Muay Thai Institute-Texas: About MTI

About World Muaythai Council, Muaythai Institute, and Muaythai Institute-Texas

By resolution of the Thai Parliament, the World Muaythai Council (WMC) was established in 1995 as the authoritative governing body for Muaythai in Thailand and the World. In an effort to create an international standard and accessibility to formal education in Muaythai, the Muaythai Institute (MTI), which is located in Rangsit, Pathum Thani, Thailand, opened in 1997 to offer accredited training courses for boxers, instructors and referees.

MTI-Texas (initially established as Wolves Muay Thai Gym) is the pioneering camp that first opened its doors in 2003 to introduce South Texas and the Lower Rio Grande Valley to authentic Muaythai. Over the years, MTI-Texas has been featured on TV and radio shows, as well as newspaper and magazine articles for its dedication, hard work, and accomplishments in producing many of the Valley’s top fighters and in offering high quality instruction in the art and sport of Muaythai.

MTI-Texas, formerly located in Mercedes, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley and now in Houston, is ONE of ONLY FOUR global branches of the MuayThai Institute in Bangkok, Thailand that are recognized and accredited by the World Muaythai Council (WMC), the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Thai Ministry of Education. All classes are taught by Ajarn Yai Kayan Sitsanthaparn. Over the years, MTI-Texas has also been recognized by the Thai Consulate in the United States, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Texas Secretary of State, and members of the Texas State House of Representatives for their work.

The Muay Thai Alliance of Texas (MTAT)

After two years of uniting gyms and fighters under the same banner for the purpose of providing activity to Texas athletes, the Alliance was formed in 2009 and is the FIRST and ONLY organization in the state dedicated SOLELY to preserving the art and sport of Muaythai in the state of Texas.

The MTAT is a non-profit organization, and offers competition in the form of state, national, and international amateur contests. The Alliance will be the entity responsible for ensuring cultural and traditional integrity of competitive events in the art and sport of Muay Thai held in the state of Texas as prescribed by the national, international, and world governing bodies.

The Muay Thai Alliance of Texas enjoys a cooperative affiliation with Rangsit Boxing Stadium in Thailand as part of its athlete development program, and is a proud supporter of the Pan American Muaythai Union (PAMU), the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), the World Muaythai Council (WMC), World Boxing Council Muaythai (WBC MT), and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), as well as those national federations whose aim it is to see Muay Thai prosper. Through the tireless effort of these organizations, we have seen Muay Thai become accepted as a sport in the Olympic Games in the near future!

About The Instructor

A former professional athlete in two sports (MuayThai and Soccer), Sitsanthaparn earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (1996), completed Graduate Work in Kinesiology at the University of Texas-Pan American (2008), and received his certification as an instructor at Muaythai Institute-Rangsit, Thailand. He has fought professionally and performed in cultural exhibitions and demonstrations in Thailand. He has further helped train professional fighters as well as members of the U.S., Mexico, and Thai women's amateur national teams, and international fighters from Australia, England, France, Iran, and Mexico at his home camp in Thailand. As such, students can expect instruction at a very high standard.

In April 2009, Sitsanthaparn founded the Muay Thai Alliance of Texas (MTAT) in cooperation with with MTI President Mr. Amnuay Kesbumrung. In December of 2009, and as one of its founders, Sitsanthaparn was appointed as Executive Director for the Pan American Muaythai Union (PAMU), which is comprised of North, South, Central American, and Caribbean nations dedicated to providing intercontinental activity in the art and sport of Muaythai. He was honored with the task of drafting the letter and addressing the Executive Board of the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) to request the recognition of the PAMU for sanctioning of intercontinental events and activities. On September 16th, 2016, he was elected President of the PAMU. In addition, Sitsanthaparn served as a U.S. National Representative in Texas for the WBC Muaythai.

For a complete biography, please click here.