Lower Providence Aikido

You've been living off planet if you don't know who Tony Jaa is. The star of Ong Bak and other silver screen offerings, he is faster than Bruce Lee, more athletic than Jackie Chan, and looks to have a long career in the movies in front of him. What most people don't know is that this budding movie legend once threatened to commit suicide.

The threat to kill oneself sounds serious, but in this case it is a laugher. When Tony was young he watched movies of his hero, Bruce Lee, and he was immediately struck with a deep and profound love for the martial arts. He would practice for hours, changing his daily tasks into work outs, striving to become like his heroes of the silver screen.

Eventually, he approached his father and asked for martial arts instruction. When the answer was no, Tony did something that only a child would do. He said that if he didn't get Muay Thai lessons he would kill himself.

Well, no dinner for you, young upstart. But, the end result of it was that Tony did eventually receive those coveted martial arts lessons. It turned out to be the best money his family ever spent.

His direction in life now on a certain path, Tony trained hard (though not in formal settings). He eventually became a stunt person under action film director Panna Rittikrai. Mr. Rittikrai, taking note of Tony's undeniable talent, told him to attend a college for physical education.

At the upper school Tony took serious interest in Taekwondo, Aikido and ju-jitsu. These martial arts helped round him out and gave him even more depth as a martial artist. This all converts to realism on the silver screen.

For proof of this, this author would like to point out one film, The Protector. In that movie Tony walks up a circular flight of stairs, fighting some eighty people while never repeating a technique. While this is impressive, what makes it legendary is that it was done in one camera cut.

Tony Jaa has established himself, and is rival to the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Where he will go now will be most interesting, as Tony has become a monk. That's right, on May 28,2010, Tony Jaa became a Buddhist Monk at a Buddhist Temple in Surin, Thailand.