[Ty198]

I have the distinctly lucky opportunity to attend the seminar at my gym with Ajarn Surachai Sirisute. I am just a beginner but I could see no greater opportunity than to attend a seminar with the man that brought Muay Thai to America, I don't really have anything specific to say about it as it has not happened yet.

[Muay_Thai_MGM]

Don't forget to call him "Sir"!!!

[Ty198]

haha I wouldn't ever forget that, my instructor was telling me last time someone didn't show respect and bow before he demonstrated something the person had to do 500 pushups in front of the whole class, to make it even better the class waited on him to finish his pushups.

[zefff]

thats ridiculous! Would you spend money to watch a fool do pressups? Dont waste your money, save it for a private class with your instructor.

[The BadBoy]

Heard a story about him confronting a Dim Mak guy once who said he could knock people out with one touch. Ajarn Chai said he could too, when asked to demonstrate by Dim Mak guy he round kicked him to the neck. Don't know if it's true but my old McDojo jkd instructors swore they were there.

Never met the guy but if he gives people who sepnd good money on his seminars 500 push ups for not calling him sir, then he's not the kind of guy who's seminar I want to be at.

[Ty198]

He stayed longer to make up the time it's not like people were gipped out of their money. Besides, this was a while back I don't even know if he does that any more.

[nbotary]

Regardless of whether he made up the time, for him to have done that shows what an arrogant and pompous asshole he is. He could've handled and addressed the situation a lot better without humiliating someone who paid money to learn something from him - especially over something that petty...

I would've demanded a refund and walked out, but that's just me...

[Ty198]

It has nothing to do with being arrogant, or being pompous... It has to do with respect it's not just towards him it shows a general lack of respect, your expected to bow to eachother before practicing sparring or whatever it may be. Whether it be with a master or another student respect is part of martial arts and by having a lack of any is a big deal. Martial arts isn't just a brutal beat the hell out of your opponent type of thing.. it's an art hence the word art in martial ARTS.. So learning respect and honoring it is very very important.

[nbotary]

I agree with you that you should show respect, but respect is to be earned - not just given. This goes for both parties involved.

I also agree that he should've bowed and/or addressed the instructor properly. However, like I said before, the instructor could've handled the situation a lot better - especially if he was being paid by the student for part of or for all instructions to be given. That student didn't have to go to the seminar and he didn't have to pay for the instruction he received. He chose to do so. Therefore, he shouldn't have been subject to public humiliation because he was paying for the man to offer instruction - not criticism or lectures on manners.

Just my opinion...

[Bloodybirds]

One other thing....traditionally, one should bow whenever entering someone's school or to the instructor in charge, but there are other dynamics as well....was this other guy a high rank in another style, did master Chai explain that the seminar was formal (most ones I have been to with high ranking masters the master doing the seminar will usually put everyone at ease by suggesting a more collaborative approach since this is just a snapshot of someone's knowledge, not a long time committment to learn from him/her), etc. Another tradition....depending on one's relative rank to the other party, one party will usually bow lower to the other. I have seen Master Chai and Master Kru Prong and both are very nice people who have earned their respect, though I am a Chinese stylist.

I do know, in any aspect, that I will bow to a higher ranked Chinese stylist, even after all of this time, since I am a reflection of my three masters and the master may know mine.....and then I would be in big trouble...LOL!! The martial arts circle is comparatively small, and the high ranking ones tend to know each other!!!