SitSuphan Muay tai academy, Quincy

In 2010, Kru Yai Mark Nardone received a blessing to open SitSuphan Muay Thai Boran Academy—the first of its kind in the world. The blessing came from Arjarn Suphan Chabairam, who lent his name to the facility after a legendary career that included more than 300 fights and championship belts at the Featherweight and Bantamweight levels.

Today, Kru Mark and his team of mized martial artists continue to carry on Suphan’s legacy at Suphan LLC, a 3,000-square training facility in Braintree. Much of their curriculum is built around Muay Thai, the ancient fighting art that originated in Thailand some 2,000 years ago. Instead of having students swing at cardboard cutouts of childhood bullies, Kru Mark and his instructors incorporate elements of shadowboxing, padwork, and heavy bag training into their classes. They also utilize their facility’s numerous training amenities, including a full-size boxing ring.