About Daosawan
Daosawan (Star from Heaven) is one of the ring names used by Kambalay Sisomphou, a former professional, East Thailand Muay Thai champion in the early 70’s.
Kambalay Sisomphou (better known by his friends and students as Kru "Peter") moved to Montreal in the early 80’s at a time when American kickboxing and many other martial arts were extremely popular!
At that time, real Muay Thai was still very much unknown in north America, compared to Europe, in particular Holland and France, where it had already greatly influenced the training of famous fighters such as Ramon Dekker and Rob Kaman, some of the first Europeans to ever train and fight successfully in Thailand.
Aware of the kicking power of Thai boxers and their training regimen, many North American kick-boxers (just like the Europeans and Japanese had done 15 years earlier!) were now looking for Thai trainers to improve their skills and give them an edge over the local and international competition!
With little English but lots of heart, power and fighting experience (at 5’5”, 180 lbs, over 200 pro fights), Kru Peter started teaching Muay Thai part-time at different martial arts gyms and kickboxing gyms throughout the Montreal area! In fact many of Quebec’s kickboxing champions of those days, either trained with and/or became champions with the help of Kru Peter, in the background!
Even without leg kicks, knees and elbows, the addition of the devastating Muay Thai style round kick to the body or head (with shin) was enough for the “long-pants- kick-above- the-waist” Quebec and American kick- boxers of the time to take notice! And notice they did!
As Muay Thai became more and more popular, (also through the work of Ajaan Chai Sirisute in the USA, Ajaan Songlith in Vancouver and Ajaan Suchart in Toronto, (both Kru Peter’s close friends), Ajaan Mike Miles in Calgary and the seminars of Pud Pad Noy (Golden Leg) Worawoot and Ajaan Vut Kamnark in the USA) Kru Peter’s class size increased rapidly and contributed greatly to the success and popularity of many of Montreal’s martial arts gyms!
However his rough, hard training regimen, not to mention his physical and verbal “abuse” (pro Muay Thai style), was too much for most people just looking for some form of exercise or self-defense skills! Kru Peter was a pro fighter’s coach first! Like in Thailand, during training he pushed people to the limits of their physical and mental possibilities! With very few fights and tournaments available…not many people in Quebec were ready for that kind of training, week after week, month after month!
Kru Peter knew what it took to make a Muay Thai fighter and his skill, power and conviction was unmatched: (at local demonstrations he also broke baseball bats with his shin kick to prove his point and often without any warm up!)
However Kru Peter also forgot to adapt Muay Thai to Quebec! He specially forgot a little the difference between training amateur fighters and training pros, training for fitness and training for fun or for the Art!
In return this also kept most people way from Muay Thai, which was still seen as a brutal sport…and it’s sad to say, also made him many jealous enemies and false friends trying to use his influence for fast, personal, gain!
Still, after many years of training and teaching Muay Thai in Quebec to pro kick-boxers, boxers, wrestlers, UFC fighters, privately and to make hands meat, Kru Peter also trained security personnel, body-guards, doormen, fitness instructors, bouncers, gangsters,... and moved from gym to gym, town to town, from province to province, often without recognition and putting is own life and health in danger.
Kru Peter finally left Quebec in early 2002 for some peace and quiet, to reflect on his future and to join his family in the USA and Thailand!
He left disappointed and without ever having officially certified anyone as a full Muay Thai Instructor in Quebec! He left without leaving a home for Muay Thai! And in doing so he also left many sad, Muay Thai students and friends, spread out and without a leader!
Because of many of these factors, real Muay Thai has never been organized, understood or even seen by most people in Quebec, neither at amateur or professional level, as an independent, original and ancient fighting art, with all it’s exciting unique skills, completely safe rules and beautiful traditions!
Most people in Quebec continue to think that Muay Thai is a dangerous, bloody, brutal fight sport, where you can just take some skills for "Extreme" fighting events !
But true Muay Thai is not only a powerful shin kick! It’s much more than that! True Muay Thai with all it’s skills and traditions and spiritual values…Kru Peter unfortunately never had the chance, place and time to show and promote, as well as he wanted!
It was however because of Kru Peter’s “modest” work through the 80’ and 90’s, that the first amateur Muay Thai tournaments took place in Quebec, often in smoke-filled bars, or at local kick-boxing gyms, and still because of Canada’s conservative not to mention contradictory fight sport laws and boxing laws, (without the use of the full and completely safe International Amateur Muay Thai rules, with class divisions) most fighters just kicked and punched…wearing Thai Boxing shorts!! That was not Muay Thai! It was not the Muay Thai that Kru Peter learned, taught and wanted to promote in Quebec!
It was also because of Kru Peter’s efforts that the first official Quebec Amateur Muay Thai Federation was finally created, in order to unite, promote and differentiate real Muay Thai again with all its rules and ancient Thai traditions, from regular boxing or kickboxing!
Presently another great teacher, partner and close friend of Kru Peter is left in charge of continuing such work: Ajaan Say Moinsourath, President of the Quebec Amateur Muay Thai Federation.
Thanks to Ajaan Say, and his knowledge and experience in the promotion of Muay Thai, Quebecers can still hope to see amateur Muay Thai events now and then…until the final day when finally all Muay Thai clubs and instructors in Quebec, sit down and work together under one single, united and focused Federation to help bring real Muay Thai forward, amateur and pro, with all its rules, traditions, and values!
It is to pay respect to Kru Peter, to honor his work and show gratitude that Daosawan Muay Thai Club and this website is dedicated!
Myself, his student for many years, his friend and in a way “one of his family ” I am forever grateful! He helped me discover Muay Thai, its power and its beauty! He helped me not only with skill but most importantly with his confidence, heart and friendship! He also encouraged me to go to Thailand and continue my training!
And that’s what I did! In Thailand I trained with many famous trainers and experienced pro fighters! But I will always remember Kru Peter and the strong foundation he instilled in me and in all his close students and fighters:
Heart, hard work and respect!
I still remember throwing up during one of my very first intensive pad training workouts with Kru Peter, and wanting to give up, at which time Kru Peter shouted:
“You give up now? You give up forever! Swallow it and keep going! The bell hasn’t rang yet!”
That was just the beginning!…
On behalf of all his true students and friends in Quebec and at Daosawan Muay Thai, we shall not forget! Muay Thai will someday get the recognition and understanding it deserves!
For the good of all old and new Muay Thai fans! For the good of Muay Thai,
To Kru Peter (Daosawan) Sisomphou, the first, real Muay Thai instructor in Quebec:
Thank you for everything! Khaap khun maak krup! We miss you!…
But “The bell hasn’t rang yet!!...
Sincerely,
Kru Leo (Daosawan)
Owner and Chief-Instructor
Daosawan Muay Thai Club, Montreal,
January 2007
THE CLUB'S LOGO:
The Daosawan (Star from Heaven) logo, one of Kru Peter's former ring names, is a star made of 2 identical squares in 3 colors: red, white and blue, the colors of the Thai national flag.
As Muay Thai is commonly known in Thailand as being the "Science of Eight Limbs", or the "Eight-Pointed-Star Boxing Art", so is the Daosawan star represented by 8 points symbolizing the strongest bones of the human body: fists, elbows, knees, and (shins) feet.
It is a strong, hard, impenetrable shape. As sharp and effective in defense as in offense, in every direction, but with always at its center the pure mind, the calm heart, the brave and wise spirit.
This Daosawan Muay Thai Club logo hopes to protect, illuminate and guide those who look up for it with pride and respect. A bridge between the past, present and future: The teachers, Muay Thai, and the students.
