Japanom Yerum was born on February 5, 1976 in the northeastern province of Surin, Thailand. His parents were elephant herders. As a child, Jaa watched martial arts films and started imitating some of his idols, from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li.
Jaa studied martial arts at a local temple school and later on a scholarship at the College of Physical Education in Khon Kaen, Thailand, where he went on to study Muay Thai, Muay Thai, Wushu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do. Jah later did some stunts in Panna Rittikrai. Directed by Prachya Pinkaev, the film Ong-Bak: Fighter of Honor (2003) was made for Jha.
