Thohsaphol Sitiwatjana

About

Martial artist and Muay Thai instructor known in the western world as Master Toddy and throughout England as "The Father of English Muay Thai." He is the founder of Master Toddy's U.S. Muay Thai Center, which has produced numerous successful fighters including former kickboxing champions Lisa Howarth and Bob Sapp. He has appeared in numerous films and television series including Sword of Honour and The Man with the Golden Gun.

Before Fame

He had been fascinated by martial arts since the age of five and earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do by the time he was 13 years old. He became head coach at his Muay Thai school at the age of 16. He would often practice by wrestling crocodiles at the Samut Prakarn Crocodile Farm, which had been previously owned by his parents.

Trivia

At his audition for The Man with the Golden Gun, he was required to fight six students from Bruce Lee's School of Jeet Kune Do. After defeating 4 of the 6 students, the last 2 withdrew and he was immediately offered the role. While filming, he also trained Roger Moore, who portrayed James Bond in the film.

Family Life

He is the son of Sudsac Sitiwatjana and Sophorn Sitiwatjana, the latter of whom was a police chief. His parents were strongly opposed to his participation in fights, as Muay Thai is viewed in Thailand as a "poor man's sport," and he would often sneak out of his parents' home to join bareknuckle street fights and temple fights. 

Associated With

Some of the most notable fighters he trained throughout his career include Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, and Gina Carano.