Tatchakorn Yeerum (Thai: ทัชชกร ยีรัมย์; RTGS: Thatchakon Yiram; pronounced [tʰát.t͡ɕʰā.kɔ̄ːn jīː.rām]; formerly Phanom Yeerum (Thai: พนม ยีรัมย์;  [pʰā.nōm jīː.rām]); born February 5, 1976), better known internationally as Tony Jaa and in Thailand as Jaa Phanom (Thai: จา พนม; RTGS: Cha Phanom;  [t͡ɕāː pʰā.nōm]), is a Thai martial artist, actor, action choreographer, stuntman, director and Buddhist monk. His films include Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003), Tom-Yum-Goong (also called Warrior King or The Protector) (2005), Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2008), Furious 7 (2015) and Sha po lang 2 (also called SPL II: A Time for Consequences or Kill Zone 2) (2015).\n', '

Tony Jaa was born and raised in a rural area in Surin Province to Rin Saipetch and Thongdee Yeerum. He is of Kuy descent and he can speak Thai, Northern Khmer and Kuy.\n', '

In his youth, Jaa watched films by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li at temple fairs, which was his inspiration to learn martial arts. He was so inspired by them that while he was doing chores or playing with friends, he would imitate the martial arts moves that he had seen, practicing in his father\'s rice paddy.[citation needed]\n', '

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