1. Tony Jaa began training in Muay Thai at age 10, and fought professionally as a Muay Thai fighter when he was discovered by filmmaker Panna Rittikrai.
27 Facts About Tony Jaa
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Tony Jaa starred in Tom-Yum-Goong, which earned him a Suphannahong National Film Award, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, which marked his directorial debut, and Tom Yum Goong 2.
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Tony Jaa is credited with helping establish the Thai action genre worldwide, and his martial arts films are credited with helping showcase the Thai combat systems of Muay Thai, Muay Boran, and "Muay Kotchasaan".
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Tony Jaa is trained in the styles of Krabi-Krabong and Taekwondo.
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Tony Jaa is widely considered one of the greatest martial arts stars in the history of cinema.
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Tony Jaa was born and raised in a rural area in Surin Province to Rin Saipetch and Thongdee Yeerum.
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Tony Jaa practiced the techniques in his father's rice paddy.
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Tony Jaa began training in Muay Thai at his local temple at age 10.
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Panna had instructed Tony Jaa to attend Maha Sarakham College of Physical Education in Maha Sarakham Province from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree.
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Tony Jaa's films have showcased various other martial arts styles, such as Kung-Fu, Judo, Aikido, Silat, and Jiu-Jitsu.
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Tony Jaa initially worked as a stuntman for Muay Thai Stunt for 14 years, appearing in many of Rittikrai's films.
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Tony Jaa doubled for Sammo Hung when the martial-arts movie actor made a commercial for an energy drink that required him to grasp an elephant's tusks and somersault onto the elephant's back.
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Tony Jaa was a stunt double in the Thai television series Insee Daeng.
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Together, Panna and Tony Jaa developed an interest in Muay Boran, the predecessor of muay thai and worked and trained for four years at the art with the intention of developing a film about it.
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Tony Jaa did all the stunts without mechanical assistance or computer-generated effects and it showcased his style of extreme acrobatics and speedy, dance-like moves.
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Tony Jaa's films were noted to be innovative productions featuring fast paced martial arts choreography and stunts.
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Tony Jaa's films captured the attention of his hero, Jackie Chan, who asked director Brett Ratner to cast Tony Jaa in Rush Hour 3.
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However, Tony Jaa mentioned that he is unable to participate in the film because of scheduling conflicts with Ong Bak 2.
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Tony Jaa had been cast in a small role in a third installment of the King Naresuan film series directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol, although the film was ultimately cancelled.
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Tony Jaa filmed Tom Yum Goong 2 for them, with Chocolate star Jija Yanin in a major role too, the first time Jaa has shared the big screen with another international martial arts star.
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In 2013, Tony Jaa teamed up with Dolph Lundgren in the Thai western-comedy A Man Will Rise and in 2014 in Lundgren's pet project Skin Trade.
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Tony Jaa then co-starred in the blockbuster action film Furious 7, produced by and starring Vin Diesel and directed by James Wan.
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Tony Jaa teamed up with fellow actors Louis Koo and Wu Jing in Hong Kong-Chinese action film SPL II: A Time for Consequences.
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Tony Jaa was briefly attached to the remake of Kickboxer: Vengeance.
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In October 2016, Tony Jaa co-starred with Koo again in Paradox, the third installment of the SPL series.
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Tony Jaa was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2017.
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Tony Jaa married his longtime girlfriend Piyarat Chotiwattananont on 3 May 2012.