Meet the Chaiyo Muay Thai Trainers
At Chaiyo Muay Thai, our trainers bring unparalleled expertise, passion, and dedication to the art of Muay Thai. With diverse backgrounds and years of experience, they embody the values of discipline, respect, and cultural appreciation. Each trainer has a unique story, but they share a commitment to helping students grow in skill, strength, and character.
Meet our trainers
Deffiny Thakoonsak Soungpanya AKA "Mrs. Cheetah"
at Chaiyo Muaythai. I started having interest in martial arts at a very young age, but was permitted to participate due to parent’s restriction. In 2004, I started looking for authentic muaythai school in the area where I live, but unfortunately, the closest one was in Oakland or San Francisco. Due to time and distance we were unable to attend. I decided then to enroll my son in Taekwondo and soon after I also enrolled myself. I was practicing Taekwondo alongside my son for six years. In early 2010, my niece introduced me to Master Cheetah Chantanao, who has just then opened his Muaythai Academy in Richmond. My son and I did a trial session and we became members right after. After a year, Master Cheetah decided to relocated to a better location in Richmond. For the love of muaythai, I could not refuse to help him create the new Chaiyo Muaythai Academy. Ever since, I have been training and working alongside Master Cheetah.
Jacky Chanthanao
daughter of Master Cheetah Chanthanao, was born and raised in the Bay Area. Jackie currently studies nursing and takes an interest in many health and medical issues. She strongly believes that fitness and diet are vital for maintaining optimal health. Like her father, she enjoys teaching muaythai and wants to share her love for the art with others. Jacky first began training with her father at Kings boxing gym in Oakland, California when she was just a little girl. Growing up, Jacky studied her father’s training techniques and accompanied him at any at muaythai bouts in the United States and overseas. She was encouraged to constantly study more time to grow an advance in the art. With over 20-year experience in muaythai, jacky has earned the title of Kru. She has competed locally and has trained among some of the top muaythai fighters in the U.S. and Thailand, including Buakaw and Bunkerd Faphimai. While balancing school and teaching at Chaiyo Muaythai, Jacky applies the focus and discipline she has gained from muaythai to her studies and in her everyday life.
Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez
At the age of 14, Alex Hernandez began training with Master Chansadeth “Cheetah” Chantanao. After a few short months under Cheetah’s guidance, he began to compete at an amateur level until his mid 20’s. Though Alex did not pursue to compete professionally, this never took away his determination and tenacity to embrace the art of Muay Thai. Alex has had the pleasure of training with former Lumpinee Champions including Danchi Fairtex and Bunkerd Faphimai. During one of his travels to Thailand, he trained amongst the K1 Champion, Buakaw Por. Pramuk, as well as International Champion turned super promoter, Clifton Brown. Alex has also practiced Capoeira and boxed out of the legendary Kings Boxing Gym in Oakland; however, Muay Thai has always been, and will remain in his heart. Alex is enthusiastic about not just teaching and training Muay Thai, but also sharing the values and traditions of the Thai culture. His passion and knowledge of this competitive sport is especially apparent in his style of teaching. Alex emphasizes to his students that technique always overcomes brute force, and that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Alex’s passion for Muay Thai is only slightly surpassed by his love for video games.
Jesus Sosa
Hello everyone, my name is Jesus Sosa. I just want to tell my story on how I fell in love with muay thai. Before I knew muay thai I drank and smoke a lot. Until, one day I was walking down San Pablo St. and saw a foggy window. I walked inside and saw a lot of people working hard. The name of the school was Cheetah Muay Thai, owned by Master Cheetah. They offered me to stay and try it and so I agreed. That day I struggled to keep up, but I enjoyed it. Then, they let me try a second class. I was 18 years old at the time and since then I have continued to train because I enjoy it a lot. Thanks to muay thai, I was able to quit smoking and drinking. Also, I used to weight 190 lbs. and in four months I lost 50 lbs. I love the way we train because we respect each other and we train hard. It also helps to improve our daily lives. After five months of hard training with Cheetah Muay Thai, I was offered to do smokers for them. Then, I did a few amateur level fights until I hurt myself and had to take a break. Later, one of my friends, Ivan Ramos, decided to open his own gym, Mesh Striking Arts, and he wanted me to help him accomplish it. Once I started teaching, I started training again. I loved it and started doing more amateur fights. I got my first title in 2011, but my mother got sick so I had to go back home to Mexico. Finally, I came back in 2013 to help teach other people muay thai, so that they can accomplish their dreams as a fighter. Today, I am more than happy to help Master Cheetah, my first trainer.
Grand Master Surachai (Jud) Chanmanee
Grand Master Jud Chanmanee was born in Champion, Thailand. He is well-known as Buakaw’s God Father and muaythai trainer. He raised and trained Buakaw to become K1 Muaythai World Champion in 2001, not to mention many more other champions worldwide. Muaythai has always been his main focus and w ay of life. He trained hard and fought hard at his young age. Now as a trainer he is here at Chaiyo Muaythai Academy to share muaythai skills which he obtained throughout his career.