The making of an icon
- Published: 11 Nov 2012 at 02.57
- Newspaper section: Brunch
Tony Jaa is known as martial artist, physical educator, actor, choreographer, stuntman and director. Films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, Tom Yum Goong (The Protector), Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning and Ong-Bak 3.
Tatchakorn Yeerum, also Panom Yeerum and Worawit Yeerum but most commonly known in Thailand as Ja Panom, was born in 1976 in Surin province as part of the Khmer-speaking minority at a time when there was a lot of border strife and military activity in the area. He says he honed his quickness by running from bombs.
Jaa grew up watching films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Vince Lam and Jet Li, who inspired him to learn martial arts. He imitated their moves in his father's rice paddy and began learning muay Thai at 10.
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