Muay Thai Academy International

All members of the Academy Ladies and gentlemen, This is to inform you that the Santa Clara County Public Health Officer have issued a Legal Order to shelter at home. The order limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs.... In order to remain compliant with this legal order, Muay Thai Academy will remain closed for at least two weeks effective immediately and possibly three weeks. We have sent out individual emails to all members of the Academy. Please contact the Academy principal for any further information. We wish you good health during this shelter at home period.

Once in a while we come across a rare man with an indomitable spirit. Five years ago we lost Daniel Sambrano. Whose infectious smile, kind words and guiding hands touched us all at the Academy. His teachings and his legacy still lives on. His presence felt every day that we train here. Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed.

This is why we ask that students don’t wear their street shoes while training on the Academy floor.

Congratulations Kru Derek Cleveland!

Funeral Services will be held on January 14, 2019 at 6:00 PM, St. Benedict's Catholic Church, 2245 82nd Ave., Oakland,CA 94605. Floral tributes may be sent.

We are heartbroken to announce the untimely passing of one of our nearest and dearest, Mr. Todd Hoston, on Sunday December 30, 2018. Mr. Hoston was VIP protection and threat assessment specialist for the last 18 years. He has provided services to multiple dignitaries including personalities from the Top 10 of Forbes List and many Fortune 50 companies. Recently he has been working with Elite Tactical Security Solutions under Mr. Richard Diaz in Las Vegas, NV. Mr. Hoston was a ...direct student/wingman and considered family of Grand Master Jason Velez, founder of the 9 Dragons Martial Arts in Las Vegas NV. He just received his Full Instructor certification in the CAT system (krav maga & worldwide combatives) on 24 December 2018. He was a senior member of the Muay Thai Academy Int’l since 1999 and was a graduate of the Advanced Executive Protection Program of the former Inst. of Professional Executive Protection (which is now the Henley Putnam School of Strategic Security under the National American University). An avid practitioner of Close Quarter Combat Tactics, he was a guest instructor at the Muay Thai Academy in Close Quarter Combat Tactics, VIP Protection and surveillance and counter surveillance related topics. Mr. Hoston co-developed multiple short courses for various training academies He also worked closely with the Akribis Group of California on several sensitive security related project in the past few years as one of the directors of Special Projects. His passion for the Arts and teaching was unprecedented and his passing leaves a huge void in the world of profession protection, security, martial arts, our Academy and the world at large. He had a heart of gold and always thought about others before he took care of himself. We will forever be indebted to his contribution and miss his endearing personality, his dry sense of humor and his familiar laughter! Mr. Hoston's absence from this world is not replaceable. Mr. Todd Hoston, a patriot, an operator, a teacher, a mentor, an advisor, a student, a brother and a dear friend may he rest in peace

Its that time of year again to REMEMBER, and HONOR our fallen HEROES. Please join us on December 15th at 9:00 AM for the opening ceremony at the Golden Gate Nat...ional Cemetery in San Bruno. Our goal one day is for all 112,000 + fallen HEROES to have wreaths placed on their graves. Only 1% of our soldiers will get a wreath. If you can't join us please help us to SPONSOR a wreath for a fallen HERO. Please register below if you would like to volunteer at the Golden Gate National Cemetery or sponsor a wreath. Hope to see you there! See more

Just a reminder to Academy members: Today's air quality is worse than yesterday. Please exercise caution when you... exercise... cautiously. https://airnow.gov/index.cfm

Members of the Academy: Air Quality in Santa Clara County is expected to remain in the Unhealthy category through the weekend. Please exercise common sense while you train until the air is cleared up. 1. Limit the amount of time you spend outside 2.Do not over exert yourself 3. If you do choose to train, stop immediately if you experience shortness of breathe, pain in your chest, if you exhale smoke. 3. Don't push yourself. ... For context, San Jose air index is 161. New Delhi air index is 162. Beijing air index is 78. The school is open tonight and tomorrow 5pm-9:30pm. https://airnow.gov/index.cfm

When I was young, new to training and immature of mind, Nirmalya would demonstrate a technique, show a practice drill, and walk away... for hours. I would thin...k to myself "wow this is his instruction, I pay he leaves." Round about 2 hours I get distracted( I was weak of mind and undisciplined) and I'd be daydreaming, scratching my butt, pulling toe jam from my toes he'd walk back out from, God knows where,and ask if I had mastered said technique. Triumphantly I'd answer "yes", and he's ask me to demonstrate. At which point he'd tell me about a dozen things I needed to improve on and disappear back to Kunlun. This went on for about six months before I realized a fundamental truth. I needed to ground out my basics before I was even ready to hear him, before I was ready for him to actually start training me. You can't learn calculus without first learning arithmetic. So..... I ground out my basics and no longer did Nirmalya have to spend time me teaching basics(over and over): stance and striking fundamentals. We were able to progress to advanced topics, but First I had to make myself a good student, a ready, worthy vessel for Nirmalya to train. This process took several years of consistent training. When student are immature in practice they expect their instructor to take responsibility for their progress. When students mature in practice they realize that only through repetition will the intuitive process allow the art-form to unfold it self to them. Discipline is a practice, when you strengthen your "Will" it grows. Exercise it daily.! #Waxonwaxoff Thankyou Sir!

Jacob’s brother Tommy put this fundraiser together to raise funds for memorials and help me to recover from years of handling his medical issues and the financi...al duress of the long term illness he had been suffering from. Throughout this entire trial of his illness we finally found the sweet spot in life where nothing matters but loving each other and being with community and friends. We didn’t know how we were going to make it so many times but found a way to be happy regardless. I am so happy we spent our final days consciously loving each other, consciously loving life - every bit no matter what, and loving our people fiercely. Jacob would be so honored to know that his people are all coming together in this time. He had a big heart and loved everyone, actively sought to build community and was passionate about inclusivity. He was my big fuzzy and right now it feels like life is over. I can’t imagine my future- and I don’t want to. If you would find it in your heart to share this post I would be eternally grateful. The support and love that people have been sharing, ALL of the posts and pictures that are being shared, all the memories all of this is incredibly helpful right now for all of us. Please don’t stop! Memorials are being planned as we speak and we’ll post more details about those events as they unfold. Again thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and for sharing your memories of him. It is like a healing balm to see the outpouring of love - the most valuable thing that exists. Hold your loved ones close. They are all that really matters.

Many have been asking how to help Jacob Ragsdale family. Jacob's wife Jennifer Henry has set-up a GoFundMe account for help to raise funds for his burial, memorials and financial hardships. Please help in anyway you can.