In 2003, Antonio Graceffo went to Thailand to find a Buddhist monk, named Prah Kruh Ba, a former professional Muay Thai fighter, who lives in a jungle monastery on the Burmese border, where he takes in tribal kids, orphaned by the war in Burma.

Antonio cut the Kruh Bah story out of a Taiwanese newspaper, flew to Thailand and walked around the border town of Maesai, showing people the photo, until he eventually wound up in the monastery. Within minutes of arriving, Kruh Bah had Antonio fighting in a ring.

During the three months that Antonio lived in the monastery he learned Thai language and Muay Thai (Thai kick boxing). Most importantly, he learned about Kruh Bah’s work along the border, helping tribal people, subjected to genocide by the Burmese government. Among the friends he made in the monastery were members of many of the ethnic minorities: Akha, Lihsu, Lahu, and Shan.

The story of the Shan people and their struggle for survival would touch Antonio so deeply that he would eventually go on to work with the Shan State Army inside of Burma. But that is another story.

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Part 1


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Part 2

About Antonio

Antonio Graceffo (a.k.a. "The Brooklyn Monk") is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He is the author of 6 books, including including The Monk from Brooklyn, Adventures in Formosa, Rediscovering the Khmers, The Desert of Death on Three Wheels,Boats, Bikes, and Boxing Gloves: Adventure Writer in the Kingdom of Siam, and his latest book, Warrior Odyssey: The Travels of a Martial Artist in Asia. All his books are available on Amazon.com here. He is also the host of the web TV show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” which traces his ongoing journey through Asia, learning martial arts in various countries (watch select clips here).

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3 comments

  1. ashutosh
    September 5, 2010

    sir it is very intresting u visited south asia , ur knowledge is also good in martial art ,but u never went to birth place of all martial art tht is india weather chinese wushu or bokator martial art came to rest of world through hindu and budhist monk of india who practices kallaripautu,
    wrestling calles malla udhya and bokator which is evoled from braj muthi
    still in india these art are practised from 4thousand yearsand preserved

  2. ashutosh
    September 5, 2010

    sir i am a student of mother of all martial art ie kallari it means performing body which deals with vital points of body to cure phisical alinments and kill a kallari practisenr is always young because it is a combination of yoga and vains and vital points of human body .khumer where the hindu and earlier chinese monks were also indian budhist

  3. Antonio Graceffo
    September 7, 2010

    I would love to go to India and do research on Kalari, but I would need a sponsor. If you are willing to sponsor me, i could go there.

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