Saw this posted in another forum. I thought it would be of particular interest to DBMA types:
Tony Jaa to wield a 'Sword' for third film
Variety's Asian film blog Kaiju Shakedown reports that Tony Jaa is teaming up with director Prachya Pinkaew yet again for a third martial arts actioner, this time set in Thailand's past and featuring swordplay.
According to published information released at this year's Cannes, Sword will be a "spectacular saga" that "depicts the heroism of Thai history's legendary warriors as they fight to protect their homeland."
As for the martial arts, Tony Jaa will be using the ancient art of Dab Thai, or Double-Handed Sword Fighting. This style of swordplay is described as "one of the most beautiful yet lethal weapons arts ever seen on film."
Dab Thai swordplay is a uniquely Thai martial art that has been around for well over a thousand years. What sets it apart from other Asian sword techniques is the integration of fist, feet and knee attacks. Identical double-edged swords are often used and the sword grips may be employed to attack the enemy's weak spots, such as joints.
Jaa's second film, Tom Yum Goong, is presently set for theatrical release in Thailand and other parts of East Asia on August 11th, 2005.