Chai Sirisute

Surachai Sirisute (Thai: สุรชัย ศิริสูตร์, born October 16, 1948), commonly known as Chai Sirisute or Ajarn Chai, is a Thai martial arts Instructor who is the founder and President of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA and responsible for introducing Muay Thai to the United States. Born in Bangkok Thailand, Sirisute was indoctrinated to Muay Thai at the age of 4.[1]

Chai Sirisute
Born (1948-10-16) October 16, 1948
Other names"Ajarn Chai"
NationalityThai
StyleMuay Thai
StanceOrthodox
TeamWTBA
OccupationMuay Thai Coach

Biography

He formally studied both Muay Thai as well as karate beginning at the age of six.[1] He earned his black belt in Shorin-ryu at the age of 12, an age at which he also started to fight in the ring in Muay Thai.[1] Sirisute's original teacher was Ajarn Suwan out of Singpravaeh Muay Thai Gym (หัวใจเสือ).[2] He left Thailand to teach in America in 1968.[1]

During the 1970s and early 1980s Sirisute taught at several Southern California colleges: Chaffey College, Claremont Men's College and Cal State San Bernardino and out of his home. His early students included Jim Vanover, Ron Ritoch (former student of Jim Vanover), Bryan Dobler, Mike Goldbach, Reggie Jackson, Glen Hernandez, Don Boyd, and the vice president Chai's Thai Boxing Association, Tony Gneck whom he brought to Thailand in 1982 as the first American team to compete in the Muay Thai World Championships.[1][3]

In 1978, he trained another Martial Arts teacher named Dan Inosanto.[1][4] Inosanto trained as a student in Chai's backyard and eventually introduced Sirisute to his Jeet Kune Do teaching seminars, which greatly helped Sirisute extend awareness of Muay Thai in the U.S.A. as well as internationally.[1][5] In 1983 Inosanto introduced Sirisute to Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys who soon incorporated Muay Thai into their pre-season conditioning with Sirisute as their instructor until the time of Landry's departure in 1990.[6]

Sirisute currently runs a Muay Thai camp in Oregon each year with more than 200 students from around the world attending. He founded the Thai Boxing Association of the USA in 1968 and has expanded it to more than 18 countries around the world. He maintains a busy seminar schedule traveling around the world teaching Muay Thai today.

Notable students

References
  1. Kelly(2000). p.61
  2. "Singpravaeh | Authentic Muay Thai". Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  3. Profile of Ajarn Chai Sirisute Archived September 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Ajarn Chai Sirisute and Dan Inosanto in Muay Thai history Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Interview With Dan Inosanto Archived September 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Kelly(2000). pp.133-138
  • Balicki, Ron. Gold, Steven (2007). Jeet Kune Do: The Principles of a Complete Fighter, HNL Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9531766-3-2
  • Kelly, Perry (2000). Dan Inosanto: The Man, The Teacher, The Artist, Paladin Press. ISBN 1-58160-079-8.
  • Sirisute, Surachai.(1987). Muay Thai Kickboxing, Unique Publications. ISBN 978-0-317-54356-8
  • Van Schuyver, Mark and Villalobos, Pedro (2002). Fighting Strategies of Muay Thai: Secrets of Thailand's Boxing Camps. Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-358-3
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