Chaiyarat Teachers
The Chaiyarat Club produce great teachers of the Muay Thai Chaiya, who have taught in and outside of Baan Chang Thai, to Thais and westerners alike.
Following closely to the traditional teaching methods passed to Kru Lek by his teachers, you're gaurunteed the highest level of tuition trusted by people of all walks of life, professional fighters and the Thai military.
Ajarn Lek (Kridakorn Sodprasert) has been practicing Muay Thai Chaiya for over 30 years.
His first teacher of the style, Pramajan Kaet Siriyaphai, taught him the key fundamentals and essence of the style which Ajarn Lek continues to teach to this day.
He continued his learning with the great Kru Thong Yalae, who was the last great Muay Thai Chaiya ring fighter.
After the unfortunate dimise of Kru Thong, Kru Lek was determined to keep the teachings that had been entrusted with him alive, and started teaching. Still teaching at Baan Chang Thai, Kru Lek is pationate about teaching the extremely effective usable teachings that were passed on to him by his teachers.
A key part of the modern traditional Muay Thai scene, Ajarn Lek hosts a weekly TV spot teaching Muay Thai Chaiya to the public, and enjoys any opportunity to teach the style in Thailand, or abroad.
Kru Aof (NARONGSAK CHAICHAROEN) has been studying Muay Thai Chaiya under Ajarn Lek for over 7 years, and has been helping Kru Lek teach at Baan Chang Thai and teaching the art in a number of locations around Bangkok for over 5 years now.
Ajarn Lek’s right hand man, helping with all aspects of the school, Kru Aof is Ajarn Lek’s main assistant (victim) in the demonstration of movements in class.
Accompanying Ajarn Lek on all of his seminars and shows, Aof and Tae work continually on refining their choreographed fights scenes, Aof usually playing the part of the unsuspecting opponent, wielding a knife or with knuckles bound...Few have learnt more about Muay Chaiya from Ajarn Lek, and he’s always around to lend a hand, answer questions or get the gloves on and have a play.
Tae (PRAWIT KITTICHANTEERA) a devoted student of Ajarn Lek for 11 years now, Tae is a top level fighter with speed reactions and power with few equals.
Spending years under Ajarn Lek’s guidance, Tae has refined his mind and body to take advantage of Muay Thai Chaiya’s wholistic approach to fighting. Rarely getting to release his full power, even watching him in play is like poetry in motion.
Starting with Judo at the early age of 7, Nathan Brown was a student martial arts and eastern philosophy long before moving to Thailand in 2002 looking for a life more atuned to the Taoist philosophies that he had come to love.
After living in Thailand for several months and expanding his experience studying Kung Fu, Jiu-Jitsu, Capoera, Tai Chi and Aikido in Bangkok, Nathan was introduced to Muay Chaiya by a friend after discussions about Jeet Kune Do (which was now at the core of Nathan’s martial approach) and streetfighting techniques.
The first meeting with Kru Lek made a great impression, especially after sparring with Tae for the first time and seeing the beauty in simplicity which is Muay Chaiya. Seeing the practicality in defence, and efficiency and directness of attack, he also saw many similarities with the more advanced concepts of fighting that he’d learnt from studying the Jeet Kune Do concepts of Bruce Lee.
Yee (SUPAPORN BAWORNNIMIT) has been at Baan Chang Thai for over 14 years now, and has been helping Ajarn Lek teach Muay Thai Chaiya for over 7 years.
Helping Kru Lek manage and run the weekly classes, organising teachers and external events, Yee has her work cut out as the school's film and photographer. Cateloging and organising the wealth of film and pictures, Yee is now also editor of Ajarn Lek's weekly TV slot on Channel 11 (5pm on Saturdays) where he helps to bring Muay Thai Chaiya to the Thai public.
Not just there for show, Yee also enjoys practicing the style in her spare time, to keep fit and sparing for fun. She's always keen to get the gloves on and have a few rounds with the students - girls AND guys (she's often sporting bruises to prove it!), and is the most experienced female Muay Chaiya practitioner around.
