“When a nation sharply divides its scholars from warriors, they will have its thinking done by cowards and fighting done by fools”

Thucydides

Our instructor.

Martial Art is a critical human subject. It is a place physical self and internal self meet, to develop our personhood. This is the aim of martial art. Through movement alongside others we seek to drive out fearful thinking and foolish behaviour and replace it with courageous thoughts and worthwhile behaviour.

A Martial Art school is where junior and senior meet, for shared practice and knowledge; ultimately creating a communal strength: all members of our school from young to old, beginner to athlete create the positive peer pressure necessary to bring our best selves into each class.

I am here to create a communal strength through teaching Muay Thai, as it was once done for me.

Kru Yai Nick Bautista

Kru Yai Nick Bautista

My core teaching approach

My core teaching approach is for students to adopt a a new internal learning dialogue:

  1. I am unaware of what I need to improve

  2. I am aware of what I need to improve

  3. I am aware of what I excel at

  4. My movement and instinct are one.

This approach influences how a thing is to be taught just as much as it influences what is to be taught. In my classes you can expect simple things taught well.

Professional Background

  • Proudly from Ajahn Suchart Yodkerepaupri, Siam No.1 since 2005.

    I learned fundamental Muay Thai from Ajahn. How to train, fight, share with beginners, intermediate, fighters and instructors. All with the expressed intent to create vitality in the community I practice within.

    Most go into Muay Thai with goals of being professional champions. My time with Ajahn exposed me to the beauty that teaching can be and chose to follow his path and opted to make a career of teaching.

    • 2004 began studying Muay Thai with Ajahn Suchart Yodkerepaupri

    • 2006 Poo Choi Kru (Junior teacher) of Muay Thai, Ajahn Suchart, Siam No.1

    • 2010 graduated ‘Kru’ (Teacher of Muay Thai) by Ajahn Suchart Yodkerepaupri, Siam No.1

    • 2013 appointed ‘Kru Yai’ (Head instructor of Muay Thai) by Ajahn Suchart Yodkerepaupri, Siam No.1

  • I wouldn’t say that competition was ever my true goal. Teaching was. I participated in competition so I can get a full of view of what the athlete goes through and did pretty well in my time doing so.

    • Competed briefly 2006-2010, culminating in 2012 BCMMAA Canadian Heavyweight Championship bout

  • This was a significant time in my life and my most vivid. Immediately after my brief foray into fighting, I dove headfirst into my apprenticeship with Ajahn and assisted him as much as possible during his championship run with two of Canada’s best, Simon Marcus and Matt Embree.

    As Ajahn’s assistant, I would assist him on day to day training duties with his top fighters, holding pads, clinching and being their sparring partner if need be. I would also stay available for them to do off scheduled training to work on particular details Simon and Matt may have wanted to experiment with.

    In return, I was rewarded with live experience in preparation, and culmination of world championship bouts and took on administrative and corner duties on the day of the event.

    These are experiences I’ll always cherish and remain forever grateful.

    • May 12th 2012; Assistant Coach and Assistant trainer for Simon Marcus vs. Joe Schilling 2; Lion Fight VI

    • May 12th 2012; Assistant Coach for Matt Embree vs Nik’s Widlund; Lion Fight VI

    • July 15th 2012; Head Coach for Matt Embree vs Justin Greskiewicz USKA Fight Night

    • September 2nd, 2012; Assistant Coach for Simon Marcus vs Artem Vakhitov Muay Thai Premier League Stars and Stripes LA. This one was my favourite…Buakaw pulled me aside and chatted with me pre and post fight! I’ll share with you one day!

    • March 15th 2013; Assistant trainer for Simon Marcus vs Artem Levin; Lion Fight and throughout Glory Championship run

    • October 2018; Head Coach for Joe Underhill TKO Championship alongside Misha Circunov, Matt Embree

  • 2011-2024 Owner and operator of Brampton Muay Thai.

    For over a decade, I had a magical time growing a community of passionate Nak Muay, a school that still goes on today.

  • I was never one for creating large teams; I preferred working with one fighter at a time and giving them my all, because they gave me their all.

    • 2017 Team Canada IFMA, Ryan James

    • 2018 Team Canada IFMA, Katrina Velasquez

    • 2018 Team Canada IFMA, Donii Foreman

  • I’ve also had the honour of nurturing several of my students past a recreational activity and into competitive capacity, but a profession as well:

    • Richmond Hill Muay Thai, Kru Ryan James

    • Brampton Muay Thai, Kru Katrina Velasquez

    • Vaughan Muay Thai, Poo Choi Kru Jag Hayer

  • I hold an academic background is an undergrad in Philosophy from York University, and currently working towards a Masters in Education.