In Memoriam

Thai Boxing Association USA Announcement.

It is with sadness that we report Ajarn Surachai “Chai” Sirisute’s mother has passed away.

Ajarn Chai will be in Thailand, returning to the states in early 2009.

Condolences to Ajarn Chai and the Sirisute Family may may be sent in care of The Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts.

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(update: 12/10/2008)

I have a request from Ajarn Chai. If all TBA students could please go to the TBA Official Web Site, there is a link to write a message for Ajarn Chai’s mother.

These messages will be printed out and put in a book that Ajarn will present to the King of Thailand.
Please take the time to do this for Ajarn Chai.

There is still time to send flowers to the Temple. Artificial wreaths of purple & white flowers are requested.

Jessica at Philip’s flowers, the number listed on our web site, will be glad to assist you in delivery of the wreaths.

Philip’s Flowers
1-800-356-7257
Please ask for Jessica

Sincerely,
Paula Inosanto

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On behalf of Ajarn Chai and his family I thank all of you who have sent wreaths, flowers to Ajarn Chai’s mother in Thailand.

Some students have had difficulties with their floral deliveries. I encourage all of you to check with your florist to make sure your deliveries are arriving.

Thank you to all who are sending in your donations for monks prayers. Your cards, e mails and messages are all being delivered to Ajarn Chai in Thailand.

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TBA Students and Schools

All individuals are schools who are financially able to send their wreaths and donations are encouraged to do so. The ceremony for Ajarn Chai’s mother will last 50 days.

If you can not afford the cost of flowers as an individual (school) please contact your state director or region director. They will be able to get you in contact with your other local TBA schools and affiliates and you will be able to send your wreaths as a group.

Example, you may have the ribbon, banner, that will appear on the wreath read:

TBA Assoc. USA, MN, Il, WI Branches

TBA Assoc. USA Florida & Georgia,

TBA Assoc Australia, Adelaide & Brisbane

If you contact Jessica at Philip’s Flowers, 1800-356-7257 she will be able to assist you in getting your wreaths to Thailand.

Thank You
Paula Inosanto
info@inosanto.com

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The phone numbers for the temple in Thailand: (02 503 -3411) and (02 503-4556)Buddhist Funeral Rites in Thailand

Funeral rites are the most elaborate of all the life-cycle ceremonies and the ones entered into most fully by the monks. It is a basic teaching of Buddhism that existence is suffering, whether birth, daily living, old age or dying. This teaching is never in a stronger position than when death enters a home.

Monks chant the sutras that will benefit the deceased, and to conduct all funeral rites and memorial services. To conduct the rites for the dead may be considered the one indispensable service rendered the community by the monks.

Mrs. Tawin Sirisute?s body will be kept for 50 days at the temple. Cremations are deferred this long to show love and respect for the deceased and to perform religious rites which will benefit the departed. During the 50 days will monks will pray at the temple for Mrs Sirisute. Your donations will go these monks.

As along as the body is present the spirit can benefit by the gifts presented, the sermons preached and the chants uttered before it. This thought lies behind the use of the bhusa yhong ribbon which extends from the body within the coffin to the chanting monks before it. The dead may thus have contact with the holy sutras. When the body is cremated the spirit is more definitely cut off from the world, it is best therefore not to force that spirit to enter the preta world finally and irrevocably until it has had the benefit of a number of religious services designed to improve its status.

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If you need assistance in sending your floral wreaths to the temple in Thailand the following florist has all the information needed and will be able to assist you.

Philip’s Flowers
1-800-356-7257
Please ask for Jessica

For students needing additional assistance in getting their flowers delivered to Thailand here is the website for a Florist in Thailand.

Thailand Flower Delivery

Florist in Thailand
ChangFlorist.com

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Students wishing to sign a guest book for the Sirisute family may go to TBASantioning.org

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Mrs. Tawin Sirisute welcomed many students from all over the world into her home.

Here are some memories shared with us by some, of the many, grateful Thai Boxing Association Students.

Remembering Mrs.Tawin Sirisute

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In Loving Memory of Tawin Sirisute:

I first met Ajarn Chai’s mom in 1994. Ajarn Chai’s dad was still alive at the time. And what struck me was how welcome we were made to feel at the Sirisute household.

On that first trip when the taxi dropped us off, he saw the plaque on the front gate, pointed to it and said, with reverence; “Royal”.

Wendy and I go to the Sirisute household every year, and mom always had a smile for us while we all sat around the kitchen table drinking tea and, through Ajarn Chai as interpreter, reconnecting.

The taxi drivers single word, spoken 14 years ago captures Tawin Sirisute’s essence; Royal – yes, but more importantly kind, and always with that great smile.

We will miss her, and will always remember her.

Bob Carver and Wendy Cunning

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Amy C. Tucci LAWRENCEVILLE – Amy C. Tucci, nee Race, 55, died Friday at home surrounded by her loving family. Born and raised in White Township, Warren County, she was a resident of Ewing – Lawrenceville since 1972. She attended White Township elementary school and was a graduate of Belvidere High School and Trenton State College. Amy was the co-owner/co-director of the Princeton Academy of Martial Arts which was established in 1987. She was previously employed by the State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry. Amy was internationally known as a Martial Arts Instructor. For many years she was one of only three women certified as a full instructor of Bruce Lee’s Art of Jeet Kune Do having been trained by Bruce Lee’s best friend Dan Inosanto. She was well trained in the Martial Arts of Thai Boxing, Filipino Kali and Indonesian Silat. Amy was an inspiration and mentor to many women not only in the physical aspects of the martial arts but the spiritual and mental aspects as well. Amy was a true artist in every sense of the word. She painted and did pastels and drawings for years and even showed her works in Germany. Throughout the years she enjoyed traveling and took many vacations in Europe. In her later years she learned how to speak German, play the cello, play the drums, and horseback riding. She enjoyed life and lived life to the fullest. She is survived by Rick Tucci; her parents Samuel R. and Jean A. Race of White Township; a brother William Race of White Township; a sister and brother-in-law Carol and John Gross of Bangor, PA; a niece Keri Race of Belvidere; and her many friends and students at Princeton Academy of Martial Arts.

Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton. A Memorial Service will be held 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Hazen Cemetery, Belvedere, at a time to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to World Wildlife Fund at www.worldwildlife.org (888-993-9455) or Make-A-Wish Foundation at www.wish.org (866-880-1382).

TUCCI, Amy C. Of Lawrenceville. Visitation: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton. Memorial service: 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment: Hazen Cemetery, Belvedere.

Fallen Paratroopers (True Heros)
Photos from Juan Perez

Akko Nishimura was a martial artist, women’s self defense instructor and co-founder (1993) of RUCKUS Safety Awareness based in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area.  She was an apprentice instructor in Wing Chun under Francis Fong, and in Jun Fan Gung Fu and the Filipino Martial Arts under SiFu / Guro Dan Inosanto.

The IIMAIA REMEMBERS
Akko Nishimura
May 1964 – February 2000

Bill Gebhardt was a world champion martial artist and the owner and head instructor of the State College Martial Arts Academy.  Sifu Gebhardt’s death on September 17, 2002 may have halted his life, but not his legacy.  TITAN FITNESS has named its martial arts program after the man who inspired it.

At the age of 16, Bill started in the martial arts as part of Sifu Kevin Seaman’s private backyard group.  He diligently focused and developed into a professional in the fields of martial arts and business.  He was Kevin Seaman’s senior most student, and held a Full Instructor credential in both Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD and the Filipino Martial Arts under Sifu Seaman.

Sifu Gebhardt received his instructor certification in Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD, and instructor credential in Filipino Martial Arts in 1992 under Guro Dan Inosanto.

Competitively, Sifu Gebhardt fought in full-contact stick fighting matches on regional, national and international levels.  He placed second in his division in full-contact stick fighting at the World Championships in January 1992, which were held at the Aquino Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines.  As a competitive coach and trainer, he trained dozens of fighters in amateur Thai Boxing, boxing, Shoot Wrestling, and contact stick fighting.  He acted as a guiding light for students and competitors of all ages.

Bill Gebhardt was a certified instructor in Thai Boxing under Ajarn Surachai Sirisute, President and Founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A., and served as the Pennsylvania State Representative for the TBA.

A boxing coach and instructor, Bill was certified through USA Boxing, the nation’s largest amateur governing body.  In 1993, he was voted the State College Jaycee’s Outstanding Fitness Leader of 1993-1994.  He was the proud father of a son, Jordan – his most prized accomplishment.

With deepest respect we honor the memory of Tatang Bo Sayoc.

You can read Tatang Bo Sayoc’s tribute on the Sayoc Website: Click Here

Inosanto International Martial Art Instructors Association – Instructor Candidate