World Thai Boxing Association’s Teachers Day – October 16

Every October 16th, the World Thai Boxing Association celebrates Grandmaster Chai Sirisute’s Birthday and students present their instructors with a ceremonial gift in thanks to their teacher.  A typical present would be 1 candle, 3 sticks of incense, small amount of uncooked rice (1/2 cup), a piece of fruit and dry natural flowers.  These items are put in a bowl and presented to the teacher.  At the time of presentation, the student faces the teacher and assumes a kneeling Wai position.  The student will bow three times in respect and thanks to the teacher.

Me personally, I’m still a student so I don’t expect any gifts.  However, students of T.A.G. Muay Thai caught me off guard (I was wearing basketball shorts and no armbands) and presented me with these traditional gifts along with a gift card in which I purchased a new tripod for the gym.  It felt good knowing as an instructor, I have impacted these students where they were kind of enough to present me with gifts, especially since I don’t expect it as a student myself.

Very nice gesture by my students!

The traditional gifts seem boring to me so I sent Ajarn Bryan Dobler an external hard drive with all videos converted from VHS from when I started with him to present day (that’s over 15 years of material), movies, fights, and pictures.  I also sent Grandmaster Chai traditional gifts from Last Minute Florist in Carson, California.  Remembering the ones that have an impact your life is important.  There’s more to teaching a punch, kick, knee and elbow.  Teaching Muay Thai is easy, the discipline and respect that comes from Muay Thai hopefully translates into a student’s everyday life.

Thank you to all my students for your thoughts and gifts…I almost shed a tear :,-)