This NTU Student Is A Stunt Performer And Wants To Be S'pore's Next Action Star

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Cayden Kong, 23, is not your average university student. While most undergrads prefer to spend their weekends sleeping in or hanging out with friends, Cayden can be found at Sandbox Training Ground in Raeburn Park, where he trains in stunt performance, all in hopes to be an action star one day.

That’s where 8days.sg meets him on a Saturday afternoon.

The Nanyang Technological University student looks a little tired — he moved back to his home in East Coast from his NTU hall dorm the night before. 

But Cayden, who is also a stunt coordinator, brightens up when he talks about stunt performing.

“I was around 19 and I discovered Sandbox Training Ground on Instagram when I was in my second year of army. I was just scrolling and I saw a class that teaches fight choreography and stuff. I found myself really enjoying the classes and eventually I took on their mentorship program and joined them,” recalls Cayden.

Sandbox is a stunt school where individuals train in film stunt work and movement arts like parkour. Trainees, including Cayden, also create their own action short films, directing and coordinating the stunts themselves.

While most guys his age prefer sports like football and basketball, Cayden quickly decided that stunt performing was his thing — and it’s all thanks to his love for action movies.

At NTU, Cayden studies communications and specialises in broadcast and film.

“I feel like stunt performing is a blend of both martial arts and also filmmaking, and these are two things I really enjoy. When my interests are married, I think it makes me very happy to be able to do it," he says. 

Cayden excitedly tells us how he recently had the chance to meet his idol, Japanese action choreographer and stunt performer Kenji Tanigaki.

The latter is a big name in the world of action movies, having worked on films such as Bodyguards and Assassins (2009), Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021), as well as the Rurouni Kenshin franchise.

“The way [Kenji] choreographs and shoots is something I really enjoy ‘cos I am also a big anime fan. I grew up watching Dragon Ball and Naruto, so when I create my own sequences, I gear towards that style of flashy, big moves,” says Cayden.

He had the opportunity to join a week-long action film camp in Japan, where Kenji was the main coach.

“There were a lot of other performers from the US, France, Hong Kong, well, everywhere, and it was humbling to meet all these different people because the industry in Singapore is considered quite small. When I get to see people who are doing big scale things in person, I’m like, ‘wow, they're so cool’.”

As a member of Sandbox, Cayden had the chance to work with HomeTeamNS for a short project. “They had an event where they were showcasing new technology and a bunch of stuff, and we were in one of the scenes where the SWAT team raided a warehouse. We were the terrorists, I was flying on a wire and everything,” says Cayden.

He admits he’s still new to the industry, and since he hasn’t been in any big projects, “any exposure is good exposure”.

“I do have my sights on Hollywood," he says. "If I can get there. I would like to be known as a stunt actor and not just a stunt performer. So instead of just doing stunts, I would also like to be able to act. My dream is to be an action star, like Tom Cruise and Jackie Chan.”

Cayden trains with Mediacorp Jona Chung, who came in third in Star Search 2024.

Since he wants to be an actor too, why didn't he try out for Star Search as well? 

“I actually auditioned, but I think I didn’t make it ‘cos my Chinese is [not great],” Cayden laughs. 

“I was actually at the finals to perform for [Jona's] talent segment [where he showed off his action choreography]. I was one of the guys that was getting thrown on the stage. That was me. I was so happy to see him get third place. I was screaming!”

Being a stunt performer comes with its fair share of risks, and injuries are bound to happen from time to time. But of course safety always comes first. 

“When we perform with other people, we emphasise the need to [keep our] distance if someone is still new. It’s important to understand how a stunt performance works and that we don’t have to hit close. We don’t have to hit hard. A lot of things can be saved in the edit and with the camera, but there are definitely still risks because it is a dance.”

As for the worst injury he’s ever gotten, Cayden says it happened a couple of years ago on a passion project. One stunt required him to sit on his friend’s back before sliding off while doing a flip.

“I wasn’t familiar with that move, but decided to do it anyway. What could go wrong? And the worst thing happened. I injured my ankle, and I was out of commission for two months. Until this day I still kind of feel it because I didn’t see a doctor, which was probably a mistake,” he laughs.

We ask if he is seeing anyone, and he says he has a "very lovely girlfriend", adding that they've been together for "20 months" and that she definitely worries for him.

"Her mum gets worried for me, my mum gets worried for me, and they’re always wondering if I will get injured," he says.

“I always tell them what my projects are about, and they would be like, ‘Can you please be careful? Don’t do anything crazy’. I try my best to stay safe, and because of my training, I’m quite well equipped to handle whatever I get."

Cayden now coaches classes on the weekends, and his students include actors who wish to perform their own stunts on screen.

When we ask if he’s ever considered being a stunt double, Cayden smiles and says: “I have not had the opportunity to be one, but that would be amazing. If anybody wants a small, younger boy to play a stand-in, you can call me."