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Master Chai Seminar
April 16 and 17, 2011

Our Kempsville location hosted the 17th Annual Thai Boxing Seminar featuring Master Chai Sirisute, the founder and president of the Thai Boxing Association (TBA) of the United States. Master Chai, known to his disciples as Ajarn Chai, is credited with bringing the art of Thai Boxing to the United States. For over 40 years, he has continued to define the rhythm, technique, and form of Muay Thai.

The son of a prominent Bangkok lawyer, Surachai “Chai” Sirisute was encouraged to follow in his father’s footsteps, but young Ajarn Chai had natural athletic abilities and was more interested in kicking his father’s heavy bag. Apparently, the rambunctious youngster taunted neighborhood Karate school kids and boasted that he could beat any of them. Observing this, the school’s instructor organized a sparring match where the precocious, untrained, six-year-old Ajarn Chai actually defeated the older students. Determined to teach the boy a lesson in discipline, the instructor gave a mind-over-matter demonstration that some say inspired Ajarn Chai’s mantra of discipline and respect.

“I couldn’t believe it. I got so scared. After that, I just shut up and got into line and started throwing punches with the rest of them,” recalls Ajarn Chai. He began training in Muay Thai and Karate at the tender age of six. He officially started taking lessons in Thai Boxing when he was eight years old. By the age of 12, he earned his black belt and began fighting in the ring. Ajarn Chai has fought competitively in over 70 Muay Thai contests and a multitude of Western boxing bouts.

Ajarn Chai chooses roughly only a dozen of his association schools for his seminars each year. Our Kempsville location hosted this year’s seminar on April 16 and 17, 2011. The first day began with over 40 intermediate and advanced adult students in attendance. Some were attending for the first time, while others knew what was to come.

The first half-hour focused on perfecting each student’s Thai Boxing stance by practicing footwork and timing. The remainder of the day was spent on various combinations; however, if close attention was not paid to hand and foot placement, the entire class was back to practicing the basics of footwork, hand placement, and timing. After lunch, Ajarn Chai selected individuals to come into the ring with him to showcase the combinations they had been taught earlier. The youngest student selected was seven-year-old Brody Abdow. Terrified of what was to come, young Brody showcased his three-plus years of training superbly.

Saturday afternoon Ajarn Chai hosted a seminar specifically for younger students. Twenty junior LINXX students eagerly geared up for training with the experienced instructor. Ajarn Chai covered clinch work, lean back jabs, and kick stances over the next several hours. Each student was reminded of the discipline and respect expected from Muay Thai disciples, which are the stepping stones to success.

On Sunday, Jeffrey Villanueva, Deandre Corbe, and Hunter Abdow tested for their Apprentice instructorships. Testing to become Apprentice Instructors under Ajarn Chai required these three disciples to demonstrate proper form while completing a demanding endurance round. Villanueva, Corbe, and Abdow each executed 60 kicks and 35 knees during 2 three-minute bouts with opposing TBA instructors. They also had to perform the Wai Kru, which literally means to pay respect or gratitude to the teacher. Ajarn Chai awarded Apprentice instructorships to all three under TBA USA. Of special note, Corbe became the youngest person at the LINXX Academy of Martial Arts to ever test for and earn his instructorship. Congratulations to all!

It is always an honor to have Ajarn Chai visit our school, and we look forward to many more years of receiving his knowledge and training.

Khob khun krub and sawatdee, Ajarn Chai.