Muay Thai Stunt
Encyclopedia
Muay Thai Stunt is a Thailand
-based group of stunt double
s, formed by Panna Rittikrai
to work alongside with him on action films. Members of the stunt team are skilled in acrobatics
and gymnastics
, weapons-related fighting arts, Muay Thai
and other martial arts
including Wushu
and Tae Kwon Do. The stunt team specializes in fight choreography, fall stunts, wire-work, vehicular stunts and explosion stunts. A trademark of Panna's films is the use of full contact rather than pulling punches or the use of camera tricks in the fight scenes.
in 1979, composed of 20 people at its initial conception. In 1982, Panna and his crew worked on Kerd ma lui (Born to Fight) with Panna as director, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator as well as actor in the lead role. Several of his stuntmen co-starred in it. Between the mid 1980s to late '90s, over 50 low-budget indie action films were produced.
By the mid '90s, the action genre in Thailand was at a decline, causing several of the members to disband from the stunt team. Due to lack of interest, Panna was force to discontinue producing action films momentarily, marking an end of the B-movie actioner era.
In 1999, Panna formed a partnership with Prachya Pinkaew
and Prachya's production house, Baa-Ram-Ewe, to collaborate on a big-budget studio film, Ong-Bak, through Sahamongkol Film International
. Prachya was to direct while Panna served as martial-arts choreographer and stunt coordinator. Sharing the same passion for action films, they both intended to revive this genre in Thailand through Ong Bak with raw and daring physical stunts as shown in Panna's earlier films. Before production, Panna assembled a new stunt team again and he handpicked one of his proteges, Tony Jaa
, to take the lead role. After four years of production, Ong-Bak was released and it became an international box-office success.
The success led to more Thai action film projects with further collaboration between Baa-Ram-Ewe and Panna's stunt team. In 2004, the action comedy, The Bodyguard
and a new version of Panna's first action movie, Kerd ma lui
was released. Dan Chupong
who started as a stuntmen like Tony Jaa, was promoted to lead actor for Born to Fight. In Born to Fight, Panna put more emphasis on the stunts and less on fight choreography.
Other notable films with Panna and his stunt team include Ong Bak 2
, Mercury Man
and Chocolate
.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
-based group of stunt double
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
s, formed by Panna Rittikrai
Panna Rittikrai
Panna Rittikrai is a Thai martial arts action choreographer, film director, screenwriter and actor...
to work alongside with him on action films. Members of the stunt team are skilled in acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
and gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, weapons-related fighting arts, Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
and other martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
including Wushu
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
and Tae Kwon Do. The stunt team specializes in fight choreography, fall stunts, wire-work, vehicular stunts and explosion stunts. A trademark of Panna's films is the use of full contact rather than pulling punches or the use of camera tricks in the fight scenes.
Early Films
The stunt team was formed in Khon Kaen ProvinceKhon Kaen Province
-History:The first city of the area was established in 1783 when Rajakruluang settled there with 330 people. King Rama I made Rajakruluang the first governor of the area when establishing tighter connections with the Isan area. The main city was moved six times until in 1879 it reached its modern...
in 1979, composed of 20 people at its initial conception. In 1982, Panna and his crew worked on Kerd ma lui (Born to Fight) with Panna as director, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator as well as actor in the lead role. Several of his stuntmen co-starred in it. Between the mid 1980s to late '90s, over 50 low-budget indie action films were produced.
By the mid '90s, the action genre in Thailand was at a decline, causing several of the members to disband from the stunt team. Due to lack of interest, Panna was force to discontinue producing action films momentarily, marking an end of the B-movie actioner era.
A New Beginning
Prachya Pinkaew
Prachya Pinkaew is a Thai film director, film producer and screenwriter. His films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and Tom-Yum-Goong, both martial arts films starring Tony Jaa.-Biography:...
and Prachya's production house, Baa-Ram-Ewe, to collaborate on a big-budget studio film, Ong-Bak, through Sahamongkol Film International
Sahamongkol Film International
Sahamongkol Film International Co. Ltd. is a Thai motion picture production and distribution company. It is the leading movie company in Thailand, ahead of GMM Grammy's GMM Tai Hub, Five Star Production and...
. Prachya was to direct while Panna served as martial-arts choreographer and stunt coordinator. Sharing the same passion for action films, they both intended to revive this genre in Thailand through Ong Bak with raw and daring physical stunts as shown in Panna's earlier films. Before production, Panna assembled a new stunt team again and he handpicked one of his proteges, Tony Jaa
Tony Jaa
Tatchakorn Yeerum , formerly Panom Yeerum , better known in the West as Tony Jaa, in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial artist, actor, choreographer, stuntman, director, and monk...
, to take the lead role. After four years of production, Ong-Bak was released and it became an international box-office success.
The success led to more Thai action film projects with further collaboration between Baa-Ram-Ewe and Panna's stunt team. In 2004, the action comedy, The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard (2004 film)
The Bodyguard is a 2004 wire fu action-comedy written and directed by Thai comedian and actor Petchtai Wongkamlao and featuring martial-arts choreography by Panna Ritikrai...
and a new version of Panna's first action movie, Kerd ma lui
Kerd ma lui
Born to Fight is a 2004 Thai action film directed by Panna Rittikrai. It followed Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, on which Panna served as martial arts choreographer, and featured more of his "no strings attached" stuntwork. Many of the actors in Born to Fight were Thai national athletes...
was released. Dan Chupong
Dan Chupong
Chupong Changprung is a Thai martial arts film actor. He is also known by his Westernized name, Dan Chupong...
who started as a stuntmen like Tony Jaa, was promoted to lead actor for Born to Fight. In Born to Fight, Panna put more emphasis on the stunts and less on fight choreography.
Other notable films with Panna and his stunt team include Ong Bak 2
Ong Bak 2
Ong Bak 2: The Beginning is a 2008 Thai martial arts film co-directed by and starring Tony Jaa. It is a follow-up to Jaa's 2003 breakout film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. Initially claimed to be a sequel to Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, Ong Bak 2 was then announced to be a prequel to its predecessor...
, Mercury Man
Mercury Man (film)
Mercury Man is a 2006 Thai superhero martial arts action film. It is directed by Bhandit Thongdee with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai of Ong-Bak, Tom-Yum-Goong and Born to Fight....
and Chocolate
Chocolate (2008 film)
Chocolate , also known as Zen, Warrior Within, is a 2008 Thai martial arts film starring Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda in her debut film performance. It is directed by Prachya Pinkaew, with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai...
.
Members
- Panna RittikraiPanna RittikraiPanna Rittikrai is a Thai martial arts action choreographer, film director, screenwriter and actor...
- Tony JaaTony JaaTatchakorn Yeerum , formerly Panom Yeerum , better known in the West as Tony Jaa, in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial artist, actor, choreographer, stuntman, director, and monk...
- Dan ChupongDan ChupongChupong Changprung is a Thai martial arts film actor. He is also known by his Westernized name, Dan Chupong...
aka Chupong Changprung - Kawee Sirikhanaerat
- Somjai Junmoontree
- Banphot Kimuenwai
- Patchawat Sooksil
- Kritsanapong Ratchata
- Banlu Srisaeng