She Made One of the Most Brutal Fight Films Ever — Then Disappeared
Video Overview & Insights
JeeJa Yanin was once called the female Tony Jaa — a 94-pound Thai martial artist who shocked the world with Chocolate, one of the most brutal martial arts debuts ever filmed.
JeeJa Yanin gave martial arts cinema one of the most fearless debuts ever with Chocolate — no wires, no doubles, just pure impact. Do you think she deserved to become a bigger international action star?
But after delivering some of the most dangerous fight scenes in modern action cinema, she almost disappeared.
This video tells the story of JeeJa Yanin, the Thai action star behind Chocolate, Raging Phoenix, Triple Threat, and The Furious. From her early taekwondo training in Bangkok to working with Ong-Bak director Prachya Pinkaew and legendary stunt coordinator Panna Rittikrai, JeeJa became one of the most physically fearless female martial arts stars of the 2000s.
Talk about hype. I watched a bunch of clips from that movie, and I'm not seeing what's so great about this chick. Her movement doesn't look that good on camera nor does she look believable. She's flexible and could kick high, but that's not enough.
Lot's of guys could do what she did, BETTER. Stop simping over some average chick just because she can kick.
Her breakout role in Chocolate made audiences compare her to Tony Jaa, Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Cynthia Rothrock. She performed full-contact fights without wires, doubles, or CGI — including the famous ice factory fight, meat warehouse battle, and dangerous billboard finale.
So why didn’t JeeJa Yanin become a bigger international star?
I will Mary her
This video explores the real reasons her career slowed down: the collapse of Thailand’s martial arts movie boom, the death of Panna Rittikrai, limited opportunities for female action stars, motherhood, personal choices, and an industry that never fully knew how to market her.
Now, with The Furious bringing her back to international audiences alongside Joe Taslim, Yayan Ruhian, Xie Miao, and other action stars, JeeJa Yanin may finally get the recognition she deserved.
Chocolate is a masterpiece.... anyone like myself and others who had seen it, i believe had seen it more than once....
This is the forgotten story of Thailand’s most underrated female martial arts legend.
If you enjoy forgotten action stars, martial arts cinema, Tony Jaa-style fight scenes, and deep dives into 80s, 90s, and 2000s action icons, subscribe for more stories from Forgotten Fists.
I want to see this woman in a DC movie as Cassandra Cain.
0:00 The Furious Opens Tomorrow
0:29 Born in Bangkok
Are there nude scenes?
1:10 Her Father Dies, Everything Changes
1:34 The Audition That Wasn't
Chocolate is definitely in one of my top 10 all time.
2:13 A 94-Pound College Student Gets the Lead
3:17 Four Years for One Film
Should watch Coweb 2009. Excellent martial arts movie with a female lead, and she can fight!!
3:49 The Ice Factory Fight
4:43 Festival Circuit and Tarantino's List
Luv this series! Battle Poetry in motion!
5:22 Raging Phoenix and Diminishing Returns
6:28 Tom Yum Goong 2 and the Missed Opportunity
"The Furious" has done really well at the box office. America needs to bring her in from the cold if she wants to. I am a huge fan of "Chocolate" and I hope she is ready to come back.
7:05 Marriage, Pregnancy, and Silence
7:39 Panna Rittikrai Dies — The Movement Collapses
"Chocolate" one of my favorite films.
9:18 Straight-to-Video Rebuilding
9:42 Triple Threat
O Filme Chocolate, de Jeeja Yanin é um dos melhores filmes que assisti nos últimos tempos. Chocolate e a sequência de Ong Bak são muito bons.👍🏻
10:27 A New Life, 2,000 Followers
10:42 Why Her Career Stalled
Ong bak got me into muay thai, I spent most of my early teens religiously learning myself his style. I learnt boxing at a young age, most of my family did and ran boxing gyms. But early on I saw its limitations. Then I saw Tony Jaa and my life was changed, I needed to be that good. Later I learnt some aikido, krav maga and other mma style techniques, not much jui jitsu though. I can say I went from an ok puncher to something else entirely, I was able to predict and respond instantly, I learnt many techniques for locking, trapping and disabling that became almost instinctive, my striking game was also vastly improved, I specialised in elbows and knees. Sadly I had a gym accident that damaged my spine, and a few nerves and could not maintain that level of training, but I never lost that muscle memory and instinctive fighting knowledge, I am very grateful for these people who showed their style to people who would never have noticed otherwise.
11:56 The Furious
13:31 Still in Fighting Condition
A Chocolate sequel where Jeeja's character is a mother going on an international rampage (with moves learned from Taken, John Wick, and Kung Fu Panda) as she chases human traffickers who kidnapped her daughter.
#JeeJaYanin #ChocolateMovie #MartialArtsMovies #TonyJaa #TheFurious #ThaiActionCinema #ForgottenFists
i was watching the furious in the background and heard the distinct fighting sounds she makes like in 2009 raging phoenix. was like no fking way, two minutes of screentime in the furious is crazy
More User Perspectives
I believe she got married, she appeared in other films. Please do better research.
@johndeese2754Oh I forgot about The Furious
No DVD rips to download, only cams since the movie just came out 😭
That main guy played Jet Li's son in a few of his earlier movies
Porque esse audio acelerado??? É uma merda!
@sergiorosa1352She fought against Tony jaa
@peterhoulis1184Chequem o nome dela no IMDB
Tem filme dela lançado até o ano passado.
I can vouch her scene in the furious is INCREDIBLE and really sets the tone for the film
@JwoosleThe return! 😱 Chocolate was a legendary movie growing up, an unprecedented performance. Think about how much Autism awareness has changed, this film predates all of that yet feels so genuine, respectful and faithful.
@adamteeee❤❤❤🇵🇭cebu👍 one of my female action stars a real deal no camera trick no double 👌😎💪 hoping to see some movies again from jeje❤❤❤
@ahlexomen6822All leg work
@sinweiyChocolate was an excellent choreographed film. The problem is that the staged combat lacked authenticity as mutual combat. Please compare with Wheels on Meals. Both are choreographed. This observation does not detract from her work. It is a director issue. I did very much enjoy the movie and it is on my collection.
@MakerBoyOldBoyBefore The Raid movies and during the height of Tony Jaa, there was Jeja Yanin....I love Chocolate and Raging Phoenix and I still own the Blu Ray. Watch it from time to time.
@edzeljereza8234The filter on the clips from Chocolate make it look like it came out in 1987 or something. It's making me feel even older than I am. lol
@tmonkeyking2424It doesn't matter anymore All fight scenes today. Are done in CGI. Cgi would make PeeWee Herman look like the toughest guy in the world. The fight scenes are all fabricated
@gilbertbeverly4296Saw "The Furious". Good movie but had its sad (heart breaking) moments. Great action throughout. Will see it again. I have the movie "Chocolate" on DVD so yeah, watched it a few times. JeeJa was awesome in both movies. Would love to see her in more.
@tonie1992Muaythai dalam pandangan Indonesia
Seni bela diri mengunakan sikut , karena banyak mengunakan " sikut" dan " lutut"
taekwondo seni beladiri Korea menggunakan Kaki
Karena dalam bela dirinya lebih banyak mengunakan tendangan
Memang sangat mudah di REGULASI
Finally, JeeJa Yanin⚔️🌹🎆
@lionelthawne7723That was the most disappointed I had ever been with what they did to a character, having seen Chocolate, then seeing how they portrayed Cassandra Cain in the Birds of Prey movie. They had her, and she was perfect, and instead they gave us...that.
@theenigmaticmrwuI love Chocolate!
@HelloNeighbor-e5vI watch it like, when i was still at school. My friends knows Ong-Bak, i know Chocolate
@vkarvanzer4243I actually just watched Chocolate the other day for the first time in 18 years (it’s actually crazy to think it’s been that long since the movie came out). I remember renting it as a kid with my cousins from blockbuster when it initially released lol
@StarseedAuraChocolate is a pure masterpiece! She was truly amazing and ANYONE I've shown it to loves it, even those that aren't normally into such movies!
I am glad that she found a real life away from cinema and the public, BUT... I think that this woman is EVERYTHING action movies has needed from a female star and I would watch her in ANY action movie she does!
It would be incredible to see her in a movie with Michelle Yeoh and Ming-Na Wen doing showing the world what real world class female action stars could really do!
I remember when Chocolate was on Blockbuster shelves, great times
@matthewbutler-cc8rqAll imma say is watch Chocolate then watch Rising Phenix then watch This Girl Is Badass and you will know
@onyxvision3870I watched Chocolate (2008) back when I had Netflix. I'm so glad I didn't skip it.
@6364LEGACYChocolate is great, just watched it again a few months back. Happy to see her return and hopefully a return of Tai martial art movies
@Triznac52One of the best fight movie. And she do perfect kick and Punch and balance. Because she is a real fighter.
@MR.HEE.I've seen Chocolate at least 10 times. One of my all time favorites.
@BilSande4Great Netflix watch
@djrobgrob8637She's not a Muay Thai martial artist but a Taekwondo champion.
@elyuwalA-m8jShe's also in Crown Princess.
@elyuwalA-m8jI never understood why she never had wider recognition.
@ctyankee-v1x9jJinja Yanin acted in one of her movies called Chocolate.
This movie is one of her best. I loved it.
Great martial arts film, first time I had seen jeeja yanin and I was impressed.
@jerrymurray-x3lI have never forgotten her!!!! I recommend Chocolate, Zen - warrior within to everybody when discussing (martial arts) movies.
She is AWESOME!
The choreography for chocolate was POOR
@tabotabster1770