'Ong-Bak' star discusses combat, films, hypothetical celebrity duels
Tony Jaa shares his background in muay Thai

By Kathleen Sanders / Staff Writer
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2005
easternecho.com

Thai actor and martial artist Tony Jaa began learning muay Thai at an early age. He plays a muay Thai warrior named Ting in "Ong-Bak."

Tony Jaa is capable of kicking some major ass. He's so lethal, in fact, that this interview was conducted over the phone through an interpreter. Had I been in the same room and he had so much as sneezed, it might have blown my head off. That, and he was in Atlanta.

Echo: Can you tell me more about muay Thai? How did you get into muay Thai?

Jaa: I had a background of muay Thai since I was a child. My father was a muay Thai boxer. Actually, there are three types of muay Thai. The ancient type of muay Thai that you see in the movie that the ancestors used during wartime ... has a lot of culture steeped into it. Like the ceremony where you pay respect to your masters. There is the stage muay Thai, which is the muay Thai that you see on the stage as a sport, and also armature muay Thai that you see as well.

Echo: This movie is gaining international appeal. I've heard that Luc Besson was involved in getting it seen all over the world.

Jaa: Luc Besson saw the film and said it resembled the old Bruce Lee style of film and wanted to distribute the film. But before that, the director Prachya Pinkaew actually put a short message in the film to Luc Besson saying he wanted to work with him.

Echo: Are there any plans for that?

Jaa: That's an opportunity that would be in the future. It's still in the talks.

Echo: What are we going to see from you next?

Jaa: Right now we are filming a movie in Thailand called "Tom Yong Kun." [It] is a Thai dish. It has to do with muay Thai and muay Thai. With elephants. There definitely will be something new for you to see. Bigger production crew, more international actors. How new and how different -- you'll have to wait and see.

Echo: How long will we have to wait?

Jaa: It will open in Asia in August.

Echo: Now, I have some very important questions. Since you are an expert fighter and martial artist, I believe you have real insight into these next couple of questions. So. Who would win in a fight, no weapons, cage match: Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Aniston?

Jaa: [Laughter] It would probably be a draw. They both have the spirit of a fighter.

Echo: How about John Kerry versus George W. Bush?

Jaa: [Laughter, some discussion in Thai] If they fight with their goodness and humanity, it would have to be the person with the most experience.

Echo: I think you're ready for a career in politics with such an answer as that! How about Yoda versus Gandalf?

Jaa: [A pause, small discussion] They would fight with their philosophies, so when they fight it would have to be something to do with their inner strength and belief. Who has the most humanity would win.

Echo: Okay, Bruce Lee versus a tiger?

Jaa: In terms of martial arts, Bruce Lee would win, of course. In terms of fighting instincts, a tiger would win because they have the claws and weapons built in. So it's different.

Echo: Last one! A ninja versus a pirate?

Jaa: Well, a ninja has swiftness and they move with the night; it depends on the goodness that they do. If the ninja helps a good person then they will be good. Pirates rob people -- that won't be good -- but if they rob from the rich to give to the poor, that would be a good thing. But if they don't fight, that would be better, because they would help the world be a better place.

 

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