Blaine Takraw Academy

Cher Pao Cha

Takraw has always been a special part of our family, starting with my father "Cher Pao Cha" who introduced us to the game in the 1990s. He has always had a love for this sport, from his time in Laos to Thailand and eventually to the US. Despite being aware of its difficulty, my dad knew that height wasn't the sole factor in playing Takraw. With a net height of only 5 feet 1 inch, even someone as short as my dad at 5 feet 3 inches could kick the ball over. This opened up opportunities for us to excel at the sport, regardless of our height. The challenge of playing with only our feet and no hands added to the allure of takraw, and ONCE  you master it, the skills never truly fade away. This is what drove my dad's passion for the game and inspired my older brother Sou Cha, the eldest in our family, to pursue Takraw as well. Being a part of a sport that is not dependent on physical attributes but rather skill and dedication has made takraw a cherished and meaningful part of our lives. The skills required to play Takraw are not easily attained but once you have them, they never go away. Making it a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

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Sou Cha

Takraw started with my eldest brother, Sou Cha, who was born in Laos in 1984. He first learned the sport while living in the United States in the 1990s from our father's teachings. During our time in Atlanta, Georgia, Sou Cha followed our father around and trained day and night, quickly progressing in the sport. He even traveled to other states like North Carolina and South Carolina to compete and improve his skills. As he became better, the competition also grew bigger. In the mid-1990s, he traveled to Fresno, California, where he played against some of the best players in the country at that time. Bringing back what he learned from Fresno, Sou Cha continued to train even harder, traveling to Boston, Massachusetts, where there was a large population of Laotian players. From the age of 14 to 18, he competed in numerous tournaments and had his sights set on playing in the U18 international tournament in Thailand that was his dream at the time, though never had a chance. However, in 2002, our family moved from Atlanta to St. Paul, Minnesota, which was home to some of the best players as well. He also has won the most prestigious Tournament of USA in St. Paul, Minnesota, Hmong Freedom Festival. Despite having many trophies and medals during his time competing, knee and back injuries prevented Sou Cha from continuing to play. His last tournament was in 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite no longer being able to compete, Sou Cha's influence on young players is still present. He was known as the best spiker in the USA for over a decade and has inspired many young players to strive for excellence in Takraw.

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Ker Cha

Growing up, I followed in the footsteps of my older brother, Sou Cha, who was a talented takraw player. He was my mentor and without him, I would not be the person I am today. In the mid 2000s, during middle school, I started taking the game of takraw more seriously. My brother was at the end of his time as a player due to injuries, but my dad still had a vision for us and would take us to the parks to work on our drills. However, he wasn't able to teach me how to succeed in the same way my brother had learned. I began with the fundamentals and basics in the Feeder position and eventually transitioned to being a Server. My flexibility in my legs and hips from when I first started playing as a child caught my brother's attention and he saw my potential to become the best server in the US and possibly a generational player. He trained and developed my Serving skills throughout my childhood and into my teenage years. The current serving style I use today, known as the Horse Kick Serve, is commonly used at an international level. It involves doing a split serve in the air with your toes facing towards the opponent, resulting in a significantly more powerful speed and spin on the ball. After more than 15 years of playing takraw, I am still learning and able to demonstrate how the game is currently played. This is why I am passionate about opening a Takraw Academy and program to teach new and young players so that this sport can continue to grow in the US. Along with my brother, Sou Cha, we have also achieved various accomplishments together, including winning tournaments in Florida, Texas, Vegas, and our most prestigious one being the 4th of July Hmong Freedom Festival. I am grateful to my father and older brother for always pushing me to work hard and giving me the opportunity to do so. Through their support and guidance, I have had the privilege of playing against other countries in international tournaments. One of the most memorable experiences was competing at the Kings Cup Thailand, one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the history of Takraw. It was a surreal feeling to be able to participate in such a renowned tournament and represent my country on a global stage. As much as it was my own dream, I cannot help but think about my older brother who also aspired to play internationally. Unfortunately, he never got the chance due to unfortunate timing. I consider myself lucky to have been able to fulfill not just my dream, but also a dream my brother shared with me. These international travels have not only allowed me to compete in Takraw World Cups but have also been a valuable learning experience that has broadened my perspective on different cultures and ways of life. I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have been given and will continue to work hard to make the most out of them.

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True Anthony Cha

True Anthony Cha is my younger brother who was born in 1995 in the US. We have been playing Takraw together since we were kids and it has always been a big part of our family. Both of us followed in the footsteps of our older brother and father, who also played Takraw. It runs in our blood and we have always enjoyed playing it as brothers. True started playing at a young age, just like me, and he quickly picked up the fundamentals and basics. He became a main feeder at the age of 12, with our older brother as the Striker. We had the opportunity to play together for a few years before our older brother retired from competing. True was fortunate enough to compete in international tournaments at the age of 16, with the help and guidance of our older brother and father. His first experience competing abroad was in 2014 in Udon Thani, Thailand, where I couldn't accompany him due to citizenship issues. This gave him the opportunity to truly represent the US and showcase his skills. As our older brother's competitive years were coming to an end, True was trained to become a Striker himself. He quickly learned and mastered the Sunback spike, a unique style that requires extreme flexibility and strength. True's love for the game never dies as he continues to represent USA Takraw for almost a decade now. He is well-known in the US for his Sunback and Blocking skills and is determined to make a comeback after undergoing a knee surgery in 2023. His competitiveness and dedication to the sport have brought him many accomplishments and he strives to be the best Sunback Spiker there ever was. I am proud to have played alongside True for many years and I am excited to see where his passion for Takraw takes him in the future.