Daniel Dae Kim Joins Pickleball Team: When you think of Daniel Dae Kim, you might first recall his compelling roles in Lost, Hellboy, or Avatar: The Last Airbender. But these days, Kim is making waves off-screen as the co-captain of the Advil Pickleball Team, joining forces with pickleball pro-Hurricane Tyra Black. In a recent conversation with InsideHook, Kim opened up about his passion for paddle sports, his approach to fitness as he ages, and the critical role recovery plays in his routine.
Daniel Dae Kim Embracing Pickleball
Kim reflects on his introduction to pickleball, “Paddlesports were big in my childhood. When pickleball first came along, I thought it was just mini-tennis, I was a bit dismissive of it until I started seeing my son and my wife starting to play, and then I started seeing a lot of ex-tennis players move into pro pickleball. I realized it can get pretty intense. It is a real sport. I started to play, and I’ve been enjoying it.”
Transitioning from tennis to pickleball required a shift in strategy. Kim admits, “As a tennis player, I like to hit the ball hard. If you played pickleball like I played tennis, you’d be called a dinker. [Per Pickleball Kitchen: ‘A dink is a shot you use to make your opponent’s next shot unattackable.’] Dinking is good in pickleball, but it took me a while to get my mentality right about the importance of dinking.”
Balancing Fitness and Career
Balancing his busy career as an actor and producer with recreational activities is a challenge for Kim. “Whenever I get free time I consider it a luxury. It’s either pickleball or if I can squeeze in a round of golf, that’s great. But I might just go for a run. All of those things are fantastic. Pickleball is like tennis in that you need to find good partners. Sometimes they’re hard to find on short notice. I usually play with friends and family rather than any famous faces.”
Kim’s approach to fitness has evolved with his demanding schedule. “I actually had to learn to work out more efficiently because I’m always on the move. Traveling around, time can be in short supply and I never know when my next workout is going to come. As a result, I end up doing a full-body workout every time I can get into the gym. It means I’m sometimes in the gym for two hours, and it isn’t the most efficient way to build strength. But if I can only get in the gym once a week, I can’t just work one body part at a time, and another a week later.”
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Prioritizing Recovery and Diet
Recovery has become a significant focus for Kim as he ages. “I’m focusing on it a lot more as I get older. When I was younger, I never needed to care about recovery. I’d get sore for a little while, then I’d be good. Nowadays I do have to think: How am I going to recover? How can I enhance recovery, and how can I be ready to go as quickly as possible?’”
The diet also plays a crucial role in Kim’s regimen. “I did my first serious diet a few years ago, in preparation for Avatar: The Last Airbender. I wanted more definition, so I really did think about the amount of carbs I was taking when I was eating, and drinking. Now I also think about anti-inflammatory foods and sources of protein that are clean and reliable.”
Kim believes in the broader benefits of consistent exercise. “All exercise works to keep your metabolism up. I think that’s the key. The more sedentary you are, the more your metabolic rate goes down. Your body stops working. Once you get into that rhythm of constantly moving, thinking, burning calories, then it makes it easier.”
Through his involvement with pickleball and commitment to fitness, Daniel Dae Kim exemplifies how passion for sports and dedication to health can harmoniously coexist, even amidst a demanding career.
News in Brief: Daniel Dae Kim Joins Pickleball Team
Daniel Dae Kim, known for roles in Lost and Hellboy, is now making waves as co-captain of the Advil Pickleball Team with pro-Hurricane Tyra Black. Initially dismissive of pickleball, Kim embraced it after seeing its intensity and engaging with it himself. He acknowledges the shift from tennis, learning the value of dinking in pickleball. Balancing his acting career with fitness, Kim opts for full-body workouts due to his tight schedule and emphasizes recovery as he ages. His diet includes anti-inflammatory foods and high-quality protein. Kim views consistent exercise as a key to maintaining metabolism and overall health, demonstrating how passion for sports and fitness can complement a demanding career.
