Capital Jiu-Jitsu

Ganyao "Dr. Knee" Fairtex

For over 30 years, Ganyao Fairtex has been a driving force behind Fairtex Muaythai training in Thailand and USA. Masterfully integrating his imposing statue, unpredictable personality, and a truly ferocious brand of Fairtex Muaythai into his unique training style, Ganyao is respected and feared as muaythai's supreme heavyweight trainer.

Born in a small city about forty-five minutes from Bangkok, Thailand, Ganyao was unable to resist his calling in muaythai, and left school to train at the Sitpodang camp as a professional fighter at the age of 15. In true Thai style, he fought his first professional bout after just two months of training. By the time he retired from the ring at 25, he had fought 65 times in Thailand, including bouts in Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums.

After Sitpodang merged with Fairtex in Bangkok (and after he had completed the military service required of all Thai men), Ganyao worked as a Fairtex trainer at Fairtex Muaythai Bangplee. He was a very successful trainer, having trained Fairtex's top fighters where some have won 15 fights straight without any loss. Under Mr. Philip Wong's (Fairtex founder and Chairman) strategic decision to introduce muaythai to the States, he moved to Fairtex Muaythai Arizona camp in 1993. Fairtex was later relocated to San Francisco in 1996 and Ganyao went along, bringing his family with him soon after.

Standing 6'4" and weighing 205 pounds - unusually large for a Thai - Ganyao specializes in training heavyweights, who respect him for his merciless drive, wicked humor, and deadly passion for muaythai. Having guided well over a dozen muaythai and MMA fighters to World Championship titles, his efficacy as a master is legendary.

Easy-going and accessible to both professionals and amateur alike, his training has an edgy rawness and intimidation factor that ignites his students to drive their bodies beyond their known limits to become tougher and stronger fighters. Known as "Dr. Knee", he has helped to make Fairtex fighters feared proponents of the technique that is a fundamental element of Thai fighting. Adapting muaythai for American fighters is a particular challenge for Ganyao, since most state boxing commissions do not allow the use of elbows and discourage the use of knees. Moreover, referees and judges who don't always understand muaythai techniques stop fights much more frequently than Thai officials. "In Thailand, fighting is a matter of economic survival," explains Ganyao. "In America, most people train to get in shape and referees here are much more concerned with keeping fighters from getting hurt."

Integral to Fairtex's success and growth, Ganyao plans to remain based in the United States in order to help Fairtex Muaythai to improve and expand in the West. "I have been with Fairtex for over 25 years, Fairtex is very much part of my life and is my family." says Ganyao.

Ganyao believes that Americans, already huge fans of boxing, are ready to embrace Thailand's whole-body fighting art, as spectator as well as practitioner. With a unique understanding of both cultures, he enjoys training students at all levels of experience. "At Fairtex, you can learn everything about fighting," he says. "You may not be able to fight like in Thailand, but you can train like in Thailand. All you need is heart."

Recently, Ganyao "Dr. Knee" Fairtex was featured as the muaythai instructor to help train the 16 athletes from across North America on "The Ultimate Fighter", a new and exciting reality-based television series shown on Spike TV.