Kru Yai Profile

My neighbourhood was very much your average working-class environment and several kids had their own street gangs. Ours was called the "Dunstall street Mafia" and I'd foolishly elected myself leader. This, at the time seemed pretty cool until one of the rival gang leaders kicked my ass in front of my fellow gang members!

My step-father had been teaching me the rudiments of boxing, but my aggression and street savvy were yet to develop.

So I decided to check out this Judo class and enrolled the following Saturday.

The day after I could not move! Every muscle (and I use that word trivially as I had yet to develop some!) ached - I was hooked .

The lady giving out the leaflets was Jasmine Culley the wife of my first Instructor, Sensei John Culley. Sensei John was not only a Judo black belt 3 rd Dan, but also an instructor in Ch'ang Chuan Gung fu and Bo – Jitsu. He'd learned Gung Fu from the late SiFu Chee Soo, when he was in London. So over the next 2 ½ years I was taught these Martial arts. Through Sensei John I learned about tradition and discipline and my respect for this man has never left me, he was not only my first instructor but also my mentor – thank you Sensei .

During late1973 and early1974 there was a mass Martial art cult which was due to one man – Li Siu Loong, better known as Bruce Lee. It didn't take me long to realise that this amazing Chinese guy was in fact the same person I had seen on TV in "Longstreet" and it wasn't "Chinese Karate" that I'd seen but in fact his own fighting method called "Jeet Kune Do". Watching Bruce Lee through his movies and later learning about this great man through the many books written about him, served as the most important milestone of my Martial career. I know I speak for many martial artists when I say that Bruce Lee was the single most influential person in modern martial arts history and through him many of us were inspired to choose our Martial paths – SiGung Lee, you have our gratitude.

As I began to become more proficient I started to compete. In 1974 I competed in the area Judo championships in Derby and won my first medal – a bronze for individual kumite (sparring).

By 1975 I was ready to leave school and decided on joining the R.A.F as a fireman. I spent 13 ½ great years in the R.A.F and left with a wealth of Martial knowledge and experience, meeting and training with some of the best instructors and fellow enthusiasts.

During my years in the Military I trained primarily in Tang Soo Do and boxing, competing nationally in both.

Practicing my back kick on base – 1976 > >

Corporal Ian Powell helped me to achieve the title of RAF novice welterweight boxing champion in 1983 and in the same year I held a variety of medals, trophies and titles through competing in Tang Soo Do and boxing. My favourite was winning the open Military championships, competing against mixed Martial arts.

I continued to compete up until 1988 entering mixed martial art tournaments and boxing for the R.A.F. I also ran my own school in the R.A.F and taught a blend of Tang Soo Do, Boxing and Judo (they call it cross-training these days).

I left the R.A.F in 1989 and became a fitness instructor for several years. During those years I continued to train myself in Martial arts and occasionally instructed.

In 1997 I began training in Jeet Kune Do attending several of SiFu Dave Carnell's seminars, having a mixed Martial arts background enabled me to adapt quickly to the eclectic methods used in Jeet Kune Do. I began training with SiFu Alan Smith in 1998 and was taught Wing Chun and Preying Mantis Gung Fu. Sifu Alan Smith will always hold my respect, he is tireless in his pursuit to teach his arts, his passion is undying – Thank you Sifu.

During my training, Sifu Alan asked if I would like to compete in the British San Shao full contact championships in Coventry. I hadn't competed in 11 years and had just turned 40, what a challenge! I could not refuse. To help me prepare, I joined one of Kru Yai Byron Gibson's Surprendre Muay Thai camps and trained under Kru Ryan Rudkin, I was instantly hooked. The sheer dynamics of Muay Thai were exhilarating; I knew I had finally found my true art – Thank you Kru Ryan.

The final phase of my training was for two weeks in Cyprus which helped to achieve my fight weight of 78kg (I now average 82kg).

I won the bronze medal in Coventry and as a result was asked to join the British squad to compete in Hong Kong for the World Championships. Unfortunately, I was unaware that the age limit was 35 which was also the case for the British title. Somehow I'd managed to get through in the Nationals (Years of using anti-wrinkle cream might of helped!). So Coventry was my last fight, ironically my last medal being Bronze the same as my first!

Kru Yai Byron Gibson presenting me with my Instructor certificate - 1999

Kru Yai Byron presented me with my Kru grade in 1999 and in 2002 upon his return from Thailand made me Chief instructor for UK operations and Vice-president of Surprendre Muay Thai Network - Thank you Kru Yai.

It is my intention to help promote Muay Thai throughout Cambridgeshire and East Anglia and work with other Muay Thai Schools in our region to help achieve this. I believe in teaching traditional values with a modern approach. I run a democratic school where my students are free to express their opinions and ideas. The school is open to all martial artists providing they respect our traditions and etiquette.

KRU YAI SHAUN BOLAND             

Chief Instructor & founder of Chao Phraya.