Seigi ozeki martial arts background information

Following the example of Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, this once again thrusts Muay Thai boxing into a period setting. Shame it’s kinda dull then…?

You have to worry about a film whose opening credits claim to be ‘based on historical facts’ and ‘the imagination of the films producers’ in order to ‘commemorate the 124th anniversary of Thailand-Japan diplomatic relations’.

There’s also plenty of on-screen exposition before we even get started…

Set in 1612 in the Kingdom of Ayothaya a young samurai warrior Yamada Nagamasa (Seigi Ozeki, The Odd Couple) has left behind his homeland as a member of the Japanese volunteer regiment serving the sovereignty of the Thai people.

But when Yamada uncovers treachery within those ranks, as Japanese samurai are disguising themselves as Hongsawadee warriors to raid villagers, they leave him for dead.

Nursed back to health in a remote village, he finds a new family there and learns the art of Muay Boran (Thai boxing) under wise monk Ph