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In June 1992 James Hines met Suchart Yodkereipauprai, former Muay Thai Champion. In August of that same year, the future Ajarn (Master) Suchart started teaching Muay Thai, and James became his very first student. Thus, Muay Thai had its start in Ontario...
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Kru James Hines, AKA: Big Bird
In 2006, James was awarded the distinguished title of "Kru" (instructor) by respected Muay Thai Ajahn (Master) Suchart and the Thai ambassador to Canada in acknowledgement of his dedicated contribution, practice and promotion of this discipline in the years following his own introduction to the sport in 1992. James has played an instrumental role in the establishment of Muay Thai as a respected sport in Canada through the development of a number of programs in the GTA and his own Old School Muay Thai training centre.
James has been trained by some of the most established and experienced Muay Thai competitors in the world in Thailand and Canada, and has himself represented Canada in North American and World Amateur competitions in the USA and Thailand. He is sparring partner to world champion Clifton Brown; the training they did together was instrumental in securing the win against Manson Gibson for the North American Light Heavy Weight Championship in 2003.
James combines a decade of experience as a personal trainer and respected coach with his Muay Thai expertise. He is the Regional Representative for the Canadian Muay Thai Council for Southern Ontario, a volunteer with the Toronto Eagles Soccer Club where he coaches local youth in sport, and has developed Muay Thai and fitness programs in the greater Toronto area since 1999. James recently established Muay Thai Training Centres, Inc, a not-for-profit division of Old School Muay Thai in support of Toronto's at-risk youth through access to Muay Thai training and is working in collaboration with partners in the community to offer students access to this self-affirming discipline.
Awards
- 1996 "Excellence in Muay Thai" from Ajahn Suchart
- 2002 "Contribution to Muay Thai"
- 2006 Title of Kru from Ajahn Suchart and the Thai ambassador to Canada
- 2008 Award in Leadership from the Thai Society of Ontario
Notable Competitions
- 2003 "North American Heavy Weight Championship" in Kingsford, Michigan, USA
- 2006 "World Amateur Muay Thai Championship" in Bangkok, Thailand
Ajahn (Master) Suchart Yodkerepauprai
Born and raised in the mountains of Northern Thailand, in the early 1960s, Ajahn Suchart has a long history with the tradition and art of Muay Thai. Beginning at the early age of nine, Master Suchart competed in Muay Thai in his small village community in Mae Hong Son. His professional career quickly evolved to competing in Chaing Mai by the age of 14 where he demonstrated great success. In 1982 and 1983 when only in his early 20’s, he became Northern Thailand Champion where he held the title for an unprecedented two years. He has competed in Bangkok's largest, most highly respected Muay Thai stadiums and has also tested his skills in over a dozen bare knuckle fights throughout the world. Ajahn Suchart’s trust in his skills, knowledge and self have made a him a globally recognized and respected figure in the world of Martial arts.
In 1986, Ajahn Suchart moved to Toronto, Canada. For twenty years, he has lived and built his love for Thailand’s national sport, Muay Thai, in Canada. His dream to bring a beautiful part of Thai culture and history to Canada has been realized as he has taught over 20,000 students and he continues to open his heart and knowledge to those who seek to learn his wisdom. Today, over a dozen of his students have now opened their own Muay Thai gyms throughout the province and are working to promote and honour the cultural sport of Muay Thai. Ajahn Suchart has bred Krus, World athletes, young fighters, healthy students and happier people.
His motto, LOVE, RESPECT and BELIEVE resonates with many who have changed their lives through the philosophies of Muay Thai.
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Kru Rick Sanita
Rick came to the sport of Muay Thai in 1997, and spent six months in Thailand learning and living with professional Thai fighters. He has completed 22 fights to date and continues to compete on both the amateur and professional levels. Rick represented Canada in the 2006 "World Amateur Muay Thai Championship" in Bangkok, Thailand (75kg weight class).
Having been awarded with the respected title of "Kru" by Master Suchard, Rick shares the love of his discipline through his work as a full time Muay Thai trainer through one-on-one and group instruction.
Rick credits Muay Thai with changing his life: "it helped me gain the focus to successfully complete High School, obtain two College Diplomas and an Undergraduate Degree. It also provided me with discipline and confidence in various aspects of my everyday life. Muay Thai has has given me the opportunity to turn something I love to do into my career. I am fortunate to train with Master Suchart and work closely with him everyday."
 Danny Cabrera
Danny has over 15 years of experience in the fitness industry including more than five years in Muay Thai, running corporate boot camp classes, and supporting clients in their personal goals to achieve muscle conditioning, cardiovascular endurance, circuit and strength training. He is a highly motivated instructor who incorporates elements of high-intensity interval training including Muay Thai techniques with conventional methods to maximize results for a healthy mind, body and spirit. Danny is a Can-Fit-Pro Personal Trainer Specialist and has been certified by Ajahn Suchart.
Constantine Kalsatos
Constantine Kalsatos has been training with Ajahn Suchart for nearly six years. He has amateur fighting experience in both Montreal and Toronto and is experienced at instructing students in the basic techniques of Muay Thai coupled with a challenging work out.
 Kosta Rakic
Kosta is an experienced, active and successful competitor in Muay Thai. Kosta has learned from and trained with some of the best Muay Thai practitioners in Canada, including Ajahn Suchart (founder of Siam #1 Muay Thai school in Canada), and Kru Clifton Brown (Intercontinental Champion in the World Muay Thai Council - professional Muay Thai) and brings their experience as well as his own to his classes. Kosta has also competed in Muay Thai events in Canada, the United States, and Thailand. He is an active Muay Thai competitor and an Amateur World Muay Thai Bronze Medalist, and holds the status of Poo Choi Kru.
Joseph Kimball
Joseph is a CrossFit Certified Trainer and an all around fitness enthusiast who believes in functional fitness. Fitness that not only Improves cardiovascular strength & endurance but that also translates into the ability to do more work in a shorter amount of time. Playing many sports in High School, including soccer, hockey, paddling, cross country, Joseph partipated in a half marathon in ’08, and he now trains a nationally ranked CrossFit athlete, does Muay Thai, and runs with his girlfriend. He believes that general fitness is directly related to being happiness, and thoroughly enjoys helping people reach this goal.
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