Directed by Adam Wagner, A Fighting Legacy chronicles the rise of Muay Thai in America through the life and teachings of Ajarn Chai Sirisute, the man who brought Thailand’s national sport across the ocean. Wagner’s debut documentary captures the discipline, culture, and community that have grown from Sirisute’s relentless dedication to the sport.
Muay Thai, known as “the art of eight limbs,” uses fists, elbows, knees, and shins to form a fighting style both brutal and beautiful. Rooted in Thailand’s history, the sport’s journey began in 1968 when Ajarn Chai Sirisute brought his discipline and technique to the States. A relentless and demanding teacher, Sirisute required respect, toughness, and honor from his students. If you wanted to learn from him, he would first demand a trial from potential students to test their strength and endurance. Only then would he take you on.
Over time, the Muay Thai culture Sirisute cultivated grew into a close-knit community of mutual respect and shared hardship. Fighters, trainers, and families came together under one code of conduct, where competition was fierce but friendship and respect were stronger. In the documentary, many interview subjects, including world champion Selina “Teep Queen” Flores, coach Bryan Popejoy, veteran Dean “Lethal Legs” Lessei, and rising prodigy Eden Ireland, speak about why they chose Muay Thai as their primary discipline.
To bring together clubs around the world, Sirisute founded the Thai Boxing Association’s annual world tournament in Des Moines, Iowa—now the largest full-contact Muay Thai event in the Western Hemisphere. This multi-day event takes place each summer, where over a thousand fighters now converge at an event that began in humble hotel ballrooms and small gyms before evolving into a worldwide tradition—all of which carries forward Sirisute’s legacy of discipline, respect, and unity through every kick, clinch, and strike.
“Muay Thai, known as ‘the art of eight limbs,’ uses fists, elbows, knees, and shins to form a fighting style both brutal and beautiful.”
Wagner drew inspiration from his 15 years of immersion in Muay Thai, where he served as a fighter, coach, and referee, officiating over 1,700 bouts worldwide. His deep connection to the sport fueled A Fighting Legacy, which he shot and edited entirely on his own over a three-month period. Wagner’s goal was to honor Ajarn Chai Sirisute, the unsung pioneer who brought Muay Thai to America and taught for more than five decades. The film’s central themes—discipline, respect, perseverance, and community—reflect both the physical rigor of the art and the emotional journey of those who practice it.
As a documentary, A Fighting Legacy is pretty straightforward — a series of interviews with experts and fighters, along with footage of Muay Thai in the gyms and on the mat. The information provides an overview of the sport and is sure to entice anyone considering it to give it a try as a hobby. In other words, there’s not a lot of frills to the documentary, like cool drone shots, animation, or glitzy title cards.
To Wagner’s point, his goal is to show what sets Muay Thai apart from other martial arts and fighting styles, and why it is probably the most accessible for the average person. For me, what pops out is the discipline it takes to master Muay Thai, the endurance and conditioning you will develop, and how anyone, regardless of size or stature, can engage in the sport.
In the end, A Fighting Legacy isn’t just about fighting; it’s about the people who keep an ancient art alive through respect, perseverance, and the community that has grown from the sport. Wagner’s passion project stands as a tribute to Sirisute’s vision, which sparked a movement that continues to thrive across generations.
"…not a lot of frills..."
