News & Events

04/17/2010 - LINXX Hosts Thai Boxing Seminar

LINXX Academy recently had the distinct privilege of hosting the 16th Annual Thai Boxing Seminar featuring Master Chai Sirisute, 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 now, he has defined the rhythm, technique, and form of Muay Thai. The mere presence of Ajarn Chai in a classroom can affect a student’s heart rate upon hearing the phrase “right round kick, go!”

The son of a prominent Bangkok lawyer, Surachai “Chai” Sirisute was encouraged to follow in his father’s footsteps. But young 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 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.

Ajarn Chai 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 also began fighting in the ring. Sirisute has fought competitively in over seventy Muay Thai contests and a multitude of western boxing bouts.

Today, Ajarn Chai handpicks the academies to host his sought-after seminars. On the weekend of April 17-18, 2010,LINXX Academy members and guests had the distinguished pleasure of welcoming the renowned master to the Redmill facility. LINXX students were given the opportunity to learn time-tested techniques from the Muay Thai master. LINXX Academy instructors lined up intermediate and advanced students to begin the anticipated lesson. The first few hours consisted of boxing techniques and basic fundamentals. Students then moved around the ring to watch Ajarn Chai direct focus mitt exercises with each eligible attendee, including Kenneth O’Connor, a LINXX Academy instructor candidate.

Apprentice instructorship under Ajarn Chai’s TBA is a procedure that consists of the disciples’ ability to demonstrate proper form, complete a demanding endurance round, and inevitably perform the Wai Kru (which means to pay respect or gratitude to the teacher). The endurance round requires a student to execute 60 kicks and 35 knees in two three-minute rounds against opposing TBA instructors. O’Connor and LINXX Academy founder/head instructor Frank Cucci, Sr. spent hours meticulously rehearsing the eloquent Wai Kru ritual. Pleased with the performance, Ajarn Chai awarded O’Connor the apprentice instructorship under TBA-USA.

Ajarn Chai continues to train students at his chosen facilities. LINXX Academy looks forward to many more visits from Ajarn Chai and is proud to be an annual stop on his academy tour. With the growing Muay Thai community and its integration into mainstream arenas, it is clear that Ajarn Chai’s mission of spreading Muay Thai around the world has clearly established a stronghold in America.