Tony Jaa is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, director, and traceur.
Prior to becoming a leading actor, Jaa worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of his mentor Panna Rittikrai’s films. His martial arts films are credited with helping to showcase the Thai combat systems of Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and “Muay Kotchasaan” (a fighting style Jaa and Rittikrai developed in 2005). His Thai films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), which was his breakthrough role, Tom-Yum-Goong (2005), Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008), Ong Bak 3 (2010), and Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013).
RELATED:
Tony Jaa 9 Highest Grossing Movies With Their Plots
After leaving the Thai movie company Sahamongkol Film International in 2013, Jaa signed with Universal Studios, and focused more on an international fan base. Since then, Jaa has appeared in films such as Furious 7 (2015), SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015), Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018), and Expend4bles (2023).
In his youth, Jaa watched films by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan at temple fairs, which inspired him to learn martial arts. He practiced the techniques in his father’s rice paddy.[citation needed] “What they [Lee and Chan] did was so beautiful, so heroic that I wanted to do it too,” Jaa told Time in a 2004 interview.
“I practiced until I could do the move exactly as I had seen the masters do it.” Jaa was also inspired by Jet Li.
Jaa began training in Muay Thai at his local temple at age 10. By 15, he was a protégé of stuntman and action film director Panna Rittikrai. Panna had instructed Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in Maha Sarakham Province from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree. His early martial arts experience included Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and Krabi-Krabong, with an emphasis on gymnastics and acrobatics. His films have showcased various other martial arts styles, such as Kung-fu, Silat, and Jiu-Jitsu.
RELATED:
MMA Fighters React To Tony Jaa Fight Scenes
