EXCLUSIVE: Jaden Smith Details His ‘Biggest and Craziest’ Karate Kid Memory! Involving the Splits 15 Years Later!

The rapper and actor, who is partnering with Smirnoff ICE at Coachella, caught up with PEOPLE and reminisced on the 2010 film

Photo: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty; WireImage/Getty

Wax on, wax off.

The Karate Kid has infiltrated the zeitgeist in numerous ways since the original film premiered in 1984, spawning sequels, a spinoff and numerous quotable lines and lessons.

For rapper and actor Jaden Smith, who starred in the fifth film installment that came out in 2010, one memory from the movie shoot still comes to mind.

“Honestly, getting into and inside the splits for the first time was a very difficult thing to do, but it was a huge part of the whole process,” says Smith, 25, who’s partnering with Smirnoff ICE at Coachella this weekend.

“That middle split was the main [one]. That was the biggest and the craziest experience, and Jackie [Chan] and his stunt team helped me. That was a huge milestone for me, and that’s definitely the memory that I go back to.”

Jaden Smith as Dre in ‘The Karate Kid’. Moviestore/Shutterstock

Smith portrayed Dre Parker in the nearly 15-year-old movie where he learned the art of kung fu from Mr. Han (Chan).

In a sequence from the movie highlighting Dre’s training progression, Smith — just 11 years old at the time — carefully lowers himself into a huge, suspended middle split while balancing his feet on two railings.

“I actually just recently got back into that middle split 15 years later,” Smith shares now, “and that was much more painful than the first time!”

Actors Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan on June 7, 2010 in California. Michael Caulfield/WireImage

On April 7, Smith’s father, Will, saluted Chan with a sweet Instagram post in honor of his birthday. The Oscar winner thanked the actor for the “eternal impact” he’s left on their family.

“Happy 70th (wow) Birthday to My Guy @jackiechan!! In addition to making some of my FAVORITE movies of all time, creating some of the CRAZIEST moments that have ever been captured on film — I thank you most for helpin’ to raise Jaden,” Will, 55, captioned a series of photos featuring his son with Chan.

Jada Pinkett-Smith, Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Will Smith and Willow Smith. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
“Our time with you in Beijing during the Karate Kid left an eternal impact on our entire family. We wish you the deepest Love & Revelation on your next trip around the sun ☀️,” he added.