Once you take a look at the latest martial arts import, “”Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior”” you’ll understand why Tony Jaa is being billed as the next big thing in Martial Arts. Some of the stunts that he pulls off in this small film are amazing. Not because they are particularly original, but because he does them without the benefit of using wires. The man seems to be fearless, when you meet him in person it’s amazing how quiet unassuming this ball of energy and fierce power is.
We recently took part in a roundtable discussion with him and his interpreter. Out of everyone at the round table he liked me the best. I asked four of the questions in this interview, for snicks let’s see if you can guess which ones. The actual discussion took about one hour, here’s a little part of what we talked about. I may post a second part to this interview next week.QDo you think that if everyone in this room got up and rushed you, you could beat the hell out of us?TJ[laughs] No I don’t think I could be everybody because you all look so strong.QHow did you start to study Martial Arts?TJI first started when I was ten years old by watching films by Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee and of course the master Pa Nai. I would watch these films and practice on my own. I went to practice with Mast Pa Nai. I started apprenticed under him and started working on his sets as everything from Water Boy to Cooking to Stunt Double, etc