Roots of a Champion: Fast Facts
Sittiphong, known in the ring as Den Neua Eminent Air, is a Muay Femur expert, two-time Thailand Champion at Rajadamnern Stadium, and founder of Sittiphong Muay Thai in Pai, Thailand.
He began training at just six years old in rural Northern Thailand. At the time, his dream was to become a soccer player, but Muay Thai became a way to support his family. With no formal trainer at first, he watched legendary fighters like Saenchai Sor Kingstar and taught himself by imitating their movements and shadowboxing alone.
His dedication caught the attention of his father, who brought him to Eminent Air Gym in Bangkok—a respected gym known for producing top-tier stadium fighters. There, Sittiphong trained with structure and intensity. His daily routine included long-distance runs at dawn, technical pad work, and hours of drilling Muay Femur technique, emphasizing timing, control, and intelligent movement.
Over the course of his career, he fought in Thailand’s most prestigious stadiums, including Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, where he earned two Thailand Champion titles. He traveled and fought across the country—from Phuket to Pattaya, and in provinces like Uttaradit, where he sometimes fought twice in a single day. His experience also extends internationally, having competed in Myanmar using Muay Boran-style rules and in Cambodia under traditional striking conditions.
In Khon Kaen, he both trained and fought, and during a formative period there, he helped train a young Sangmanee, known as the “Million Dollar Baby,” for several months during the early stages of the fighter’s career. Sittiphong also has experience teaching Muay Boran to other trainers, helping preserve the cultural foundation of Thai martial arts.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Thailand, it dramatically slowed the professional Muay Thai circuit. Like many fighters, Sittiphong saw his competitive opportunities stall—at a time when his momentum was strong. With few events running, he turned his full focus toward coaching. He found purpose in developing others, guiding students of all ages and levels, and passing down the techniques and mindset he had spent decades refining.
Today, Sittiphong Muay Thai stands as the result of Kru Sittiphong’s lifetime in Muay Thai and the shared vision he built with his wife and co-founder, Jennifer. A critical care medicine specialist and co-founder of the gym, Jennifer helped shape its structure, development programs, and long-term mission. Together, they have created a training center focused on technical growth, cultural connection, and authentic Muay Thai rooted in legacy.
Students train in small groups to receive focused instruction. The gym offers authentic Muay Femur training, a youth sponsorship program for local Thai fighters, and a welcoming environment for beginners, hobbyists, and future champions alike.
This is not a commercial gym. It’s a place where real Muay Thai lives.
Train smart. Train with depth. Train the traditional way.
Written by Jennifer, co-founder of Sittiphong Muay Thai. With a background in critical care medicine, military fitness, and cultural immersion, she and Kru Sittiphong built the gym as a legacy of discipline, community, and authentic Muay Thai in Pai
