Ajahn, Anthony B. James Martial Arts Bio
(Ajahn, Khruu, Guro, Sensei, Sifu…)
Founder and Chief Instructor: Buddhai Sawan Sangha (BSKK Brooksville) • Buddhai Sawan Kabri Kabrong, Kali-Arnis-Escrima-Pekiti Tersia Kali USA • 1981 to Present… The photo above was taken at my school in Charlottesville, VA, in 1982… Notice in the front row: Guro Danny Inosanto, Sifu Francis Fong (Francis Fong Wing Chun Gung Fu), Khruu Alfonso Tamez, Sifu Larry Hartsell, and the second row behind Khruu Alfonso Tamez are Guro Lastra Mahlika Jeorge Lastra, Sifu Lun Sin among others besides myself!
Instructor/ Teacher/ Gold Sash • Buddhai Swan Institute, Thailand • Traditional Krabi Krabong– Muay Boran (Also spelled Kabri Kabrong/ Thai Sword Fencing and Traditional Thai Boxing) • Grand Master Phaa Khruu Samaii Mesamarn • Nongkam, Thailand • 1983 • Certified Buddhai Sawan in 1986. Current Member: Ajahn- Gold Sash: Buddhai Sawan USA( BSANA). Author best-selling book “Krabi Krabong, The Tiger Sword of Thailand” available on BeardedMedia.com and Amazon.
Click Here for Buddhai Sawan & Krabi Krabong Photo Gallery!
Honorary Black Belt • Burmese Bando • Delivered at the 1986 Bando Nationals, Port of Prussia, PA • Grand Master U Myung Gyi, Master’s Erol Younger, Joe Manley, and Lloyd Davis • 1986
Guro/Instructor • Pekiti Tersia/ SinaTirsiaWali Kali, Mas Guru Greg Alland System, New York- Atlanta Georgia 1982- 1984
Guro/Instructor ” Rank of Guro Unang Tagpagturo” • Arnis de Mano • Guro Jorge Lastra, Lastra Brotherhood of Arnis Style • Virginia Beach, VA/ Visyan, Philippines • 1982
Guro/Instructor • Kali / Arnis de Mano • Maphilindo/ Maphilindo Silat • Dan Inosanto, Kali Academy/ Inosanto Academy, Big Springs, Texas and Culver City-Los Angeles California • 1981 • SiJo Bruce Lee tradition.
Instructor • Pekiti Tersia Arnis de Mano • Maphilindo/ Maphilindo Silat • Guro Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr. • Big Springs, Texas 1981
Instructor • Pangian Lanka Empat Silat- Penjak Silat • Maphilindo/ Maphilindo Silat • Pendakar Suyadi “Eddie Jaffri” Jaffri • Big Springs, Texas 1981- 1982
1st Degree Black Belt • Go Budo Jiu-Jitsu, Sei Shin Kai/ American Karate & Jiu-Jitsu Union • Atlanta, GA, Sensei Soke Richard P. Baillargeon, Sensei Jim Wallace, Master Daeshik Kim Style (Korean)
1st Degree Black Belt • American Karate • Sensei’s: Lloyd Garrard, Joe Corley, Sam Chapman, Bill Wallace, Larry Hartsell • Atlanta, GA • 1975. I supervised and built/ set up the Pro-boxing ring used by my Teachers, Joe Corley and Bill Wallace. The first professional complete contact Kickboxing Fight “The Battle of Atlanta!” and the championship was held at the Georgia Tech Coliseum. Bill Wallace won and became the first PKA World Middle Weight Champion. I worked nights as an American Karate Instructor at the Buckhead Joe Corley American Karate school then.
2nd. Degree Black Belt • Tang Soo Do Mu Duk Kwan, Sensei Lloyd Garrard, Sensei Chuck Norris (Korean) 1976
2nd Degree Black Belt • American Karate, Lloyd Garrard, Joe Corely, Bill Wallace 1976
2nd Degree Black Belt • American Karate, Joe Lewis Style, AIKIA, WKA Certified Instructor
Instructor • Tai Chi Chuan • Chang Man Ching Style, Sifu Refugio ( Fugi) Escobedo • Atlanta, GA 1987
Wing Chun Kung Fu • Atlanta • 1975 to 1988 • Sifu Francis Fong
I will attempt to add and update more about other excellent teachers and programs I have been privileged to work with over the past 54 years!
Until then, all respect to all my teachers, whether listed here or not.
May 1986: Soldier of Fortune Magazine: Fight Back Special Edition: Two articles… 1: How To Take A Punch (P.36-38) and 2: Environmental Weapons (P. 26-29)…(Click Here for SOF PDF)