Written and photos by Pari Aryafar
Graphics by Dustin Bolinger
The United States Muaythai Federation is hard at work preparing for the International World Games, which will be held in Birmingham, Alabama from July 7th to July 17th.
The national team that will go on to represent USA Muaythai was announced after the 2022 USA Muaythai World Games Qualifiers.
Now, the USMF would like to announce the head coaches that will be leading the team to success in this historic event.
Anucha Chaiyasen, better known as Jongsanan Woodenman Fairtex, will be one of the four head coaches on the team.
A legendary Muay Thai fighter out of Thailand, Jongsanan holds the coveted title of being Lumpinee Stadium Champion and has a professional fight record of well over 100 bouts. He also has the distinct honor of being a King’s Cup medalist and is well-known for the infamous “Elbow Fight” against Sakmongkol Sithchuchok.
Jongsanan previously coached the USMF team at IFMA in 2009. He currently owns and operates Woodenman Muay Thai in San Francisco, California.
Rami Ibrahim will also be coaching this team and has been a coach for USMF athletes since 2016.
Ibrahim, also called “The Son of Palestine” has earned multiple titles and awards in his time as a professional athlete. These include being the 4x WKA North American Muay Thai Champion, WKA World Muay Thai Champion, and FIBA World Muay Thai Champion. He was also inducted into the New Jersey Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2017 after an illustrious career.
He owns and manages his gym Rami Elite in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Derek Yuen will coach the USA Muaythai team for the third time, having previously done so in 2007 and 2010.
Yuen fought all over the United States during his career and also competed at IFMA in 2004. A two-time IKF National Light Heavyweight and the IKF WI State Light Heavyweight Champion, he brought his expertise to the famed American Kickboxing Academy in Northern California.
Yuen is the head Muay Thai coach at AKA in San Jose, California and has coached numerous USMF athletes to international success.
Danny Brandt rounds out the list of head coaches, having coached at ten IFMA World Championships in the last decade.
Brandt began training in martial arts as a small child and had made a name for himself by the time he turned professional at the age of 19, fighting alongside competitors such as John Wayne Parr. He fought in numerous countries, including Thailand, Holland, China, and across North America, earning accolades such as USMTA Regional Champion and IKBA National Champion.
Brandt now owns and operates Dan’s Gym in Mesa, Arizona.