Thohsaphol Sitiwatjana (Thai: ทศพร สิทธิวัจน์; born May 4, 1953) is a Thai martial artist and Muay Thai instructor. He is known as Master Toddy because after moving to the UK, people were unable to pronounce his name correctly.[1] Thosophon has been a Muay Thai instructor since the age of 16[2] and has trained over 40 world champions over 5 decades.[3] He has also featured in several movies[4] and produced his own TV Shows.
Thosopon Sitiwatjana was born the son of Sophorn Sitiwatjana (Deceased)[3] Ex-Police Chief and Sudsac Sitiwatjana.[3] From the age of 5 years old Thosophon has been fascinated by martial arts including Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai.[3] By the age of 13 he had acquired a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.[3] Thosophon trained in Muay Thai under Seri Ramaruud, Sanong Rakwanid and Pansak Ratanaprasit.[3] At 16 years of age he was given his first chance to teach Muay Thai after his teacher fell ill and within just a few years he became head coach at his school.[2] Thosophon started to adapt his training style including various capabilities of strength and style. He would train his own agility, skill and strength by wrestling crocodiles at the Samut Prakarn crocodile farm which was previously owned by his parents.[3]
Muay Thai is seen by many in Thailand as being a poor man's sport and as such Thosophons' parents were opposed to him taking part in fights. Thosophon would often sneak out and take part in bare Knuckle fights on the streets of Bangkok[3] as well as temple fights[2] when they were offered to him.
After graduating from college Thosophon decided to audition for a role in the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun".[3] In order to get the part he fought four of six students from Bruce Lee's school of Jeet Kune Do.[3] After beating four of the students the remaining two withdrew and thus Thosophon had gotten the part.[3][4] He also gave special training to Roger Moore for his part in the film.[3]
After filming "The Man with the Golden Gun", Thosophon made his way to England in 1975. He is widely known there as the "Father of Muay Thai"[5] where he is widely credited with introducing Muay Thai to England.[6] Thosophon moved to Manchester where he opened a Muay Thai Gym. There he trained many fighters such as "Kash "The Flash" Gill"[7] and Lisa Howarth[7] but arguably his most successful fighter was Ronnie Green who became 5 time world Muay Thai Champion under Thosophon.[8] His gym in Manchester, England is still running today and is now owned by his younger brother (himself a highly successful Muay Thai Instructor) Master A.[9]
In 1993, Thosophon left England and moved to Las Vegas, United States.[3] After several failed ventures trying to introduce the art of Muay Thai to the United States of America[3] Thosophon finally found extreme success opening "Master Toddy's U.S. Muay Thai Center".[10] He believes that opening a gym in America has made him "a black belt in business".[10] At one point "Master Toddy's U.S. Muay Thai Center" had up to 480 active students enrolled and he was earning up to $50000 each month.[10] During his time in The States Thosophon trained many fighters including Gina Carano,[11]Randy Couture[7] and Tito Ortiz.[7]
After spending 16 years in the U.S.A. Thosophon decided it was time to move home back to Thailand. In 2009 he did just that after purchasing land in the Samut Prakan district just south of Bangkok.[3] The gym named "Master Toddy's Muay Thai Academy" not only trains students who want to learn the art of Muay Thai but also those wanting to become a "Kru" or teacher of Muay Thai.[3] Both Thosophon himself and the gym he owns has been accredited by the Thai Government on several occasions[3]
^"Sword of Honor (Video 1996)". IMDb. 30 April 1996. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
^Shawn Watson (20 December 1974). "The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
External links
Official website
January 20, 2023
thohsaphol, sitiwatjana, thai, ทศพร, ทธ, จน, born, 1953, thai, martial, artist, muay, thai, instructor, known, master, toddy, because, after, moving, people, were, unable, pronounce, name, correctly, thosophon, been, muay, thai, instructor, since, trained, ove. Thohsaphol Sitiwatjana Thai thsphr siththiwcn born May 4 1953 is a Thai martial artist and Muay Thai instructor He is known as Master Toddy because after moving to the UK people were unable to pronounce his name correctly 1 Thosophon has been a Muay Thai instructor since the age of 16 2 and has trained over 40 world champions over 5 decades 3 He has also featured in several movies 4 and produced his own TV Shows Thosophon Sitiwatjanathsphr siththiwcnBorn 1953 05 04 4 May 1953 age 69 Samut Prakarn ThailandNationalityThai American British CitizenshipOther namesMaster ToddyOccupationMuay Thai instructorOrganizationMTIAWebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Biography and career 2 Notable fighters trained 3 Screen appearances 4 References 5 External linksBiography and career EditThosopon Sitiwatjana was born the son of Sophorn Sitiwatjana Deceased 3 Ex Police Chief and Sudsac Sitiwatjana 3 From the age of 5 years old Thosophon has been fascinated by martial arts including Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai 3 By the age of 13 he had acquired a black belt in Tae Kwon Do 3 Thosophon trained in Muay Thai under Seri Ramaruud Sanong Rakwanid and Pansak Ratanaprasit 3 At 16 years of age he was given his first chance to teach Muay Thai after his teacher fell ill and within just a few years he became head coach at his school 2 Thosophon started to adapt his training style including various capabilities of strength and style He would train his own agility skill and strength by wrestling crocodiles at the Samut Prakarn crocodile farm which was previously owned by his parents 3 Muay Thai is seen by many in Thailand as being a poor man s sport and as such Thosophons parents were opposed to him taking part in fights Thosophon would often sneak out and take part in bare Knuckle fights on the streets of Bangkok 3 as well as temple fights 2 when they were offered to him After graduating from college Thosophon decided to audition for a role in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun 3 In order to get the part he fought four of six students from Bruce Lee s school of Jeet Kune Do 3 After beating four of the students the remaining two withdrew and thus Thosophon had gotten the part 3 4 He also gave special training to Roger Moore for his part in the film 3 After filming The Man with the Golden Gun Thosophon made his way to England in 1975 He is widely known there as the Father of Muay Thai 5 where he is widely credited with introducing Muay Thai to England 6 Thosophon moved to Manchester where he opened a Muay Thai Gym There he trained many fighters such as Kash The Flash Gill 7 and Lisa Howarth 7 but arguably his most successful fighter was Ronnie Green who became 5 time world Muay Thai Champion under Thosophon 8 His gym in Manchester England is still running today and is now owned by his younger brother himself a highly successful Muay Thai Instructor Master A 9 In 1993 Thosophon left England and moved to Las Vegas United States 3 After several failed ventures trying to introduce the art of Muay Thai to the United States of America 3 Thosophon finally found extreme success opening Master Toddy s U S Muay Thai Center 10 He believes that opening a gym in America has made him a black belt in business 10 At one point Master Toddy s U S Muay Thai Center had up to 480 active students enrolled and he was earning up to 50000 each month 10 During his time in The States Thosophon trained many fighters including Gina Carano 11 Randy Couture 7 and Tito Ortiz 7 After spending 16 years in the U S A Thosophon decided it was time to move home back to Thailand In 2009 he did just that after purchasing land in the Samut Prakan district just south of Bangkok 3 The gym named Master Toddy s Muay Thai Academy not only trains students who want to learn the art of Muay Thai but also those wanting to become a Kru or teacher of Muay Thai 3 Both Thosophon himself and the gym he owns has been accredited by the Thai Government on several occasions 3 Notable fighters trained EditKevin Ross Kit Cope Gina Carano Phil Baroni Randy Couture Tito Ortiz Stephan Bonnar Bob Sapp Chuck Lidell Jason David Frank Maurice Smith citation needed Dale Cook Melchor Menor Ronnie GreenScreen appearances Edit2014 My Morphin Life Jason David Frank 12 2007 Warrior Nation on MSNBC 13 2006 Fight Girls 14 2005 Ring Girls 15 2005 Criss Angel Mindfreak 16 1996 Sword Of Honour 17 1974 The Man With the Golden Gun 18 References Edit Hallander Jane December 1993 The Logic of Leg Kicks Complete Guide to Kicking amp Stretching Retrieved 13 October 2014 a b c Presutti Tania Issue 6 2009 Training with the Legend World Muay Thai Magazine Retrieved 13 October 2014 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Perez Lhet June 2011 Muay Thai Grand Master Thailand Panorama Retrieved 13 October 2014 a b Thohsaphol Sitiwatjana at IMDb Singto Dedicated to Muay Thai and all things Thai Singto co uk Retrieved 22 November 2014 Serge Trefeu RONNIE MACHINE GUN GREEN ENGLAND Siamfightmag com Retrieved 22 November 2014 a b c d Master Toddy Muay Thai Certified Kravutah com Retrieved 22 November 2014 The legends of Muay Thai Realmuaythai co uk Retrieved 22 November 2014 swsdikhrb khxtxnrbsu Master A s Muay Thai Let s start your journey Masteramuaythai co uk Retrieved 22 November 2014 a b c Mamaril Cynthia February 2005 Kicking The Odds MA Success Retrieved 13 October 2014 Kyle Darbyson 14 Questions With Gina Carano AskMen Retrieved 22 November 2014 My Morphin Life TV Series 2014 IMDb Retrieved 22 November 2014 Warrior Nation on MSNBC TV Series 2007 IMDb Retrieved 22 November 2014 Fight Girls TV Series 2006 IMDb Retrieved 22 November 2014 Ring Girls Video 2005 IMDb Retrieved 22 November 2014 Criss Angel Mindfreak Superhuman TV Episode 2005 IMDb Retrieved 22 November 2014 Sword of Honor Video 1996 IMDb 30 April 1996 Retrieved 22 November 2014 Shawn Watson 20 December 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun 1974 IMDb Retrieved 22 November 2014 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thohsaphol Sitiwatjana amp oldid 1083882424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
