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.

Q

Do 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.

Q

How did you start to study Martial Arts?

TJ

I 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 Eventually I became a stuntman and learned different types of martial arts, eventually I went to a physical education academy.

Q

Is there any difference doing martial arts for film as opposed to sport?

TJ

It's different because things in film are more for detail it's more of an art. In sports you only care about getting the hit and scoring points so it's less graceful. Film is an art you get to see more of the beauty of the moves and movement.

Q

This is the first time we get to see you as actor. Can you talk about the transition from being in the background to being the lead?

TJ

I got a lot of my experience by being on the set. Being a stuntman you are more behind the scenes, people don't know it's you doing those stunts. When you are on the screen it gives viewers a chance to be in awe of you because it's really you doing those stunts. Like in "Ong-Bak" I bring out my talents to show people I do those stunts for real. It gives people a chance to bring out my talent be in awe and captivated. This is also the first time that Muay Thai has been shown on film. Our goal was for the viewer to see that with Muay Thai all of these moves are possible, that you don't need wires, or graphics of any kind to do them.

Q

Can you talk a little about the preparation that went into creating this film, especially some of the more complicated scenes.

TJ

With "Ong-Bak" we wanted viewers to see the real ability without the use of stunts. The goal was to showcase the true nature of Muay Thai. In the film you see the use of Gymnastics and combination of Arts. A lot of films that are use in Martial Arts don't look good on film. We wanted to create a sense of awe for the audience. In the film you get a variety of flavors, you get the good and bad, and comedy.

Q

In the film there is an extended scene where you run through a market place and jump through a circle of barbed wire. Is there ever a time when you step back and fear comes into play or was everything so well prepared that you never had any doubt?

TJ

It takes a lot of safety preparations. The training and precautions that we take makes me feel confident that it will go well. For instance with the barbed wire scene, we first took a larger piece of wire to see how far I can jump, and then we made it smaller and smaller to get it to what you see on the screen. Or the mirror scene where we did it until the point where we could see what move we could do and still make it stunning for the audience. Along with the split under the car, I could already do the split we just needed to find the right car.

Q

Again no fear?

TJ

Well there was fear. [everyone laughs] But the combination of preparation and practice subsides the fear and turns it into happiness.