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!

Anthony B. James with Shidioshi GM Steven Hayes and Bud Maelstrom

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) SOF Fight Back Magazine May 1986

Grand Master Phaa Khruu Samaii Mesamarn, Buddhai Sawan Kabri Kabrong Sword Fighting Institute and Dr. Anthony B. James

Wai Khruu and Respect to our Grandmaster of Buddhai Sawan Tradition

History of Buddhai Sawan Tradition in America

In 1986 Dr. Anthony B. James received the prestigious “Ajahn Khruu” Award, Blessing, and Certification from the Grand Master of the Buddhai Sawan Sword Fighting Institute of Kabri Kabrong. Thai Traditional “Krabi Kabrong” , Nongkam, Thailand. Kabri-Kabrong is the Traditional Martial Arts system of Thailand and one of the great martial arts traditions of the world.

In addition to the Buddhai Sawan Kabri Kabrong Sword Fighting and Muay Boran systems (Fan Dap & Lerd Rit), Grand Master Phaa Khruu Samaii introduced Dr. James to the spiritual, meditative (Vipassana) and Traditional Thai Ayurveda and Nuad Phaen Boran Thai adjunct to the Buddhai Sawan fighting tradition.

December 7, 1957, GM Phaa Kru Samaii Mesamarn was awarded the official flag of the Phutthaisawan Cultural Center and Krabi Krabong School. From His Majesty King Rama 9 to organize a fencing show at Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium in collaboration with the Sri Trirat Sword School and Ban Chang Lo Sword School. (Photo courtesy of Jira Mesamarn: Buddhai Sawan Thailand)

Phaa Khruu Samaii introduced Dr. James to Phaa Khruu Uppakort of Ayurved Vidyalai and Aacharn Moh Boonsorn Kitnyam of the Traditional College of Medicine. Buddhai Sawan Teachers, Masters, and Grandmasters have always practiced traditional medicine to address the many injuries that typically occur during intensive training. The conventional medicine practices of the Buddhai Sawan tradition are based on the Ayurveda of Thailand (See History of Ayurveda of Thailand) (Thai Traditional Medicine and Thai Traditional Physical Therapy).

Dr. James lived at the school and trained as a traditional Apprentice at Buddhai Sawan under 36th-generation Grand Master Phaa Khru Samaii Mesamarn.

Anthony James receives teacher/ Khruu documents from Phaa Khruu Samaii Mesamarn. Buddhai Sawan. Dr. J is the second “Non-thai” ever to receive Buddhai Sawan teaching credentials. 1986

Click here for more history, philosophy, and the Thai Martial Arts Techniques of Krabi Krabong, Muay Boran, and Muay Chiaya of the Buddhai Sawan Cultural and Sword Fighting Institute. “Krabi Krabong, The Tiger Sword of Thailand“