Tony Jaa

phanom yerum, Thai martial artist and action choreographer known for such martial arts films as Ong-Bak: The Muay Thai Warrior (2003) and Thai Dragon / The Protector (2005), as well as their aftermath.

Early Years

He is an expert swordsman and highly trained in gymnastics and arts such as Wushu, taekwondo, Muay Thai and Muay Boran. From the age of twelve, the actor already dreamed of becoming the new Jackie Chan. Once, after seeing him in a movie, he knew deep down in his being that he wanted to be like him. He started practicing martial arts at every spare moment he had. At the precise moment that he began studying high school, he saw something that changed his life forever. It was an action film with the title Born to Fight, it was the first version, made in 1984. The production was directed by and starred Panna Rittikrai. Realizing now that there were real opportunities for action actors in Thailand, Tony began to study with even greater energy and enthusiasm, sometimes going so far as to skip meals so he could keep practicing longer. After finishing elementary school in high school, Tony decided to become an actor without hesitation. He asked his father to allow him to remain under the watchful eye of Panna Rittikrai, who was filming in the neighboring province of Kon Kaen. The very next day, within the framework of the Kan Inn Hotel, Tony managed to meet with his idol Panna from him. He suggested that he concentrate on finishing his studies, although if it was his wish, he could join him in training sessions during the central and final breaks. Over the next three years, Tony gained a lot of experience working alongside Panna as he worked on locations. He started out as a cafe meritorious, working his way up helping move the Dolly's equipment and guides. Tony still knew how to find time, in the midst of his obligations, to focus on martial arts training.

Career

When Tony graduated from high school, Panna suggested that he should continue his studies at the Sarakam Provincial College of Physical Education. During his college period, he studied various forms of martial arts, including Taekwondo, Muay Thai, fencing, gymnastics, and many other sports. Even so, every weekend, Tony managed to find time to travel to Kon Kaen and train with Panna. Finally, he admitted that Tony had enormous potential and approached him, offering him the chance to be one of the specialists on his team.

Tony managed to combine the artistic elements of the movies with the martial arts and sports he had learned in college, blending it all seamlessly. Making use of the basic gymnastics of all modes of action, he recreated Muay Thai and used his new art form combining it with Thai weapons. He formed his own team and gave demonstrations in many high schools in the northwestern provinces of the country. He created and became the head of a local team of swordsmen and later participated in a student exchange with the Chinese Republic, winning a scholarship thanks to his experience in Thai martial arts. He also became the representative for Northwest Thailand and the Bangkok City University of Physical Education. Each year, he won gold medals in track and field (sprint, long jump, and high jump) and gymnastics events.

During this time, he was offered the opportunity to play a small role in a film for the first time. He was a stuntman on the 1997 Hollywood action film Mortal Kombat 2, which was partly shot in Ayuthaya. He emerged victorious from a competition against 100 other applicants for the role of Robin Shou's double. After this work, he was offered a myriad of double roles by many Thai labels.

After all this exercise, Tony and Panna pooled resources and invested every penny they had in buying virgin negative tails from used rolls to make a demo on a reel showing Tony's extraordinary abilities. They showed the coil to Prachya Pinkaew and the rest is history. The seed had just been laid for one of the biggest action film projects in Thailand. The film focused on Muay Thai and it would prove quite a challenge to produce it. First of all, they had to set up a workspace where they could practice and recreate movements: the action scenes that Panna and Tony wanted to create. Then, they had to be constantly training for four years until the project finally became a reality. The end result was Ong Bak, a smash hit that catapulted Tony to stardom.

Ultimately, the film managed to garner the attention and resounding recognition of the biggest production label in all of Asia: Golden Harvest, the people who created superstars Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Tony always remembers that day with great pride. Since the thunderous success of Ong Bak, Tony Jaa has become one of Thailand's most sought after actors by film directors around the world. Thai Dragon is the feature film fans have been waiting for a long time.

After releasing Thai Dragon in 2009, Ong-Bak 2 was released, one of his most acclaimed films and after this in 2010 the final part of the trilogy was released with Ong Bak 3 (the latter is the continuation of Ong Bak 2.After Ong Bak 3 premiered in Thailand, Tony Jaa was ordained as a Theravada Buddhist at Surin Monastery, his hometown in northwest Thailand.This is a ritual ceremony that does not mean Jaa's permanent entry into the Buddhist Monastery. that the actor and director has chosen precisely this moment to free himself from the contractual commitment that binds him with Sahamongkol, the production company with which he has just recorded the third installment of the Ong Bak saga.In any case, at the beginning of 2011 he stopped being part of the community of monks.

Tony Jaa made his Hollywood debut with the film Furious 7 (Fast and Furious 7), released in 2013, in which he plays one of the villainous allies of Jason Statham's character.

In 2017 he participated in the film xXx: Return of Xander Cage, the third part of the Xander Cage saga, starring Vin Diesel.

Filmography