Noah Centineo Called Himself the Anti-Tom Cruise. Then He Became Ken.
Photo: @ncentineo / Instagram
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Noah Centineo spent years as the internet's boyfriend: soft curls, softer eyes, a man who could sell you a rom-com and a cardigan in the same breath. Then he went blond, built a chest that should come with a permit, and signed on to throw hadoukens as Ken Masters in Street Fighter, in theaters October 16. Plot twist: by his own account, he did not want to do any of the work.
"I really don't want to do any of this," he admitted to Cineplay, describing how co-star Andrew Koji dragged him to training "almost every morning" while he "resisted and complained." He even called himself "the anti-Tom Cruise" (Philstar). Relatable. Also, very clearly, not the whole story.
The Street Fighter Fight Camp, Hour by Hour
Here is what he actually signed up for. Centineo, Koji and Callina Liang (Chun-Li) trained together for six weeks before flying to Australia, then roughly six more weeks before cameras rolled. He laid out a typical day to The AU Review:
Four hours of martial arts, together, every day
About an hour in the gym
Two hours of recovery, ice baths included
That is seven hours a day of being professionally kicked, lifted and frozen. Koji, who brought Shotokan karate, judo, jujitsu and kickboxing to the role of Ryu, set the pace (SuperHeroHype). Centineo's summary: "We worked out, ate and worked out again every single day without fail."
The Assignment: Video Game Proportions
The brief was not "toned." In the later games, Ken and Ryu "became incredibly muscular, almost like the Hulk," Centineo told Cineplay, so the cast kept training to match. Before the first costume camera test, even he had doubts: "Are we going to truly look like these characters?" The trailer suggests yes. Rude to the rest of us, frankly.
Fans clocked the bulk early. He turned up courtside at a Lakers game in March 2025 with a buzz cut and a noticeably bigger frame (HELLO!), then posted a shirtless selfie from the Sydney set in August 2025 with a two-word caption: "road brawler" (People). Subtle.
What the Interviews Actually Say About His Workout
Centineo has not released a day-by-day Street Fighter plan (rude). The closest thing to his real routine comes from his February 2025 Men's Health interview, where he walked through the bodyweight-heavy workout he leans on these days:
Pull-ups: 2 to 3 sets to failure
Push-ups: 2 to 3 sets to failure
Suitcase carries: 2 to 3 rounds, until your grip quits
Multidirectional lunges: 3 rounds per leg
Barbell reverse lunge to high knee: 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per leg
He adds Pilates "maybe once or twice a week," a habit he picked up from his sister, and has a one-line review of every style: "they're all excruciating." Yoga, ice plunges and trail runs round it out, and his current side quest is a clean muscle-up.
One honest caveat: that is his everyday routine, not the fight camp itself, which ran on martial arts first and the gym second.
What He Eats (Spoiler: He Doesn't Count)
Centineo has said he does not track macros or count calories. The staples are protein, sweet potatoes or brown rice, and vegetables. To size up, he eats more chicken, beans and brown rice. To lean out, it is white fish, vegetables and a little brown rice (HELLO!). For Street Fighter, he has not shared a meal plan, just the rhythm: train, eat, repeat.
Why He Keeps Showing Up
Centineo has spoken openly about getting sober and has said working out supports his sobriety and mental health. "I like working out," he has said. "There's like a high you get afterwards." Grudging at first, devoted in the end. Very Ken.
Steal His Routine (No Fight Camp Required)
You do not need seven-hour days. Run his Men's Health circuit two or three times a week, keep "to failure" honest (form still counts on the last rep), and book one Pilates class a week if you want the full Centineo experience. New to lifting or nursing an injury? Check in with a qualified coach first.
Post-Workout Skin, Ken Edition
Ice baths, sweat and daily training are a lot for skin, too. Shower soon after, wash pillowcases and gear often, and keep your routine gentle so your barrier can keep up. Our sweat-proof skin guide covers breakouts and chafing, and our skin barrier reset handles the rest. Want another actor who trained like an athlete? See Austin Butler's hybrid training playbook.
Noah Centineo Workout FAQ
Who does Noah Centineo play in Street Fighter? Ken Masters, Ryu's best friend and rival. Andrew Koji plays Ryu and Callina Liang plays Chun-Li.
When does Street Fighter come out? October 16, 2026, in U.S. theaters and IMAX.
How long did Noah Centineo train for Street Fighter? About six weeks before heading to Australia, then roughly six more before filming, with four hours of martial arts, an hour in the gym and two hours of recovery a day.
What is Noah Centineo's workout? In Men's Health, he described pull-ups, push-ups, suitcase carries, multidirectional lunges and barbell reverse lunges to high knee, plus Pilates once or twice a week.
What does Noah Centineo eat? Protein, sweet potatoes or brown rice, and vegetables, without counting calories. More chicken, beans and rice to bulk; white fish and vegetables to lean out.
Sources
The AU Review: Noah Centineo on playing Ken in Street Fighter (September 2026)
Cineplay: Noah Centineo on Ken Masters (October 2026)
Philstar: Noah Centineo reveals Andrew Koji as a diehard Street Fighter fan (October 2026)
SuperHeroHype: Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo detail their 6-week training (August 2026)
Men's Health: Noah Centineo's workout definitely includes Pilates (February 2025)
HELLO!: The real reason behind Noah Centineo's transformation (August 2026)
People: Noah Centineo wows with ripped shirtless photo (August 2025)