Post by agentorange4 on Oct 25, 2005 12:15:10 GMT 1
NO stunt-doubles No wire work No cgi
Abandoned on the steps of a rual village temple shortly after his birth, Ting (Tony Jaa) grows up to be a master of Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and a hero to his only family he has ever known. When the future of his people is threatened by the theft of an all-powerfull budda statue (Ong-Bak). Ting must sacrifice all he beleves and, single handedly over come the might of a ruthless criminal empire, to win back there greatest treasure.
Unlike the superficially similar Kick-Boxing, which developed as an artificial fusion of far-eastern high-kicking styles such as karate and Tae Kwon Do and good, honest western-style boxing, Muay Thai has a very long and esteemed heritage.
It was developed some 1-2 thousand years ago as an effective way for Siamese soldiers to keep sharp during peacetime without using edged weapons. Legend also has it that the Thais often couldn't afford swords anyway, having to resort instead in battle to a particularly effective form of unarmed combat - I'll let you expand on that mental image yourselves... As a spectator sport in its own right it has been recorded at least as far back as the middle ages, as long as if not longer than most of the other better known Far Eastern martial arts.
It was only in the 1930s that it grew into the sport we know today, with the introduction of weight divisions, timed rounds and gloves as opposed to hemp rope or leather thongs wound around the hands. (Incidentally, claims that fighters of old dipped their bound fists into glue and then glass appear to be completely unsubstantiated.) With these developments in safety many Thai old-timers feel their sport has been ruined. Even today in Thailand punches rarely score, and are not viewed as true "weapons" by the local purists.
Nonetheless, the "Art of Eight Limbs" (two shins, knees, elbows and fists), and the unique clinchwork (a form of stand-up grappling) used today would be recognisable in the fights staged for the pleasure of the Siamese kings in the seventeenth century. Only one "limb" -the headbutt - has been totally banned.
There is a deeply spiritual side of Muay Thai of which people are often unaware. In the UK as in Thailand, fights are steeped in ritual and ceremony. It is from a more superstitious past and culture that we have inherited the pre-fight ritual dance (Ram-Muay or Wai-Kru) that each boxer performs before each fight. The object of this balletic exercise is not only to exorcise any evil spirits that may be lurking in the ring, but also to pay homage and respect to the fighter's trainer, the judges and officials present, and of course the opponent. It is the living embodiment of the humility and respectfulness that flows through the art of Muay Thai and Thai culture - there is no place for posing or throaty warrior-style shouting in this fighting art.
Each camp or group of gyms has its own particular style of Ram Muay, which goes along with individual camp colours (shown on the shorts) and a certain individuality of fighting style. This style tends to reflect the ethos of the camp's head instructor or Kru, and adds a certain diversity to the sport. Each fighter's Ram Muay is also meant to be personal in some way, and many fighters in Thailand develop their own routines, particularly the part of the Ram-Muay where the boxer makes a highly stylised representation of using weapons of some sort, swords, bows etc to kill his opponent. It was reported that one boxer recently caused outrage in Bangkok when he ritualistically acted out using an uzi machine gun! It's certainly a sport that moves with the times.
I recomend this movie to any Martil art lover. It will blow you away WATCH IT! WATCH IT NOW!!!!
(it was pretty long eh, seems i pasted the same thing twice by mistek
)
Abandoned on the steps of a rual village temple shortly after his birth, Ting (Tony Jaa) grows up to be a master of Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and a hero to his only family he has ever known. When the future of his people is threatened by the theft of an all-powerfull budda statue (Ong-Bak). Ting must sacrifice all he beleves and, single handedly over come the might of a ruthless criminal empire, to win back there greatest treasure.
Unlike the superficially similar Kick-Boxing, which developed as an artificial fusion of far-eastern high-kicking styles such as karate and Tae Kwon Do and good, honest western-style boxing, Muay Thai has a very long and esteemed heritage.
It was developed some 1-2 thousand years ago as an effective way for Siamese soldiers to keep sharp during peacetime without using edged weapons. Legend also has it that the Thais often couldn't afford swords anyway, having to resort instead in battle to a particularly effective form of unarmed combat - I'll let you expand on that mental image yourselves... As a spectator sport in its own right it has been recorded at least as far back as the middle ages, as long as if not longer than most of the other better known Far Eastern martial arts.
It was only in the 1930s that it grew into the sport we know today, with the introduction of weight divisions, timed rounds and gloves as opposed to hemp rope or leather thongs wound around the hands. (Incidentally, claims that fighters of old dipped their bound fists into glue and then glass appear to be completely unsubstantiated.) With these developments in safety many Thai old-timers feel their sport has been ruined. Even today in Thailand punches rarely score, and are not viewed as true "weapons" by the local purists.
Nonetheless, the "Art of Eight Limbs" (two shins, knees, elbows and fists), and the unique clinchwork (a form of stand-up grappling) used today would be recognisable in the fights staged for the pleasure of the Siamese kings in the seventeenth century. Only one "limb" -the headbutt - has been totally banned.
There is a deeply spiritual side of Muay Thai of which people are often unaware. In the UK as in Thailand, fights are steeped in ritual and ceremony. It is from a more superstitious past and culture that we have inherited the pre-fight ritual dance (Ram-Muay or Wai-Kru) that each boxer performs before each fight. The object of this balletic exercise is not only to exorcise any evil spirits that may be lurking in the ring, but also to pay homage and respect to the fighter's trainer, the judges and officials present, and of course the opponent. It is the living embodiment of the humility and respectfulness that flows through the art of Muay Thai and Thai culture - there is no place for posing or throaty warrior-style shouting in this fighting art.
Each camp or group of gyms has its own particular style of Ram Muay, which goes along with individual camp colours (shown on the shorts) and a certain individuality of fighting style. This style tends to reflect the ethos of the camp's head instructor or Kru, and adds a certain diversity to the sport. Each fighter's Ram Muay is also meant to be personal in some way, and many fighters in Thailand develop their own routines, particularly the part of the Ram-Muay where the boxer makes a highly stylised representation of using weapons of some sort, swords, bows etc to kill his opponent. It was reported that one boxer recently caused outrage in Bangkok when he ritualistically acted out using an uzi machine gun! It's certainly a sport that moves with the times.
I recomend this movie to any Martil art lover. It will blow you away WATCH IT! WATCH IT NOW!!!!
(it was pretty long eh, seems i pasted the same thing twice by mistek
)
take me time to read it, but i'll make sure i get round to it 
