out whistle kick.com/failing You're gonna have to type it in no links, but it'll be worth your time. 

Now all of you may not know today's guest by name, but you absolutely know him by character. Walter Jones is the original Black Ranger from Power Rangers. We met at Rhode Island Comic Con and hit it off. What a great guy. And here we are talking now. And it was a fun conversation. We talked about how martial arts really did set him on a path that includes not only power rangers, but so much other stuff. And I think you're gonna dig it. So stick around. I'll see you at the outro Walter Jones Welcome to whistlekick Martial Arts Radio.

Walter Jones:

Hey, hey, what's up, man? How are you doing? Good.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I'm good. I'm glad we're getting to do this. I had a fun time talking to you at Comic Con. I've been looking forward to this one.

Walter Jones:

Yes, I've been at the Comic Cons beating the fan sign autographs and inspiring young people to be the best that can be. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

Do you like doing this? 

Walter Jones:

I love it. I love the responsibility. I love the fact that you know I have been blessed with this opportunity to inspire minds and make people want to be creative and good hearted. Yeah. Makes a difference. You know, the diets in the world.

Jeremy Lesniak:

We definitely need more of that in the world. Is it difficult to be? I would call it on for several days in a row and an event like that.

Walter Jones:

Is it difficult? I won't say that it's difficult, but it's work. It's definitely my responsibility. I feel like there are three generations of fans at this point. The shows coming to our 30th year anniversary, Mighty Power Rangers and because of that there are people that have been waiting their whole life to meet me so when they meet me I want them to get the best part of me. I don't want them to get Walter Jones is tired and is like hey man, you know wow, you don't you have a long day. I'm not trying to give them that I want to give them the energy that they that they they've thought about the whole time they're like man I would love to be Walter Jones and I would love to see him at his best and like feel his energy and so I I turn on and I give out that energy because that is that is the gift that I want to give them so when they walk away they feel like I feel satisfied. I met him and he was everything I thought it was gonna be because that is definitely who I am but you know we are often on days where it's not the best day you know, I got a cold. I'm not feeling well. I had a death in the family. My girlfriend's on my nerves, you know these things happen. And it's just part of being a human being but when I'm there and I'm actively trying to give my fans and the people that I meet a memory to walk away from, that is going to be pleasant. So, in that sense, I'm on and I'm working. 

And then when I'm done, it's funny, because the last part of the show, the very last part, shows that five minutes after I'm done, when I decide, okay, I'm in a day, and I'm packing up, that is the worst time to approach me. Because at that point, I get a little more, I could become impatient, because I'm like, okay, I've been here all day, I want you to come see me. And that eight hour window, then I was here, but now you come in and see me, right? When I'm sitting down, and I've kind of turned off that on button, then I'm not as you don't get the walker, that is the happy one that I want to give you. You know, it's like, I'm still nice, don't get me wrong, I'm just not as patient a little more like, ah, okay, so really, I was here all day, you know, they're a little more like the father, Walter, I listened, son, I need you to be on top of your game, you know, that kind of thing. You got to show up on time. Yeah, so one time, you know, you have a responsibility to be able to do your thing, and, you know, be a good person, let's go.

Jeremy Lesniak:

The word you used a few times, and there was responsibility, I find that when someone is gravitating towards a certain word, it usually means something to them. So what does responsibility mean to you? 

Walter Jones:

Well, responsibility in general is, is being aware of what you create, and taking responsibility while taking accountability for it for that you have a responsibility to, to shine to shine a light, you know, and, and to let other people be in that light. Otherwise, what you give out is something that's, that's negative and, and if you do that, then you have the responsibility of dealing with that, what that is, you know, because if it's something you created, then you gotta take accountability for it. 

That's how I feel it's just like, kind of the yin and the yang of the world, you know, what you give out, you get back kind of thing. So I feel and then as a role model, I mean, the show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers went from being this quirky, weird, strange show, to the number one hit show, number one kids show in the world. Yeah, it's in 40 countries in probably 90 languages. And that and becoming a role model, I feel a need to want to represent myself as the best possible person, so that I can inspire other people to be the best possible person. 

You know, again, like I said, I mean, we all have our days, our ups and down days, and I am not 100% Golden, but you know, in general, I am, I got a good heart, I want to be a good person, I want to make other people happy, I want to help the world be a better place. And I want other people to want the same as me, because and doing that, it actually becomes a better world.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Where did that come from? Was that something instilled by your parents?

Walter Jones:

Well, I think so my family, my mom taught me, you know, to be a very loving person. And to be, you know, to treat people the way I want to be treated. And that was one of the things. Hey, you treat people the way you want to be treated. It also comes from religion, I grew up in a Christian household, with a Christian family, every Sunday we'd have, we'd go to church, and then we'd go back to my grandmother's house, and we'd have a big family dinner, and all the kids were play, and it was like, so that was part of my upbringing. And the, you know, the Christian faith in itself is, is a belief system of, you know, trying to be as godlike as you can be, you know, we are not gods. We're made in God's image. And we are meant to try to be as close to God as we can be. That's the philosophy that even if you're not religious, you can take us, it's still the same thing. 

It's just like, you know, being, being the best that you can be in your life, you know, to make your life a life that's positive, and that's pleasing to other people. So that, you know, if you come back in another life, that you'll have a better life or just, you know, if you throw a rock in the water and it creates ripples, you know, and the world if you consider that to be the world. Do I figure, you know, those ripples that I make? The more positive they are? The more positive I get back. So it's, I don't know, that's my philosophy, just like, what you give out, you get back. And that's not necessarily the case for all people, because there's a lot of buttheads out there, are doing quite well, you know, themselves. But you don't know. Everybody gets there. I mean, there's karma. I think it's a karmic thing, you know.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Get back what you put out.  Yeah, it was put out, incorporated into pretty much every major philosophical system, whether it's, you know, a religion or not, you know, this idea of balance and, and having not having to be but the benefits of being a good, positive person. Right. And, you know, we find that philosophy incorporated into martial arts a little more subtle, you know, if you and I are training together, and I'm a jerk, and I'm, you know, punching you in the face or hitting you harder than I need to, that's affects my training in the way that you're going to show up for me and everything. 

Walter Jones:

Exactly. That's because maybe that next throw is gonna be a little harder than he wanted it to be.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Most of us have had that experience, you know, yeah. I mean, we slipped and paid the price for it, or vice versa.

Walter Jones:

You know, and I think martial art gives you a healthy respect for that, too. I mean, like, it started in church. And then martial arts, when I started taking martial arts, I gained self respect. Throughout that, because it was like, yeah, you know, when I was young, and I started training, it wasn't about being conscious of other people and trying not to hurt them. You know, it's like, it wasn't about, okay, this is the way we were taught, we were trained. Look, these are things that you can do, that can really seriously hurt someone. But the idea is that you're not here to hurt anyone, you're here to defend yourself, if needed, if needed. That means you don't have to fight. You can walk away, you can walk away. And if they force you to fight, well, then they earned the butt kicking, they got coming. They earned it, you know, they really want this ballclub. It's funny because I was studying martial arts and I studied Isshin-ryū when I was a kid, my cousin was a brown belt. And studying Isshin-ryū, I was really good at it. It was like coming home with these trophies, and so forth and so on. 

And I was in a single family household, and I guess my mom couldn't really afford it. And then he was trying to get me there. But my aunt was like, we'll pick them up and take them with us. So my mom got me into martial arts, I think I was actually, I think I was bullied in school one time. And that's what motivated her. And even then, I had the presence of mind to figure out that I didn't have to fight. There was a way to get beyond the situation without fighting. So I think I recall, I was in elementary school and two boys came up and they were like, we were in the lunch line. And they're like, give me your lunch ticket. And I'm like, I'm like you, my lunch ticket. Give me your lunch ticket, your ticket, or we're gonna kick your butt in the playground after lunch. Like, well, I guess we're gonna be fighting because I'm gonna give me my lunch tickets. So there I was, so they stayed in line behind me. I got my lunch, they followed me to the table. They sat down next to me. And one of the boys goes to reach into my plate, and I spit all over my food. Now he's mad. Oh, yeah, we're gonna kick your butt when we get outside. He was like, You should have let me just have no love, nah, man, I'm hungry. I gotta, I gotta eat. This is my lunch ticket.  If you’re hungry, you should add, Jones. And I was like, you know, whatever. So then we're gonna kick your butt. When we get outside, it's too big for guys who are bigger than me. I was. I was always small as a child. I didn't get into like, 10th grade, but like, even in ninth grade, I was a wrestler, the 90 pounder. And I was like, 4’11. 

So, I was small. I was always cute. I hated that. Didn't want to be cute. Even today, I'm like, don't call me cute. I'm sexy. Give me both. I'm handsome. And I'm sexy. Let it be No. All right. Let me put that down. There you go. So sexy. No, not too. So anyway, these boys were like we're gonna kick your butt we get on the playground. I'm like, alright, well, you know we're gonna we're gonna tussle is okay, you know, and they're like, You must be scared. I'm like, nope. So we walked out the door. And I'm scared because I don't know what I would do with these two bigger boys. I don't know what I'm gonna do. And I'm like, I see a basketball hoop. But it's like the old school basketball hoop has two poles that go up and make a pee and then the backboard sits on that right but the backboard is missing because at this school you know the backboard has been torn down. And it's just the two poles that look like peas. So I see the pole, I run towards you, I climb up the pole, because I'm a good climber. I come up the pole and I get to the top and I'm sitting in the peak, when I'm looking down at them, they're like, How'd you get up there so fast, and like, a client will come down here, we're gonna kick your buzzer, you want to kick my buddy got to come up here. And they're like, oh, I'm gonna come, I'm gonna come up there. 

So they're trying to climb, and then climb up like two or three, like, maybe a foot or two, and then slide back down, we're getting tired. And they're, they're trying, I'm like, looking at him going, you're not a climb. What's wrong with common is easy to use your feet, I'm giving them direction. And they're trying to get up and they can't get up. And I'm like, Man, I come down and show you how to get up here. I help them get up the pole, they get up the pole, it becomes more of a thing about the pole, then they don't take my lunch. And they, I had something to teach them. So I taught them how to climb the pole, and they got up on top of the pole. And then they had to figure out how to get out and I left. Because later they never bothered me again. But that was the way I handled that situation. Well, when I got home I told my mom about how I handled these two bullies that were trying to take my lunch. I think maybe she was thinking they're going to be back again. Tomorrow, I need to teach my son how to fight. I grew up in Detroit, predominately, you know, black city, kind of a rough city and down it was the murder capital of the world. So I was a little boy. And you know, she was a single mom and trying to figure out how to help my son navigate through the things he's going to encounter in this world. So she thinks she decided to put me in martial arts. So get in martial arts, here I am. And my karate instructor Mr. Walker, he's about as you know, definitely a grown man, you want to respect black belts. And, you know, I've not seen a man like this before in my life, because he's tough too. And he's teaching us kicks and punches and giving us proper technique, and so forth. So I definitely have my complete respect. 

And then I have my cousin in class who's a brown belt and, you know, quick and fast and, you know, probably one of the best fighters at that school. So I'm inspired by him as well. And, we start, you know, start training. So we start off our training with kicks and punches and learning cars, and so forth and so on. And then we start doing training where we start sparring against each other. And, there's girls in his class as well. And the girls, the girls don't wear cups, but the boys do. But the boys don't always get cups right away, because you didn't know you needed a cup. You needed a cup. I mean, I never needed a cup before. But after a cup now, like eventually, I would spar and I remember I had this sparring mate girl named Sheila and Sheila had been in this karate class for a longer time for me, and was quite comfortable and understanding the whole sparring situation. And when we would spar, we're supposed to spark a six inches, so you're not supposed to touch he's supposed to, you know, point spark. So, you know, you stay six inches away from the target. But if you get close and you get it, sometimes you make you connect. Sometimes it happens, but we, you know, we try to get away anyway. I'm sparring with Sheila. And she knows she's not supposed to kick me in the groin, but it shouldn't ruin the martial art that actually is focused on kicking in the groin. And it's like, that's one of our favorite techniques, just like wow, that's you and, and said, you know, you could do taekwondo, you got high kicks, expect a guy to go for your cup, your if you're not willing to cup your groin. 

And well, you know, I was learning these high kicks, and I do high kicks and she got me and I went to the floor, it was like, whoa, okay. But then we had to keep flooring. So she threw a high kick. And she caught one. And she went to the floor, it was like, got up and it was like, I felt a little bit like, Oh, I love what you put in the world. That's what you get back. But, you know, I was I used to kick in girls, but she was a bigger girl than me and, and she had this temper where she her cheeks just started pulling up with air and she was like, and she had the scowl she was going to get me now she was going to hurt me for sure. And I had to learn to deal with the fear of this woman that was going to come at me with this rage now and and you know, it kind of made my mind focus, the fear of being hurt. May my mind focus on how to evade and how to block and how to check myself. So all the things that I was learning really kind of came into play because now I had to be quick in and out and she was trying to get me but I'm not gonna let her get me again. So I'm like blocking and staying away and I'm, I gotta get this point, like, make it stop. So, you know, eventually I started winning these sparring matches with these people that were bigger and taller than me and I got faster and I got more skillful. And then I started competing at tournaments, and I was winning my kados. And I had to compete. And Michigan State Champion championship. And it was probably the biggest tournament I've been in. And by this point, I had gone through my belt, so I was now a green belt, I believe. And, I was fighting against other people that were black belts, and so forth, and so on. And I again, I'm sorry, I'm super small, so sparring against these other people. Some of them were my family. I had this fight against my cousin, not my cousin, who was the bigger boat and bigger guy than me. But my younger cousin, who was about the same age as me, but also had been studying martial arts for a much longer time than me. But we ended up going through the rankings, and we had to fight each other, which is weird. But we did it and, and I kept winning. 

And eventually, I had to fight. The main guy, the big guy, he was a taekwondo guy, and who was much taller than me, high kicks that were amazing, like, super fast, strong. And it kind of felt like for me, it felt like the Karate Kid movie, because here I am going against this guy. And it's like, I made a good ranking somehow fast and quick. And, I think that was my thing. I had speed and point sparring, you know, it wasn't about knocking him down or knocking them down. It was about you know, getting in the position, catching, you know, you know, like, that was six inches from your nose, or that was like a top to the neck or, you know, actually kicked you in the ribs. But you know, it's like, kind of thing. But this kid was so good. And during my sparring matches, I was fine. And I will go and watch him. And he would take people out like that. He was so quick, his kicks were strong. He was like, he was really nice. He was hurting people. And a lot of them were kicked to the base. So we had a fight for the championship. And this is the first time I've ever been in this place. Fighting for a championship. And this guy's so quick, I just remember, we start sparring. And I forget, I think I think he kicked me to the ribs. And he got me pretty good. And he got the first point. So then he threw one of those high kicks with a confident face. I caught America, right? So I got a play. So now I'm like, oh, they gave it to you. We said they gave it to me. And I don't think I kicked them completely in the cup. I was like, and at this point, this is later on. We're all aware that it happened. So everybody's wearing a cup. It's not like, nobody's coming to the tournament not waiting to cut. That's everybody's, we're ready. And sometimes that cup. You know, and that happens, you know, you know, we're not supposed to connect. But if we do, that was a point. 

Sometimes you get kicked in the face, you're not meant to, because we're trying to, we're trying to, you know, keep it. We're trying to play spar. But you know, when you get people washing in on each other's momentum, everything happens. It's like you just kind of sometimes happens. It just happens. So we go head to head, this guy, I think he catches up with another kick. So you got two points that are one. And he's just so quick. I can't get in on him. And he's long. He's taller than me. I'm like, I die. I'm trying to get on inside. I can't figure out what to do. And so, you know, he's rushing on me. I'm baiting them. But I back up and take about three steps. And I decided I'm going to do a running, flying jump psychic, which was my specialty because I could jump high. People never can expect that I would jump and fly because I hope it's tiny, but I can jump up in the air. So I went back. And you know, I find a moment when I am running I do a jump flying psychic. And I get him in the chest and he's like, he's going away. You didn't expect that I was gonna be able to jump that high. One, two. I caught him and now he's mad. He's given me the same face the girl gave me. You know, he's like, he's looking at me like, oh, I want to hurt you. And I'm fair. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

How old are you at this time?

Walter Jones:

I'm maybe 10 or 11. I’m 11 and I'm in fear like this guy's really going to try to hurt me. Oh my god. And so I decided I wanted to try to jump flying psychic again. Now he sees that will come a mile away and try to go off to do it, he hits my leg, I hit the ground, spin almost fall, and he attacks but I get away. And I'm like, Okay, I tried a few other things. I think at this point we're like two and two points is, it's a final point. And I don't know what to do. I'm just trying to figure out what to do. And I want him to go do a jump find sidekick again, knowing that he's gonna block me the same way you did before. But instead of doing a kick, I thought I would chop the neck. I get the point. And I want so I became the Michigan state champion, probably my proudest moment as a child because I I overcame adversity like it was like I, I fought people, I thought I would never win again, since one it gave me a lot of competence. And it also taught me that my fear was okay. It was okay to be afraid. But when I needed to, I needed to focus and figure it out. 

You know, that was part of the process. And, after that my mom wasn't afraid of me being bullied so much anymore, because she's like, oh, I guess he can handle himself. And it's funny, because I bet the kids in the neighborhood would see me come home and do my karate and be like, oh, yeah, you're taking karate. You're, you know, you got to fight. It was an invitation. Oh, I want to see what you can do. Because like, you know, we watch Bruce Lee movies, we watch these karate movies. And we would play. And you know, it's just, you know, rite of passage, just like, you know, your, your tests each other out, and they would see how tough you are. So, you know, where you stand. And there were some kids that just didn't get it, though. They were I mean, they really wanted to fight like, you know, it was beyond wrestling. Anyway, this was all wrestling, right? I don't care how big you are, this week, a wrestle. And I was pretty good at it. So, you know, we weren't trying to hurt each other. We weren't trying to break each other's bones or cause blood or anything like that. But there were a couple of kids in my neighborhood that were just crazy, or that they just wanted to fight. And I'm like, oh, and I was what martial arts taught me was not to fight. It taught me the ability to walk away, taught me the ability to stand strong and be like, I'm not afraid of you. 

So what are you going to do? And if you strike first, now I have permission to kick your butt. Because I'm not supposed to strike first. You know, I've been taught things that, you know, that show me how to hurt a person and a striker too and it could really hurt you. So I don't want to cause that kind of damage. I want to just, I want to just walk away so we can agree to disagree. And no. It taught me that philosophy taught me to be able to stand my ground towards anybody and be like, hey, look, man is okay. Right? But I'm not scared. You know, like, I'm not scared. You're not going to run. I'm not gonna run. If you want to fight, hit me. Because I can't hit you first. I'm not gonna say because I can't you first but I'm like, it me. That invitation throws a lot of people off. They're like, what? Wait, you just want to be scared. You're, what do you mean? Hit? You know, I mean, you're gonna do something and do it. Oh, but I don't have to wait for it. I'm not gonna give you 15/20 minutes to figure out when to hit me. I'm not going to argue. I'm going to say Alright, well hidden. Oh, you're not going to hit me? Well, I'm done. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

You didn't do it? Where did that confidence come from? You know, because you said it yourself that you were still afraid. 

Walter Jones:

I was still afraid but the process of going through adversity and dealing with being put in a situation in a controlled situation. Karate tournaments, karate class, sparring. I mean, we have this thing we did call it a California rush, where the instructor will put you in the middle of the class, and then it seems like six people in at you all at one time. And so you just had to like you were bobbing and weaving and tucking and kicking and moving and like it was like a thing. And, you know, in the karate class, we were all working together, so nobody's really trying to hurt you. But they're trying to get you. It's like, you know, they're trying to knock you down, move you in or kick you like, mess you up. And it is that training that being in that circumstance you learn to see different things. And a time that slows down just like you see coming. That guy is rushing by step to the side. I can catch him with a sidekick or I can cancel with a punch. This guy's coming on out. The side behind me I'm looking everywhere. I like seeing things as they come in and timing out when it's going to when the impact is going to happen and how to evade it, or block it or whatever or attack it before it gets here to stop it before it even happens. Like that mechanism helped me to be more confident that if I did get caught, I've been kicked before. I've been pushed before I got through that, you know, I am resilient. 

And so I think in Detroit, my fear was, it wasn't just fighting, it was like bottles, glass and pipes, knives and guns. And, you know, like, is it going to escalate to, you know, to death, you know, it's scary. So, the option is to walk away, don't fight. But don't be apart because you're a punk, meaning, if you're scared, if you are, if you don't stand up for yourself, then it's an invitation for bullies to keep coming at you. It's like, it just is like, well, if I don't stand up for myself, they're never going to have any respect for me. And if they don't respect me, then they look at me as nothing. And they'll treat me as nothing. And then they'll make everybody around them. Treat me as nothing like a look, a person you could walk over, and they won't do anything. I mean, I'm not saying that you have to fight anyone. I'm saying you have to stand up for yourself. You have to say stop it or no, or fine. What? All right, forget it. I mean, there were so many times where I was put in a situation where there was going to be a fight, where I just said, you know, what, what are you gonna do? Are you gonna do nothing and fine, I walk away. Whatever, I gave you a chance as a walk away, I get your chance you do not get it, man. Whatever. Sorry, it's over now.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Because you're obviously not, you know, the easy target that they thought you were going to be likely to be because you were smaller.

Walter Jones:

Right? You stood up for yourself. There. But when I still went when they went when they looked at me, they went. He's supposed to be scared. But he's not scared. That's weird.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Because it makes them wonder what does he know about him that I don't know about him?

Walter Jones:

Yeah. Anything about this. Throughout my life, I only had a few fights. Growing up as a kid, I actually had one. I only had one real fight as a kid where I actually punched and got punched in, and I ended up being like me against two brothers otherwise, and I got hit in the nose and my nose started bleeding. And they took me in the house. Not a big deal. But I was winning in the beginning. And so I got double teamed. And I was like, okay, that's, oh, he's on top, and he can't get him off. That's interesting. But that happened. And then outside of that, it was always like people that were going to start a fight with me or that would try to sucker punch me or do something, you know, they people always tried to catch me off guard, they would be like, we're playing basketball guys get heated. 

And you know, whatever, you know, you're you're racking me whatever. And they throw an elbow and I duck out of the way and they're like, oh, miss them. I thought sure I was gonna get them that way, you know, or the guy would throw a punch and I would jump on it away. And I would submit them, I would hold them in a position where he couldn't do anything. And I'd be and I was saying, I don't wanna let you go. But if I let you go, we will try to do it again. Am I hurting you? And I push him away. They turn around looking at me like, just you man. You know, but it was like they gave me their best shot. They missed. I caught him, but I didn't hurt him. And then I told them the next time I'm going to hurt you because I want you to be warned. So I never had to, I never had really hurt anybody. I was able to diffuse most situations when well after a guy got caught. That usually defuses a situation where they're like, Okay, well, yeah, I don't have to. I'm not I'm not trying to put myself in that position again. Because next time I might get hurt, you know, I remember a kid in school who I don't know why maybe he had been bullied in his life and it was a Polish kid. And I had a last name that I never heard of in Detroit. Not many white kids because it's a predominantly black city, so he's white kid in my school and I'm like, okay, not be cool. 

And I heard his name was like, Hey, man is this that? I never heard that last thing was that is that a Polish name? And he got mad. He decided I guess kids made fun of them. I didn't know. He thought they were attacking. I got attacked by him. And I was like, no, no, I was just curious. And he was like that, but I was small. So maybe he felt like, oh, well bully you. So now he was like, I want his fists together and telling me to kick my butt. And I'm like, bro, I wasn't, I wasn't trying to fight you. I was asking about your last name. And then he kept coming at me. Like, day after day, he got Sanli, he's gonna kick my butt and we're gonna fight and I was like, eventually, I was like, Okay, this is weird, like, Well, I'm just gonna ignore you. But then one day in class, I got him to sharpen my pencil, and he came up behind me. He's in the back of my Aragorn, kick your butt, whatever. And I, and I have my back to him. And I turned around, and I threw a punch, and I stopped right before I hit his notes. And he goes, Oh, he liked that he stopped react. He was like, he just went Oh, like, wow, that that would have hurt. And I walked away. He never bothered me, but stood up for yourself. I stood up from us, I didn't hit him. But I showed him, I could have hurt you just now. You had no control of stopping what was coming. But I was kind enough not to do that. I didn't want to hurt you. So I did it.

Jeremy Lesniak:

How much of this approach to bullies was coming out of your martial arts training? And how much of it was just kind of instinctive? Because it sounds like you're describing growing up in kind of a rough area. Yeah. And, you know, it's the survival of the fittest to a certain degree there. You know, you figure out what works and keeps you alive.

Walter Jones:

Yeah, but the martial arts training gave me self confidence. It gave me self reliability. It gave me the ability to, to make choices to, to decide to hurt someone. See what goes or to show them that I can hurt them and walk away or completely just walk away? To say whatever, like to stop the challenge. What? What's he gonna do? Okay, whatever. Walk away. I mean, even that sometimes is where I mean that that was going to a tough neighborhood. Yes, it was. I was gonna have to figure something out. Anyway, the martial arts training gave me the tools to know how to deal with it gave me the tools to know how, and the confidence to know that, you know, what, if, if I have to, I get this guy in the throat and he's not gonna mess with me anymore? I can do that. I don't want to do that. If you got a knife, and I felt like my life was threatened. Well, you've opened the door to now I have now I have the ability to hurt you because you're threatening my life. So I have to protect and save my life suppliers now. But if it's minor, if it's something that was more minor than that, then I could just try to control the situation. Let it go. Alright, cool. So now you know, and we're good. So I didn't really have to fight much as a kid growing up in this crazy city. Detroit was the murder capital of the world at the time. I had a little sister who had a temper.

Jeremy Lesniak:

She would attract these folks.

Walter Jones:

She did a lot yeah, she would fight and people really just this is quite two boys three blocks away. One and on a street. Jump side . Am I that those are like fights where it wasn't my fight. It was me protecting my sister, which is altogether different. All you know, is, you know, game on. If I'm protecting my sister, then that's, you know, you get what you get. That's where I felt then. And usually it was against some of the same people that I'd already battled with that were inconsistent, like just like, you know, because just totally but and those people love us now. Hey, Walter Jones, there's you know, I'm still there with the advent of social media. There's these people you know, especially with my fame they are still in contact with us now the same people that were you know, bothering us before like they're they're now fans and friends I guess brands.

Jeremy Lesniak:

One of the weirdest experiences was getting a message from probably the biggest bully of ours from my biggest bully in elementary school who I don't know if he still does but was listening to the show. Okay, didn't start listening. I started listening to the show because he was doing martial arts, right? And then reaches out. And I'm like, I can't, I can't do it. Like you can't do it.

Walter Jones:

Can’t do this with you right now. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

[00:40:05-00:40:07]

Walter Jones:

I did it for about four, four years, I got up to brown belt. And then I think childhood just turned things around. I was like, I want to be a kid, I want to play football, I want to, I want to be out in the streets with my friend riding my bike. Instead of going directly from school, to karate class, and staying until like, eight o'clock, I wanted to have those moments and then money was tight. So I think the argument that I don't necessarily want to go was easy for her to go. Alright, well, but stay with me, it stayed with me. And it inspired me to be more athletic. So, I started learning how to do flips, you know, I learned Tiger rolls and karate class, you know, on the mat to a tiger roll, right. 

So, I applied that to a game, where we were playing the street where we would run and we would, one person would sit down on the ground or on fours, you'll want to jump over. And then somebody else would get down eventually, like four people, you couldn't jump over them anymore. Now you have to dive over them. So, I would dive and do my tiger roll. And then we had another game where we would take a rope and we would jump over the rope. And it will get higher and higher. And eventually, you can jump over it and dive over it. So you die bored. I do a tiger roll. But eventually you get so high coming down and Tiger rolls like diving straight at the ground. And I couldn't get the timing right. So it hurt. I was like, oh, so. So, I eventually was like, You know what that hurts, I'm going to just flip over on my butt and eventually fall on my butt hurt. So I eventually was like, I'm gonna land on my feet. So, I started jumping, doing that flip and landed on my feet. And that applied to, you know, once I learned how to do a front flip, I started doing front flips over things like bushes and stuff like that. And that became a skill set. And then I learned how to do backflips and somebody taught me how to do a back tuck. So when I grew up, I got older, I started dancing, I got some kids that I met in high school were like, hey, we're gonna be in this talent show. And we're pop lockers, we do these potluck and stuff in there. Like you want to be in it with us. Because you're so tiny. These were really tall guys like six three, again like 4’11. 

They're like, we got this idea. And we want you to be with us, like, you know, you'd be in a room. And I was like, I don't know how to do it. But then like, we'll teach you after school every day. So I'm like, alright, so after school, we sit in the hallway, and I teach me a Pop Lock and I learn some stuff. And eventually we got a talent show me one, which was awesome. It was crazy because it was set up where it was like a New York Park. And I mean, we didn't have much. We had a park bench. We had a trash can. And we had a sign, a big ol piece of cardboard that we had to stand up to look like it was a subway sign. And the guy would come up like he was on an escalator but he's just, you know, dancing, the escalator comes up, and he would dance in the park. The other guys sit on a park bench, and he's removing paper and the guy is showing off and he kind of looks at him. But he's not really paying that much attention. Finally he takes the newspaper down, he gets up, he challenges the guy, they go head to head, you know one of them wins or whatever. They take the newspaper, throw it in the trash and they disappear on the subway together. All of a sudden I come out of the trash can. But I came out. I teared up on the dance floor. Eric Carr goes crazy. 

We won this talent show. It was like wow. So now I'm pop locking. And then breakdancing came out and I started breakdancing so breakdancing has all these tricks and you know flares and and all these ground moves that are intricate and fun and, and I was learning to do that kind of stuff. So my athleticism started with martial arts led into dancing and doing martial flips and stuff. And then I left Detroit and I got a scholarship to go to College School of Performing Arts went to San Diego and started studying actual dance like I was learning jazz and tap and ballet, modern and acting and didn't start quarterback and start snuck on back and and and these other things in school. And then I left school with a degree a bachelor of fine arts acting, dancing singing when it worked on crucial for a couple of years, which I use some of my skills, like the flips and that kind of thing and the dancing Dance Ability I was able to, you know, utilize those skill sets on cruise ships. decided, let me see what LA has to offer me. Got off in LA. And one day I got a call for this audition. That was for Power Rangers. We're looking for somebody that can, there's an actor that can dance, do martial arts, and, and do flips. I got all three skill sets. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

Was that your first real audition? The first big audition? 

Walter Jones:

First big audition for a TV show. Power Rangers. Power Rangers. Yep. Wow. So it's kind of groomed for what this is, you know, and I hadn't studied martial arts again since then. But I kept a lot of my skill sets, my punches, my kicks, sounds like eight years in between, yeah, but eight years. And I get on the show. And then also being a dancer, having the ability to see something physical and emulate it helped me because when I got on the set, it was like, You know what my training issue is? No, it was a lot of short stuff. It was like when you work on the show. Martial arts showing martial arts for television, it's not the same. It's not like short snap kicks, everything's got to be elongated. All the punches have to be big and long, because you have to show that it's coming. And you know, you gotta it's it looks pretty. Yeah, to make it look pretty.

Jeremy Lesniak:

We have to be slower than what you were used to, I'd imagine.

Walter Jones:

Yes, yes. Not as, you know, phonetic, authentic. But yeah, so I bought Power Rangers and started working on the show, the skill set came together. And, the fact that they wanted me to create my own form of martial arts called Hip Hop [00:47:03-00:47:04] when the script is said, Zack is a Hip Hop killer. And you know, so they took keto and put hip hop in front of it and made it a form of martial arts. Some writer had a clever idea, and didn't know what that would look like, but hired somebody to, to put it together to happen to be me. So with my three skill sets of dancing, martial arts, in gymnastics, I had to create a way to do martial arts and dance, and flip that might seem effective, you know, that might actually work in a way, you know, like, obviously, some of it is, some of it was just made for television. But some of it was really very applicable as we, as the show progressed, as I got more and more into what I was doing, I got pretty cool, because I was like, I was coming up with different ways to do things, and applying different techniques. 

So now I'm working on the show, and I'm working with stunt guys. I'm working with these amazing stunt guys that are all specialists in martial arts like they are, they've grown up studying one particular martial art or several martial arts, and all of them are giving me keys. They're like, hey, you should try this kick. I think you'd be really good. If you try this, let me show you this kick, you know, or let me show you this clip or this spin. This is a Hong Kong spinner. This is a butterfly kick, or these are like these techniques that I never learned from the issue. But because of my dance ability, and because of my martial arts training, I'm very capable of picking up. So I remember one of the guys his name was. I think so. Anyway, he reminds me of Bruce Lee, because it was like tiny combat. He was a fast, really fast and had amazing kicks and punches and show me this tornado kick, where, you know, Phillip, if your left foot it was in front and right, put his back, you step forward, you jump off your right foot, you kick on the same foot land on the same way. 

So it's like, it's a circular kick in the air. And he said, man, I've been working on this kick for a long time and finally got it. And he goes, it goes like this. What show me show me. So, he shows me and I'm like, oh, that's cool. I'm like, let me see if I could do it. So, I'll give it a shot or two. And by the fourth time I did it, I got it. He's like, oh, man, I hate you. He's been working on his cake forever. And I pick it up in like four shots. And then I was able to, you know, do it on screen, which was awesome. I'm not necessarily a kid, it was a show a kick. It wasn't what you would necessarily do in a real fight unless it was a finishing gig, because landing was going to be a problem. But it was cool. So I was able to do all these different things and Apply the three skill sets and create this form of martial arts. And what I did was I incorporated like things that I saw Muhammad Ali do things that I saw Jackie Chan do, I incorporated, you know, parts of [00:50:12-00:50:15] parts of Wing Chun and my parents have just all different kinds of martial arts, different kicks, and punches and throwing techniques that were big and showing that I could do on the show, to make it look cool.

Jeremy Lesniak:

What I want to remark on because, you know, I can see what the audience can't see. Yes, is how clearly proud you are of the work that you put in. You know, we've had, we've had a lot of actors, or stunt people, etc. On the show, and they're certainly proud. But the pride that I'm seeing in your face, as you're talking about creating this thing, and codifying, in a sense, all these things that you put so much time into to be part of this show, like it's really standing out for me, I just wanted to remark on that.

Walter Jones:

Thank you. I mean, I am proud, I'm proud, because it was something that wasn't done before. And something that I I didn't know, wasn't something I set out to do. Something that was put in front of me, was like, they were writing the script, Zack is a Hip Hop hero. So now it's my job to come up with that, and I have to look back on my work. And to see what I did, coming from just my mind, because at the end of the day, they couldn't tell me what to do. They couldn't say, the stock coordinator can do what like with other people, he could set up their fights for me, it wasn't that it was like, So, what do you want to do? I'm like, okay, give me four parties, this probably is gonna come from here, this party's gonna come from me, I'm gonna do this. I'll do that. And then you try to kick me and I'll get out of the way. 

And this way, I'll do like this dance moves on the floor. And we would have ideas and come up with stuff that was really cool and creative. At one point, we did this one trick. I remember where I'm being chased to the park by one of the buddies, and he's catching up on me. And I jump up and grab a branch or tree, I swing over it, and I come back, and I kick him in the back as he runs under me. Right. So that's not the easiest thing to do. And so because one, you need a lot of momentum to go over there, breaths will take your body up and over, you know, in a lot of momentum and strength or onto the branch to do it. 

And then agility to come back down and be able to kick. So we figured out how to do it. We tried it a couple of times. And then the guy that was the Pleiadians, the stunt guy said, I tell you, what I'll do is push you or push you the cameras in front of me. So as you see me run, he pushed my butt. This gave me the momentum to go up and over the reps, and then come back and kick him in the back as I came back down, which is really cool. And think if anybody tries that you figure out that's not easy. That's really difficult.

Jeremy Lesniak:

But in gymnastics, that's called a giant, obviously unassisted. But anybody who spends time on a bar knows that's not an easy move to pull off. It's scary as heck having your feet all the way up there.

Walter Jones:

Yeah. I mean, and, in an unnatural environment on a tree.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Exactly. Even more so bark as an executive as forgiving on the hands as a gymnastic bar. 

Walter Jones:

It's not an organized situation. But it was fun. Like, those kinds of things to me were fun and inspiring. And a lot of the fans now a lot of my fans, they put together fights, they take like, some of the best footage that they had me fighting. And they put it together and so YouTube, and I get to watch that and go wow, that was cool. Like, wow, did that mean and Power Rangers wasn't one to be. We didn't have a lot of takes. We didn't have a week to put together a fight. We had a morning we had like, half power, you know? Alright, so we're going to be shooting an hour and a half. We got to put the lights together. Let's block the same. We came in. Right, so what are you gonna do? Let's figure it out. Let's figure it out in spite, I'm barely stretched, but we'll figure it out. Okay, we do this flip. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Now we walk away. They dress the set, we come back out. I got four takes to do it. 

Maybe I got three takes to do it because they gotta get a master shot. They gotta get some close up footage. They gotta get some, you know, different angles. And so if I don't get into the master shot, if I try to trick and it fails, and I fall It's in there, they're keeping it. I just fell. I just like, you know, there was a kick I had to do where I jumped up, and I kicked. Were two feet, right? Unless you have something super, super solid, to kick off it and jump back plenty of feet, you went to the ground, because what you can get away with, there's nothing there. So I did this kick, boom, I kicked a ball, and went to the ground. But now I have more people come at me. So gotta go from the ground and come up, and then come up and kick and sweeps and all this stuff. It was rather imperfect. A lot of it.

Jeremy Lesniak:

They left a lot of this up to you, didn't they? Yeah, a lot of it was the way most don't work. Go. It's like you had it sounds like the majority of what you were doing was up to you. It was up to me. Right, which I think is awesome. I think there's authenticity.

Walter Jones:

And I had an amazing study. So the Great, the great thing is if something got missed, we would almost improvise. Like, something I missed. I was supposed to punch, like, sometimes a punch was coming. And I saw it. I was like, I was supposed to block that. But instead I ducked it. So now I'm doing a punch to complete the movement. And they will react and go away. And we'll figure out a way to do it. But it was, it was probably the most challenging aspect of Power Rangers for me, but the funnest, because it was so creative. And it was so athletic and challenging. And at the end of the day to see what was done. I was very proud of it. I was very proud of the work I was able to do on that show.

Jeremy Lesniak:

And I think that, in my mind, is why it has the following it does because there are elements like that, that you could look at it from a professional setting and say, You know what, that could be better, that could be this, this isn't as polished here that right? But that's authentic. And I think that inherently, we pick up on that authenticity, and we'll watch an episode of that, you know, you can easily watch an episode of Power Rangers and, you know, just try it like, oh, this is kind of cheesy. But you can also watch that exact same thing and say, here's a group of people who just put their heart and soul into it. And we get to enjoy that experience and watch it. And to me, that's the more powerful thing. And that's, I think, why it has stood out for so long.

Walter Jones:

I think so too, I think. I mean, what it was within reach. But I reached at the same time, it's like, it was enough to inspire you to try it. Let me see if I can do this, it may see if I could do this, this jump side kick, this double kick with another kick before I land. Let me see if I can do it…

Jeremy Lesniak:

The culture on the show? Were you challenging and pushing each other?

Walter Jones:

It was kind of I mean, like we, you know, of the boys. We're all athletically inclined and inspiring each other to do more like, I can flip. So the Red Ranger Austin, St. John wants to do flips, I want to flip. So we go to the gym, and we work out now teaching flips. So let's work on your backpack perfectly fine. So we're gonna do these things and he showed me stuff. He showed me hands up that he knows that I don't know, because he's doing Kenpo. And I'm like, alright, show me some stuff. So we would constantly work together. And then we would have challenges on set where we are doing handstands and we do a handstand and press down into like a plank, and then try to press back up into another handstand. I was like, who can do it most times? So that was like, we were constantly challenging each other to be better and, you know, to be more athletic and strong. And it was cool.

Jeremy Lesniak:

What's more martial arts than that? You know, here you are, you're challenging each other. You're making each other better in the context of a set and of the show.

Walter Jones:

I mean, like Jason Frank came in and he started doing his jump spinning kicks, and I've been doing on the set I've been doing like, I would do a sweep into a jump spinning kick. That was one of my things I would normally do: a sweep, spinning kick or just spin kick into a sweep to take out multiple opponents, but he would do like these spinning kicks multiple times, he would do three. And I was like, I can do that. But yeah, like that kind of became His thing was like, oh, I could do that. But, you know, but he also had I remember we had a sparring session, and one episode. And he came up with this great idea. I was like, that was really cool. Like I looked at this scene the other day, Zack and Tommy are sparring. And I mean, in general, Zack would get God like in general, they would let them be when more or less, more or less. But in this particular scene. 

I think we're doing his thing and he's coming at me and I go to the ground, I do a spin. And I come up on one knee and catch him and flip him, I throw him. But that wasn't my idea. It was Jason Frank's idea. He said, hey, man, I think this would be cool. Like, if you go down the ground like that, if you come up, you come up to this knee, and I come in, you can take me by the head and throw me. And I was like, alright, let's try it. And we did it. And it looks so freaking cool. I was like, though, like, when I see it now, I'm like, Man, I didn't I wouldn't. That didn't come to me that came out of the adjacent break mine. I was like, but he's such a great martial artist, that he? No, he was one of these. One of the tools went back and he gave it too.

Jeremy Lesniak:

But he also trusted you that you could pull it off and make him look good and not hurt him. And then, you know, we've had enough stunt folks on the show over the years that I've not done stunt work. I don't pretend to know, experientially, what it is. But I get that sense that the trust, that bond, that collaborative process is so critical to putting out a great product.

Walter Jones:

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And, he was very skilled. So I mean, between Austin, myself and Jason Frank. David was more of a gymnast. He wasn't a martial artist. So he picked up as much as he could, and he would do well. But it wasn't the same. I would say that Austin has studied Kempo and his father was a martial artist, and they came up together because, you know, he was very skilled at martial arts. And then Jason Frank had his own karate school. So he was, you know, they were both more martial artists than I was when I studied Ishimaru. I was a brown belt. And, and that was my, that was my technique. But I also had this dancer's ability to pick up anything I saw. So show me something, I'm going to be able to get it because I understand timing and the stand movement and understand balance. I got it. So it wasn't that my skill set wasn't the same as theirs, but my ability was the same or greater, to pick up and do things. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

And it certainly sounds like your skill progressed over that time. You know, you're training, you're working with these other wonderful martial artists getting banned by extension. Yeah. And it makes me wonder, because, you know, you're not filming the show anymore. It's been a little while. How has martial arts fit into your life since Power Rangers and up till now?

Walter Jones:

Well, after I left the show, I still wanted to study because I was enjoying martial arts so much. And so I started studying Aikido. I actually went and studied Aikido for a number of years and I did that for a number of years until I started suffering from injuries. So I had hamstring problems that turned into lower back problems and it was like. Okay, well, I'm getting older. I can't beat myself up too much. Let me do something else. But I still want to stay active. So I went back to dancing. I started learning salsa dancing. And then that became a thing because it was like, Well, I'm now sweating. And I'm dancing with these beautiful women. Oh, no. Guys, like you know, I think I like the woman part. This is better for me. So I started dancing. I started dancing salsa. And after about four years, I became a world champion. So I'm a world champion. I dance all these Latin styles now so I dance salsa, bachata. Kizomba, zuke, merengue. You know, not in a professional capacity but I'm pretty good. You know, like I dance salsa, which was not formal sauce in that ballroom, salsa and dance I sent out I did win a world championship. And everything else I just play like, Zuke. I love it. It's Brazilian. 

So that became my transition. So I stopped doing martial arts. I still train myself. I still think kicks and punches in and work on technique. I'm not really in the gym, doing that other than thinking about getting back in and working on some boxing. I'm going to think I never really studied boxing as a form, you know, completely thinking about doing that. Um, but yeah, I mean, I just feel I always encourage people to take martial arts or, or to do it because not only does it is it good for your body You grew up your your mind, your spirit and your self confidence, it is something that allows you to, to feel confident and to walk around in the world feeling as if you're not a victim, you know, that you are capable of. And when you yourself if you need to, and, often you won't have to because the confidence is enough. If people see it, people see it in you, they say, something's wrong, because you're supposed to be afraid. And you're not afraid. So that's odd. So I'm going to be cautious, and maybe we will let you know. Which is, I think, great.

Jeremy Lesniak:

You got a project coming up. Are you still acting?

Walter Jones:

I am still acting. I am auditioning, and I have a couple of projects. I can't really talk about them until they come. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

That's okay. How about the last one that happened that you can? Is there any?

Walter Jones:

The last project I did, I worked on was interesting. I worked on a show called Boomerang. And I put the suit back on for the first time in 25 years. Don't do it because it was interesting. So the show was kind of a parody. It was kind of a parody. And this guy, he knocks out. And it's kind of been this dream state and goes to heaven. And when he goes to heaven, he ends up first in a church, and I am there dressed as the Black Ranger. And he's like, I'm gonna guide you by Ranger. I'm like, what? No, I work in the church. There's, you know, it's warm times they're doing right. I don't know what she's talking about. So it's like, and then he goes on his whole journey. At the end of the day, he comes out to find out that I'm God's gatekeeper. So, that's kind of cool. I was like, blank majors God's given here. I'm cool with that. And that sounds cool. You know, it's quite the promotion. But it was the first time I put on a suit not to do any martial arts or anything, but just as the character and I thought that was fun. That was fun. I can't believe that we're coming up on our 30 year anniversary. Because I'm only 29. 

Jeremy Lesniak:

So, exactly. I'm 25. 

Walter Jones:

You know, there you go. See, we are so young. That's so young.

Jeremy Lesniak:

But would you say what? Are you sexy and handsome? Yes. Sexy and handsome.

Walter Jones:

It is. My cute days are gone. No, I think I still accept cuteness. I still get cute. Oh, you're so cute. I'm like, okay, I'll take that now.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I think the older we get. I think there's a reverse bell curve, right? Like you're okay with being cute when you're really young. And you're okay with being cute when you get older. You know? I'll take it. I'll take it. I'll take it, right?

Walter Jones:

Because cute is friendly and it's happy. So, I'll be happy and friendly. That's cool. No, I know. I just did it when I was cute. When I was a kid. It was like, just because people want to put me on a shelf and look at me. Ah, look at him. Awesome. Like don't do that to me. Your hands wiping my face. Don't touch my hair.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Awesome. Where can people find you?

Walter Jones:

I am on social media everywhere. But Instagram @walterejones on Twitter, @walterejones on tiktok @Walterejones is kind of a common thread on Facebook at Walter Emanuel Jones fan page. The problem is Emmanuel is not traditional, it is E, M, A, N, U, E, L.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I bet if they searched and we were going to drop all these links but I bet if they search Walter Jones fan page yeah and how many other Walter Jones are there with fan page

Walter Jones:

There is a football player named Walter Jones as well.

Jeremy Lesniak:

We need to take care that that's unnecessary.

Walter Jones:

Right? Hey man, you mess it up more by what she's doing. But it's cool. Yeah, find me. All my anything that I got coming out and there are a number of things coming up 30th anniversary Power Rangers is right around the corner. And in 30 years I can't believe that in 30 years 40 countries have 90 languages. Crazy. We're still here to celebrate together, you know that's what I'm saying? Find me on Instagram or Twitter or Twitch and let's connect and see me out at the comic cons, I am making appearances all over the place, both internationally and nationally. And I love to see bands, I love to take photos and I love to make you smile.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Nice. Not only has it been 30 years since, you know, the original, but it's still new. I mean, we had somebody on, it'll be that episode aired before this but Justin Ortiz was talking about his involvement and his wife's involvement a little bit with the new one coming out and everything. And that was super cool to see that something, you know, when something resonates, it resonates. You get it, and you were there to launch it. And I think that that's amazing.

Walter Jones:

I got like 10 action figures, three pops for a series of comic books. It's crazy.

Jeremy Lesniak:

It's so cool. It's cool. Well, I gotta ask it over here. start winding out here. But what was it like the first time you saw yourself as an action figure? Was that a trip because you could buy X, you're willing to put in the money now? 

Walter Jones:

It wasn't, what the first one I saw was just the Black Ranger in the suit. So it was like, okay, that's me. But not it's not really just like, but the first one with my face was like, Yeah, that's me. Hey, it's not a pretty face. But it's my face. Okay. Interesting. It was very cool. I think it was the one with the flip heads. So the first one I saw I liked. I spent probably half the day walking around going, it's more fun. Hey, it was like it was fun.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Time, good times. How do you want to end? What are your final words the folks listening to?

Walter Jones:

Final words. Martial arts is a beautiful thing. I encourage all parents to involve their kids in martial arts, because it is a way to help give them confidence in themselves to help teach them self obedience, self confidence and self reliance. I think those are important qualities, whether you're male or female, and a great starting point, to a great base to work from and to build towards in the future.

Jeremy Lesniak:

What a fun conversation. My favorite part, if you couldn't tell from the conversation, was just the environment. You know, I've never really had the desire to be part of a TV show or a movie set. But the way Walter talked about it, and this idea of challenging each other, pushing each other, making each other better. I mean, first off, what's more martial arts than that? But if I had an opportunity to be in that environment and get better, because the people around me are getting better. And there's an end result of displaying that talent to the world. I would absolutely jump in on that. So, Walter, thanks for coming on. Thanks for sharing. Great meeting you. Hope to see you again soon. 

Listeners, check out the show notes. Check out everything that we've got in there. If you want the full version. It's not in your podcast player. It's at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. That's where you're gonna find the videos and the links and the photos and all the cool stuff that we've got for not just this, but every episode we have ever done. And if you want to support us and the work that we're doing, you've got some options, you can share an episode, maybe leave a review on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Google, Facebook, anywhere that seems sensible. Or maybe tell a friend to contribute to the Patreon even patreon.com/whistlekick. Okay. interested in having me come to your school to run a seminar. People were already rebooking seminars from just a few months ago, because we had such a good time. Well, if you are interested in that, reach out to Jeremy at whistle kick.com. Don't forget to code PODCAST15 to save 15% on anything at whistlekick.com. And maybe you know some of that we should have on the show or a topic that we should approach. Go ahead, email me. Find us on social media while you're out there. We're at whistlekick everywhere you could think of and that brings us to the end. So until next time, train hard, smile, and have a great day.