Biography of a Muay Lao / Muay Thai Master:
Ajarn Sangvone "Andy" Khensamphaph

I've been studying the Martials Arts of Muay Lao and Muay Thai for most of my childhood and adult life. I started Muay Lao training in Laos at the age of 8.

After 8 years of training in Laos, I had to flee my homeland to Thailand as a political refugee. This was due to political turmoil within my country; freedom was but a dream to me.

After my ordeal of fleeing Laos, I was detained by Thai bandits and forced to work as their slave. These bandit threatend to shoot me if I ever tried to leave. After 2 years of inslavery, I managed to escape during the night by digging my way under a barbed wire fence.  I hitch-hike my way through Thailand trying to get into a Lao refugee camp so that I can have the opportunity to immigrate to the USA. Life for me was extremely difficult at this time. I had no family, no money, and a dim outlook on life. I had to find a way to support myself. With my training of Muay Lao and because I was fluent in Thai, I joined a Muay Thai Camp in hopes of fighting for money. I trained at many Muay Thai Camps in order to perfect the specialty of that Camp. Some Camps were famous for their knee strikes, so, I went there, other for their elbows, feet, and many other specialties.  In my twenties I fought so many fights in Thailand that I can not recall how many. All these fights culminated in becoming a Muay Thai Champion of Laddamnern Stadium, Thailand, 105 lbs. Now, I have enough money to buy my way into the Lao Refugee Camp. I immigrated to the United States in 1982.

Since then I have been an Ajarn, teaching both Muay Lao and Muay Thai. Muay Lao and Muay Thai or simply put "Muay" is my passion and I want to pass this great Art to the younger generations so that they can use it to better themselves. Come and join us and let's have fun!

---

1970 - 1978 Muay Lao Training, Pakse, Laos, with Master Kiew Noytheenfy
1989 - 1982 Muay Thai Training/Fights/Championship, Thailand
1982 - 1998 Muay Thai Ajarn in USA
1998 - 1999 Train and Fought MMA Cage Fight
1999 - present Muay Thai Muay Lao Ajarn in USA
2009 - present CA State Licensed fight promoter