Mark DellaGrotte
Encyclopedia
Mark DellaGrotte is an American former professional Muay Thai
kickboxer and a trainer in Muay Thai. He is the owner and operator of the Sityodtong USA Branch in Somerville, Massachusetts
, and was certified and appointed by Master Yodtong to be recognized as an international conservator of Thai
style boxing
. Mark also has extensive training and is certified in the arts of Kali Escrima, Pencak Silat
, Jeet Kune Do
, Savate
, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
.
DellaGrotte, known for his Boston accent
, is a featured kickboxing trainer in Spike TV
's "The Ultimate Fighter 4
." He also has trained mixed martial arts
fighters like Kenny Florian
, Frank Mir
, Stephan Bonnar
, Marcus Davis
, Jorge Rivera
and Patrick Côté
.
DellaGrotte is the owner and operator of the Sityodtong USA
Branch. He began his martial arts studies at an early age. His initial training involved classical martial arts, such as Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan and Tai-Chi. As his athleticism and martial skills grew, so did his desire to further his training in the martial arts.
In 1992 his quest for a more combative martial art was complete when he met Guro Guy Chase, who had studied with some of the greatest martial artists of his time. Guro Chase had trained with Dan Inosanto
, Ben Lagusa, Herman Suwanda, Ted Lucay, Salam Allsi, Surachai Sirisute
and even Karl Gotch.
At that point, Mark devoted himself entirely to the martial arts. Through this training he became certified in the arts of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Indonesian Pencak Silat, Boxe Francaise Savate
, Filipino Kali-Excrima, Submission wrestling and Muay Thai Kickboxing.
DellaGrotte was first introduced to Muay Thai in 1997 when he was taken by a friend to the famed Yodtong boxing camp in Pattaya where he lived and trained. After proving his worth as a student and a fighter he was looked favorably upon by Kru Yodtong himself, a famous Muay Thai instructor who also takes in troubled youths. After eight years Kru Yodtong, as he’s known professionally, designated DellaGrotte as his representative in the United States to teach and preserve the art. In honor of his mentor, DellaGrotte named his gym Sityodtong, which means, “Student of Yodtong.”
Since he had taught martial arts prior to his fight career he decided to step into the ring only to become a better trainer and teacher.
So he traveled throughout Thailand learning different styles of Muay Thai such as Mae Mai Muay Thai, Kun Khmer, Muay Boran
, Muay Lao, and also Burmese Boxing.
Contrary to general belief he has, by his own admission, less than 10 fights under his belt, most of which were held in Thailand. He says he has a winning record but admits a few losses and a draw too.
Master Yodtong Senanan
appointed Mark to teach, conserve and promote Thai style boxing worldwide. He is one of two of Kru Yodtong's US representatives and is honored to be an international conservator of Thai style boxing.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
kickboxer and a trainer in Muay Thai. He is the owner and operator of the Sityodtong USA Branch in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
, and was certified and appointed by Master Yodtong to be recognized as an international conservator of Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
style boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Mark also has extensive training and is certified in the arts of Kali Escrima, Pencak Silat
Pencak Silat
Pencak silat is an umbrella term for the indigenous martial arts created in Indonesia. The leading organization of pencak silat in Indonesia is IPSI...
, Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
, Savate
Savate
Savate , also known as boxe française, French boxing, French kickboxing or French footfighting, is a French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay...
, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
.
DellaGrotte, known for his Boston accent
Boston accent
The Boston dialect is the dialect characteristic of English spoken in the city of Boston and much of eastern Massachusetts. The accent and closely related accents can be heard commonly in an area stretching into much of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and areas of south-western Nova Scotia...
, is a featured kickboxing trainer in Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
's "The Ultimate Fighter 4
The Ultimate Fighter 4
The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback is the fourth season of the mixed martial arts reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. It premiered on August 17, 2006, immediately after the conclusion of UFC Fight Night 6. The finale was aired on November 11, 2006.This series featured a change from...
." He also has trained mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fighters like Kenny Florian
Kenny Florian
Kenneth Alan Florian is a Peruvian-American mixed martial artist who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, and is known for his cerebral approach to the sport based on his meticulous game plans and...
, Frank Mir
Frank Mir
Francisco Santos Miranda is an American mixed martial artist, as well as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpō Karate, who competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion...
, Stephan Bonnar
Stephan Bonnar
Stephan Patrick Bonnar is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
, Marcus Davis
Marcus Davis
Marcus Paul Davis , is an Irish-American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a welterweight. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 2 on Spike TV. He holds notable wins over Chris Lytle, Paul Taylor, Jonathan Goulet, and Shonie Carter.-Boxing career:Marcus began boxing at 14...
, Jorge Rivera
Jorge Rivera (fighter)
Jorge Luis Rivera is an American mixed martial artist who was featured on The Ultimate Fighter 4. He holds victories over five former or future UFC title contenders; Travis Lutter, David Loiseau, Kendall Grove, Dennis Hallman and Nate Quarry.-Military career:19k Tank with A/1-70 Armor at Fort...
and Patrick Côté
Patrick Côté (fighter)
Patrick Côté is a French-Canadian mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a middleweight, most recently in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and was the TKO Major League MMA middleweight champion...
.
DellaGrotte is the owner and operator of the Sityodtong USA
Team Sityodtong
Sityodtong USA, also known as Team Sityodtong, is a Muay Thai and mixed martial arts training camp based out of Somerville, Massachusetts. The headquarters of Sityodtong Camp is in Pattaya, Thailand. Its Grandmaster is Yodtong Senanan and he has produced 57 Muay Thai Champions, the most number in...
Branch. He began his martial arts studies at an early age. His initial training involved classical martial arts, such as Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan and Tai-Chi. As his athleticism and martial skills grew, so did his desire to further his training in the martial arts.
In 1992 his quest for a more combative martial art was complete when he met Guro Guy Chase, who had studied with some of the greatest martial artists of his time. Guro Chase had trained with Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto
Daniel Arca Inosanto is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor from California who is best known as a student of the late Bruce Lee and authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts.-Martial arts:...
, Ben Lagusa, Herman Suwanda, Ted Lucay, Salam Allsi, Surachai Sirisute
Chai Sirisute
Ajarn Surachai Sirisute , commonly known as Chai Sirisute, is a martial arts Instructor who is the founder and President of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA and responsible for introducing Muay Thai to the United States...
and even Karl Gotch.
At that point, Mark devoted himself entirely to the martial arts. Through this training he became certified in the arts of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Indonesian Pencak Silat, Boxe Francaise Savate
Savate
Savate , also known as boxe française, French boxing, French kickboxing or French footfighting, is a French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay...
, Filipino Kali-Excrima, Submission wrestling and Muay Thai Kickboxing.
DellaGrotte was first introduced to Muay Thai in 1997 when he was taken by a friend to the famed Yodtong boxing camp in Pattaya where he lived and trained. After proving his worth as a student and a fighter he was looked favorably upon by Kru Yodtong himself, a famous Muay Thai instructor who also takes in troubled youths. After eight years Kru Yodtong, as he’s known professionally, designated DellaGrotte as his representative in the United States to teach and preserve the art. In honor of his mentor, DellaGrotte named his gym Sityodtong, which means, “Student of Yodtong.”
Since he had taught martial arts prior to his fight career he decided to step into the ring only to become a better trainer and teacher.
So he traveled throughout Thailand learning different styles of Muay Thai such as Mae Mai Muay Thai, Kun Khmer, Muay Boran
Muay Boran
Muay boran is an umbrella term for the unarmed martial arts of Thailand prior to the introduction of modern equipment and rules in the 1930s.It is thus the direct ancestor of modern Muay Thai....
, Muay Lao, and also Burmese Boxing.
Contrary to general belief he has, by his own admission, less than 10 fights under his belt, most of which were held in Thailand. He says he has a winning record but admits a few losses and a draw too.
Master Yodtong Senanan
Yodtong Senanan
Kru Yodtong Senanan is Grandmaster of the Sityodtong Camp in Pattaya, Thailand. He has produced 57 Muay Thai Champions, the most number in the history of Muay Thai in Thailand...
appointed Mark to teach, conserve and promote Thai style boxing worldwide. He is one of two of Kru Yodtong's US representatives and is honored to be an international conservator of Thai style boxing.