When MMA was young, I had the honor of hosting a seminar with Kru Yodtong Senanan at my modest gym in Western Massachusetts. I met him a few other times thereafter at events, or at Kru Mark DellaGrotte’s extraordinary Sityodtong USA in Somerville, Mass.
One of Kru Yodtong’s countless notable students was Evolve MMA founder Chatri Sityodtong.
As a child, the half Japanese, half Thai Chatri began training in Muay Thai under Kru Yodtong at Sityodtong Camp in Pattaya, Thailand. In time, Yodtong bestowed on him the name Yodchatri Sityodtong, and appointed him as one of four conservators worldwide of Sityodtong Muay Thai. That is just a part of Chatri’s story, or maybe it’s all of it.
Chatri’s family lost everything in the Asian financial crisis in the 90s, and ended up homeless, eating one meal a day. Eventually his father abandoned the family. But the story has a happy ending.
In 1999 Chatri received an MBA from Harvard. Not long after, he joined Bain and Company as a management consultant. For the next several years he was involved in Internet start ups, investment banking, real estate, and other ventures, making millions.
In 2008, Chatri founded the Evolve MMA chain of academies. By 2013, Evolve MMA was widely regarded as the top MMA gym in Asia, and Chatri as one of the sport’s top coaches. He has trained, coached, or cornered MMA fighters such as Shinya Aoki, Rich Franklin, Rafael dos Anjos, BJJ world champions Zorobabel Moreira and Leandro Issa Da Silva, and strikers including Muay Thai world champion Yoddecha Sityodtong, and former WBA world champion Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai.
Earlier this year he launched Evolve University, Asia’s largest online university for martial arts.
Chatri is also involved with a number of charitable efforts, including Project Sunshine for terminally-ill children, and Singapore’s Boys Town Home for orphans and troubled children.
In short, Chatri Sityodtong is an amazingly great human being, and excellent for the universe. You should follow him on Twitter.
He recently wrote a farewell to his teacher. The term “master” is thrown around endlessly in martial arts. Read this piece, and you will understand what a master truly is.
I saw my teacher, Kru Yodtong Senanan, for the last time as we pushed his casket into the crematorium for cremation. When I was a kid many years ago, he took me under his wing to teach me the art of Muay Thai. It was very difficult to know that I will never see him again. Thousands of people from all over Thailand (and even around the world) flocked to his funeral to pay respect to one of the greatest legends in history. Without a doubt, he gave this world far more than he ever received from it. He developed the most beautiful, technical style of Muay Thai. He produced the most number of Muay Thai World Champions in history. He helped thousands of orphans and underprivileged children lead a better life. He changed the world.
He died as he had lived most of his life – penniless. He was not penniless because he lived a materialistic life. He was not penniless because he couldn’t make any money. He was not penniless because he had bad luck. He was penniless simply because he always chose to give everything he had to those less fortunate than himself. His generosity was the definition of the human spirit born free.
I will share a true story about Kru Yodtong Senanan that is well-known all over Thailand. This story best captures who my teacher, Kru Yodtong, was as a human being. Several years ago, Kru Yodtong won US$2 million in the lottery in Thailand. People from all over the region flocked to Sityodtong Camp and he proceeded to give away all of his winnings – one by one – based on each stranger’s individual story of need and poverty. He listened to each story and he gave out what he thought was an appropriate amount to each person. For a few days straight, Sityodtong Camp was a sea of people – literally. It was a crazy mad zoo. At the end of those few days, Kru Yodtong gave away everything he had even though he was poor himself.
His whole life was about giving to the world. He gave thousands of impoverished children and orphans an opportunity to change their lives through the art of Muay Thai. He not only taught all of his students how to fight, but he taught us how to live.
Success can never be measured by big houses, luxury cars, or fancy clothes. For me, greatness can only be measured by what you do for others. Thank you Kru for not only teaching me how to fight in the ring, but for teaching me how to live life. Until we meet again, I will do my best to honor your legacy.
Rest In Peace, Yodtong Senanan, 28 August 1937 – 8 February 2013.
