Thosophon Sitiwatjana
ทศพร สิทธิวัจน์
Born (1953-05-04) 4 May 1953
Samut Prakarn, Thailand
Other namesMaster Toddy
OccupationMuay Thai instructor
OrganizationMTIA
WebsiteOfficial website

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 television shows.

Biography and career

Thosopon Sitiwatjana was born the son of Sophorn Sitiwatjana[3] a 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 bareknuckle 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 English Muay Thai"[5] for 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 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 Master A. (himself a highly successful Muay Thai instructor).[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 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, bringing in up to $50,000 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

Screen appearances

References

  1. ↑ Hallander, Jane, (December 1993), "The Logic of Leg Kicks", "Complete Guide to Kicking & Stretching", Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Presutti, Tania (Issue 6 2009), "Training with the Legend", "World Muay Thai Magazine", Retrieved 13 October 2014
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Perez, Lhet (June 2011), "Muay Thai Grand Master", "Thailand Panorama", Retrieved 13 October 2014
  4. 1 2 Thohsaphol Sitiwatjana at IMDb
  5. ↑ "Singto - Dedicated to Muay Thai, and all things Thai..." Singto.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  6. ↑ Serge Trefeu. "RONNIE "MACHINE GUN" GREEN (ENGLAND)". Siamfightmag.com. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Master Toddy Muay Thai Certified". Kravutah.com. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "The legends of Muay Thai". Realmuaythai.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "สวัสดีครับ ขอต้อนรับสู่ Master A's Muay Thai : Let's start your journey". Masteramuaythai.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Mamaril, Cynthia (February 2005), "Kicking The Odds", "MA Success", Retrieved 13 October 2014
  11. ↑ Kyle Darbyson. "14 Questions With Gina Carano". AskMen. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Master Toddy: "The Cobra" Technique (Part 2) - Black Belt Magazine". blackbeltmag.com.
  13. ↑ Davies, Harry (19 August 2022). "Dakota Ditcheva aims to follow in footsteps of her mum ahead of PFL debut". mirror.
  14. ↑ "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. 12 August 1985 – via Google Books.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "TAPOUT LAS VEGAS AQUIRES MASTER TODDY'S MUAY THAI". Sherdog.
  16. ↑ https://blackbeltmag.com/improve-your-muay-thai-now-how-master-toddy-trains-champions-part-1
  17. ↑ "Clash of Titans: Ronnie Green versus Sombat Sor Thanikul". www.vice.com. 28 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "My Morphin Life (TV Series 2014– )". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  19. ↑ "Warrior Nation on MSNBC (TV Series 2007– )". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "Fight Girls (TV Series 2006– )". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ring Girls (Video 2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  22. ↑ ""Criss Angel Mindfreak" Superhuman (TV Episode 2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "Sword of Honor (Video 1996)". IMDb. 30 April 1996. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  24. ↑ Piyanan, Gail (5 January 2017). "Quit your job and become a ... boxing instructor". Time Out Bangkok.
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