Shown in the two pictures above and the picture to the right is Mr. Precha Mahachanavong, the founder of Lotus Self-Defense.  Mr. Precha was called by his Thai title, "Ajarn," which means teacher.  Ajarn Precha was a professional Muay Thai kickboxer in the 1950's.  He later earned his black belt from Master Tony Lasit in kenpo of the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute.

Using skills he learned from Muay Thai, Kenpo Karate, Judo, and Aikido, Ajarn Precha combined the best of these martial arts to form Lotus, a truly unique Thai martial art incorporating Thai customs and traditions.  He started teaching his style of self-defense in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand in the late 1960's early 1970's.  Many of his students were American military men stationed there because of the Vietnam War.

In addition to teaching Lotus classes, Ajarn Precha taught self-defense to the Thai military and police.  When asked one time about why he created Lotus, Ajarn Precha responded, "I wanted my student to be able to walk away [alive] from a fight."

2003

This picture shows Ajarn Precha with his family in Thailand.  More pictures from Thailand and of Ajarn Precha can be found here.

Letters written by Ajarn to his students in the U.S.

Ajarn's Application for membership into Lotus.

Ajarn's belt promotion form to document a student's test.