AWESOME! Tony Jaa and Jason Statham Team Up In A New Action Thriller!

Jaa watched martial arts films as a young kid and began to emulate some of his idols, from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li. Jaa studied martial arts at the local temple school and later under a scholarship at the Physical Education College in Khon Kaen, Thailand where he continued to study Muay Boran, Muay Thai, Wushu, Judo and Tae Kwando. Ja later did some stunt for in a film for’Panna Rittikrai’, This resulted in Jaa being seen and getting work, doubling for Robin Shou and James Remar in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), and when his demo reel was seen by director Prachya Pinkaew, the film Ong-bak (2003) was created for Ja.

Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen (Yates), a dancer, and Barry Statham, a street merchant and lounge singer. Statham has done quite a lot in a short time. He has been a Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished 12th in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman and finally of course, actor. He got the audition for his debut role as Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) through French Connection, for whom he was modeling. They became a major investor in the film and introduced Jason to Guy Ritchie, who invited him to audition for a part in the film by challenging him to impersonate an illegal street vendor and convince him to purchase fake jewelery. Jason must have been doing something right because after the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) he teamed up again with Guy Ritchie for Snatch.

 Muay thai is just a watered down version of Muay Thai Boran. They watter it down so that it could be used as a sport. Certain moves in Muay Thai Boran are illegal in the sport world.

If you plan on competing in a sport, take muay thai. If you just want be able to defend yourself (& look like a Tony Jaa doing it), take Muay Thai Boran.

Muay boran  “ancient boxing” or originally “Toi Muay”(ต่อยมวย) is an umbrella term for the unarmed martial arts of Thailand prior to the introduction of modern equipment and rules in the 1930s. It is thus the direct ancestor of modern Muay Thai. Muay boran is not a single style but acts as an umbrella term for all traditional Siamese (Thai) styles of martial arts, such as Muay Chaiya, Muay Korat, Muay Tasao, and Muay Jerng. These ancient styles have their own unique guards, stance and striking techniques. Whereas Muay Thai is often called the “science of eight limbs”, muay boran is said to make use of nawa awut which means “nine weapons”, adding headbutts as ninth offensive in addition to the “eight limbs” of hands, legs, elbows and knees used in Muay Thai.

Nowadays Muay Boran is still taught in Thailand. In comparison with modern Muay, Muay Boran instructor emphasizes traditional insights and methods. He will not pass from one technique to another until he is certain that the students understand all it entails. Muay Boran students have to practice walking techniques for a month before being trained for other skills.

The Yaang Sam Khum (The Muay Shuffle) is the core element of Muay Boran. It is called among those in the realms of Muay Boran as Tar Khru (The teacher’s form) as it apparently reflects the teacher’s unique methods and techniques. We can tell who the teacher of these fighters is just by watching them perform the Yaang Sam Khum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2k8am5VUj8