Tweet
I started this thread with an interview of Master Chai, and I’ll end it with one as well.
Enjoy.
Part one:
Surachai “Chai” Sirisute
The World Is His Gym
By Jose Fargaus
A natural fighter as a child who went on to become a champion in Thailand’s toughest stadiums, master Surachai “Chai” Sirisute has spread the art of Muay Thai around the globe, earning the respect and admiration from all with whom he’s come into contact.
At the tender age of four, Surachai Sirisute demonstrated a natural ability to kick. This piqued the curiosity of Thai boxing master Ajarn Suwan, who taught him the art of Muay Thai. At 12, young “Chai”, as he was called, was fighting in amateur bouts at the local temple fair.
After he became a champion at the two most important stadiums in Thailand, Chai, now called “master” himself, decided to change his life and begin a challenging quest to teach the art to the “Brown hairs” (Americans). Since 1964, Ajarn Chai has been teaching the art of Muay Thai in the United States and all over the world. His reputation has reached every corner of the globe and his training sessions became legendary for their intensity. He is a hard trainer and time moves very slowly on the Ajarn stopwatch – three minute rounds on the Thai Pads often stretch to five – for a minimum of 15 rounds!
The Thai people are devoted to astrology, palmistry, and numerology. Ajarn Chai’s ring name Han Vattana, meaning “Strong Fighter”. Many legendary instructors of other different martial art systems have visited Ajarn Chai for instruction. His ability not only includes empty-hand methods, but also weaponry. Students from all over the world revere him like a father. He has earned that level of respect by sharing Muay Thai with love, compassion, empathy, dedication – and lots and lots of endless and exhausting training sessions. This is his story.
Q: Can you explain the history of Muay Thai?
A: Thai boxing is one of the oldest martial arts in existence. Its origin dates back to 250 B.C., when the Thai clans migrated from central China on the banks of the Yangtze River to Thailand. The Thai’s began a military training regimen for their young men called chupasart, which dealt mainly with the use of swords, spears, and crossbows. In peacetime, legs and arms replaced weaponry, and these movements became the basis of modern Thai boxing.
Q: When did you begin your training in the Thai arts?
A: I started as a young kid in the training camps in Huay Kwang-Dindang province in Thailand. Everybody knows this province for producing great champions. As a kid I was always ready to fight. I began fighting in the ring at 12 years old. I still remember the surprised faces of the Western tourist watching us fighting!
Q: When did you move to the United States?
A: I came to the United States in the early 60’s, so I’ve been here for a long time. I wanted to light a candle where it was dark concerning the Thai arts. Ajarn Suwan told me to come here to teach the art and spread it all over the world.
Q: You are the President and founder of USA Thai Boxing Association. Don’t you have different associations around the world?
A: Yes. We have Thai boxing associations operating in the United States, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Some very dedicated students of mine came to the United States to get their training and later on returned to open the associations. We keep in touch and I update their training constantly so they keep improving their techniques and understanding of the Muay Thai art. Some of them have been with me for more than 15 years non-stop. We feel close to each other and are like a family now.
Q: Is Muay Thai like Kickboxing?
A: This is wrong. Kickboxing is not Thai boxing. We say that kickboxing evolved from Thai boxing. In kikcboxing you have specific rules as to where you can kick and with what weapons. In Thai boxing the whole body is fair game. You can use elbow and knee techniques, which are illegal in many fighting competitions.
Q: Someone said once that Muay Thai boxing skills are very primitive and almost non-existent. What do you think about that?
A: Whoever said that had no idea what he was talking about. The Thai boxer doesn’t use boxing very much because in boxing distance the Thai arsenal includes the elbows and knees. Both are more damaging than punching with a glove on. So they prefer to use the elbow to the face and the knee to the ribs instead of boxing with gloves. This is just one thing of many. But it’s nonsense to say that the Thai’s don’t know how to box – this is a misunderstanding. Everybody knows that many world-boxing champions from Thailand have been Muay Thai champions that made a transition to Western boxing.
Q: How long does it take to become a good Thai fighter?
A: I know what I am going to say may be hard for some to accept, for it destroys the notion that a practitioner must train for five or six years to attain the Black belt rank. If you work on your conditioning, run, skip rope, hit Thai pads, the heavy bag, spar and fight once a month, you can become a strong fighter in six months. Stamina, experience, and heart are the basics of Thai boxing. I believe that the one standing after the fight is the true expert.
To be continued:
Enjoy.
Part one:
Surachai “Chai” Sirisute
The World Is His Gym
By Jose Fargaus
A natural fighter as a child who went on to become a champion in Thailand’s toughest stadiums, master Surachai “Chai” Sirisute has spread the art of Muay Thai around the globe, earning the respect and admiration from all with whom he’s come into contact.
At the tender age of four, Surachai Sirisute demonstrated a natural ability to kick. This piqued the curiosity of Thai boxing master Ajarn Suwan, who taught him the art of Muay Thai. At 12, young “Chai”, as he was called, was fighting in amateur bouts at the local temple fair.
After he became a champion at the two most important stadiums in Thailand, Chai, now called “master” himself, decided to change his life and begin a challenging quest to teach the art to the “Brown hairs” (Americans). Since 1964, Ajarn Chai has been teaching the art of Muay Thai in the United States and all over the world. His reputation has reached every corner of the globe and his training sessions became legendary for their intensity. He is a hard trainer and time moves very slowly on the Ajarn stopwatch – three minute rounds on the Thai Pads often stretch to five – for a minimum of 15 rounds!
The Thai people are devoted to astrology, palmistry, and numerology. Ajarn Chai’s ring name Han Vattana, meaning “Strong Fighter”. Many legendary instructors of other different martial art systems have visited Ajarn Chai for instruction. His ability not only includes empty-hand methods, but also weaponry. Students from all over the world revere him like a father. He has earned that level of respect by sharing Muay Thai with love, compassion, empathy, dedication – and lots and lots of endless and exhausting training sessions. This is his story.
Q: Can you explain the history of Muay Thai?
A: Thai boxing is one of the oldest martial arts in existence. Its origin dates back to 250 B.C., when the Thai clans migrated from central China on the banks of the Yangtze River to Thailand. The Thai’s began a military training regimen for their young men called chupasart, which dealt mainly with the use of swords, spears, and crossbows. In peacetime, legs and arms replaced weaponry, and these movements became the basis of modern Thai boxing.
Q: When did you begin your training in the Thai arts?
A: I started as a young kid in the training camps in Huay Kwang-Dindang province in Thailand. Everybody knows this province for producing great champions. As a kid I was always ready to fight. I began fighting in the ring at 12 years old. I still remember the surprised faces of the Western tourist watching us fighting!
Q: When did you move to the United States?
A: I came to the United States in the early 60’s, so I’ve been here for a long time. I wanted to light a candle where it was dark concerning the Thai arts. Ajarn Suwan told me to come here to teach the art and spread it all over the world.
Q: You are the President and founder of USA Thai Boxing Association. Don’t you have different associations around the world?
A: Yes. We have Thai boxing associations operating in the United States, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Some very dedicated students of mine came to the United States to get their training and later on returned to open the associations. We keep in touch and I update their training constantly so they keep improving their techniques and understanding of the Muay Thai art. Some of them have been with me for more than 15 years non-stop. We feel close to each other and are like a family now.
Q: Is Muay Thai like Kickboxing?
A: This is wrong. Kickboxing is not Thai boxing. We say that kickboxing evolved from Thai boxing. In kikcboxing you have specific rules as to where you can kick and with what weapons. In Thai boxing the whole body is fair game. You can use elbow and knee techniques, which are illegal in many fighting competitions.
Q: Someone said once that Muay Thai boxing skills are very primitive and almost non-existent. What do you think about that?
A: Whoever said that had no idea what he was talking about. The Thai boxer doesn’t use boxing very much because in boxing distance the Thai arsenal includes the elbows and knees. Both are more damaging than punching with a glove on. So they prefer to use the elbow to the face and the knee to the ribs instead of boxing with gloves. This is just one thing of many. But it’s nonsense to say that the Thai’s don’t know how to box – this is a misunderstanding. Everybody knows that many world-boxing champions from Thailand have been Muay Thai champions that made a transition to Western boxing.
Q: How long does it take to become a good Thai fighter?
A: I know what I am going to say may be hard for some to accept, for it destroys the notion that a practitioner must train for five or six years to attain the Black belt rank. If you work on your conditioning, run, skip rope, hit Thai pads, the heavy bag, spar and fight once a month, you can become a strong fighter in six months. Stamina, experience, and heart are the basics of Thai boxing. I believe that the one standing after the fight is the true expert.
To be continued:
I also see I didn't post the rest of the article on Master Chai. I'll start digging.....
Yee Haw!! Connor is always asking about you when he sees that picture of you, John C. and myself. Kristen asked me to say hi for her too.....So, from the whole William Clan "Hi Steve!".
Comment