Chai Sirisute

Surachai Sirisute (, 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 US and responsible for introducing Muay Thai to the United States. Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Sirisute started training Muay Thai at the age of 4.

Biography He formally studied both Muay Thai as well as karate beginning at the age of six. He left Thailand to teach in America in 1968.

In 1978, he trained another Martial Arts teacher named Dan Inosanto. 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 US as well as internationally. 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.

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 US 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 Brandon Lee American actor and stuntman, son of Bruce Lee Dan Inosanto Filipino-American martial arts instructor best known as a student of Bruce Lee David Leitch American stuntman, actor, director and stunt coordinator. Diana Lee Inosanto American actress, stuntwoman, and martial artist. Chad Stahelski American stuntman and film director Erik Paulson American mixed-martial artist, Senior Instructor, and MMA coach. Ron Balicki American actor and stuntman.