Tony Jaa: 10 Best Fight Scenes, Ranked

Tony Jaa is one of the best rising action stars of this generation. These are his top 10 fights to date that action fans should watch right now. Tony Jaa is a name that is familiar to most action movie fans. Since Jaa burst onto the scene with the classic Ong-Bak fight in 2003, he has been instrumental in bringing the hard-hitting fighting style of Muay Thai to Western audiences. Eventually, his popularity was enough to get him cast in Hollywood films such as Furious 7 and XXX: Return of Xander Cage. No matter what movie he’s in, Jaa always delivers elegantly brutal fight scenes. So, let’s take a look at ten of his best action scenes and find out what makes the actor such a hot commodity in the world of action films.

Truck Fight (Furious 7)

This scene would already be memorable for marking Jaa’s first appearance in a big-budget Hollywood production, but in its own right it is well composed. His character’s speed and ferocity almost completely surpass Paul Walker’s, and it’s all the protagonist can do to stay alive during a fight. Unfortunately, there are a few technical issues that prevent this scene from ranking higher on the list. The number of unnecessary cuts, as well as slight camera shake, can make it difficult to understand what is happening during combat. However, it is well-produced enough to earn the last spot on this list.

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Street Fight (Master Z: Ip Man Legacy)

Jaa’s appearance in the venerable Ip Man franchise could be considered little more than a cameo role, but the actor manages to be memorable nonetheless. Perhaps it’s his complete relentless pursuit of Cheng Ting Chi Max Zhang, or maybe it’s that cute hat he wears everywhere. Either way, having abilities that match the main character of Ip Man will earn him a place on this list. Unfortunately, the scene is too short, and Jaa only appears again at the end of the film and makes no further contact with Cheng. Still, perhaps it’s better to be short and sweet than long and mediocre.

Slaver Fight (Ong-Bak 2)

There’s a reason why the antagonists in revenge films usually turn out to be complete and utter bastards. If they weren’t such terrible people, viewers might wonder if the vengeance the hero unleashes on them might be a little over the top. Ong-Bak 2 knows this, which is why one of the film’s most brutal battles pits the protagonist against a group of slave traders. It features some great Drunken Master style fighting, and it’s damn satisfying to see Tien’s character get revenge on the people who took such pleasure in tormenting him earlier in the film. Just try not to flinch at any point during this fight.

The One-Shot Restaurant Fight (The Protector)

Ong Bak may have brought Tony Jaa to the attention of Western audiences, but it was 2005’s The Protector that cemented him as a star to watch. The film features some of Jaa’s most brutal fights as Kham, who tries to recover a stolen elephant. Anyone who gets in the way of this goal will have a bad day. Midway through the film, Kham storms a restaurant that serves exotic animals, during which he makes his way to several stories. The scene was shot in one take and is worth watching.

Medical Center Fight (Killzone 2)

Jaa’s first foray into the Hong Kong action scene finds him playing Chatchai, a prison guard forced to overlook Warden Ko Chun’s illegal activities for the sake of his ill daughter. Eventually, he turns on his boss to help the wrongfully imprisoned Kit. This leads to a final fight in a high rise medical facility against his former boss. Ko Chun is a force to be reckoned with and has the upper hand for most of the fight. His unorthodox fighting style is a visual treat, and the fight keeps the audience guessing who will win right up until the last moment.

Torture Fight (Ong-Bak 3)

There’s no denying that the Ong-Bak sequels are a couple of truly strange films. Moving from modern-day Thailand to 15th-century Thailand is quite a big shift, and the films’ plots get weirder as it goes on. They did have some good fight scenes though. Ong-Bak 3 begins with the protagonist Tien in chains, being beaten with a staff on the orders of the villainous Lord Rajasena. That doesn’t stop him from briefly overpowering his captors and kicking their asses while he’s still chained up. It’s a shame that he spends most of the rest of the film on the sidelines.

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Village Fight (Ong-Bak 2)

At the film’s climax, the protagonist Tien discovers that there is some truth to the saying that you can’t go home again. In his case, it’s because the mercenaries he called family are waiting to ambush him when he returns. It’s a hell of a homecoming. This fight was remembered for the huge number of fighting styles presented. Tien constantly has to adapt to survive. Unfortunately, this leads to the ending; a disappointing cliffhanger that resolves nothing, with the vague promise of a third film that no one was sure would happen at the time.

Bone Breaking Fight (The Protector)

So, as mentioned earlier in the article, the main character Kham just wants his damn elephant back. Unfortunately, by the time he gets there, the poor animal has already been killed and its bones are on display. Naturally, Kham is distraught by this, and his cries of anguish drain his heart. Then some stupid thug stabs Kham, who snaps out of it and then snaps the bones of a couple dozen guys like twigs. So many creative ways to destroy the human body packed into five minutes of combat. The loud crunch that accompanies them only enhances the effect.

Three-Way Fight (Triple Threat)

Ah, the triple threat. An ensemble of martial arts movie stars come together to do what they do best. What plot… is there even a plot? Who knows. Audiences knew what they came for when they sat down to watch this film, and it wasn’t about the thin plot and deep characters. By far the most memorable showdown in the film occurs near the end, when Jaa and The Raid star Iko Uwais take on direct-to-DVD champion Scott Adkins. This is a brutal fight, and by the end of it you can almost feel the character’s fatigue.

Club Fight (Ong-Bak)

Ong Bak is the film that made Tony Jaa famous, so of course the best fight in the film will top the list. While searching for the head of his village’s favorite statue, the hero Ting ends up in an underground fight club. Although he was initially reluctant to get involved, he eventually steps in to protect a civilian and that’s when all hell breaks loose. Ting brutally overcomes three different fighters, each with their own unique fighting style. This is one of the longest fights in the film, and Jaa demonstrates his movements with grace and brutality. Words cannot do it justice. Go watch this movie. Now.