Troy Ninedorf began his marital arts training in middle school during the early 80’s. In Madison at that time there were only two martial arts schools and Troy went to the bigger one, Paiks Tae Kwon Do. In fact, it was the biggest in the state, possibly the biggest in the Midwest. It was in what appeared to be a converted grade school. Using the gym as the class area and with some students living in the converted classrooms. Everyone in the area rolled though this school during that time period and most brought their brother, sister and friends with them.
When Troy became older, he found some true legends from the Madison area to train with. Bob Lynch in boxing, Mark Friedman in knockdown karate and John Failing in Muay Thai, Kali and JKD.
Bob Lynch is in the history books. Boxing used to be a huge college sport and the University of Wisconsin was a dynasty. Ranking number one for many years. Bob Lynch was head coach and ran that program until it closed. He then went on to train and manage amateur boxers up to success in the Olympics and Professional ranks.
Mark Fryman is from a different path. Back in the 70’s if you were strong enough, brave enough, good enough and crazy enough you could go and live in Japan and train and fight in the knock down bare-knuckle tournaments of the day. Mark did this for years, training with the legends they write about today and fighting at the highest levels.
John Fehling is a true martial artist, training with the best the nation offers. Here Troy discovered his true love, Muay Thai.
As Troy trained in Madison, he began to train nationally going all over the USA to train with Surachai Sirisute, the man who brought Muay Thai to America. Troy continues to Train with “Chai” to this day and Sirisute has called Troy one of his best students. In the early 90s Troy made the pilgrimage to Thailand, the home of Muay Thai. In 1994 Troy began training at Faitex Muay Thai camp, the original one. Troy trained with with Apidej Sit-Hirun, considered the hardest kicker in Muay Thai history. Apidej held seven Muay Thai and Boxing titles over his career. He is considered a national hero and was awarded Fighter of the Century by the King of Thailand.
During this time period Troy’s love of competition surfaced. Wisconsin didn’t have Kickboxing or Muay Thai competition back then so Troy drove down the 90 to Illinois to train and fight with people who don’t even know what a bubbler is. Troy won the 1993 WKA light welterweight championship, the Battle of the Champions Championship in 1993, the Prairie State light welterweight championship in 1993, a combined tittle of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Kentucky and he was the Gold Cup Champion in 1994. Troy was also undefeated in his Muay Thai fights. None of this was given to the Man from Madison, it was taken.
Troy continues to go to Thailand and has been there to train at least 19 times. He currently trains with his friends Ajarn Jakkit Sitsongpeenong , head trainer at Sitsongpeenong camp. Weerayut Mesaman, master of Thai sword. And Peitch Chor Vigo, the only man to be Trainer of the year, in Muay Thai, twice, who is still active.
Troy has attended countless seminar, classes, certifications and events. He is active as a judge and cornerman. As a cornerman Troy has been working ringside at many national championships fights in Muay Thai and Kickboxing assisting Chicago MMA when they won school of the tournament at the RevGear Tournament. He has also assisted, coached and cornered Chonburi Muay Thai of Tennessee along with Aiki Training Hall of Chicago at some of the largest Muay Thai events in the world.
If you are looking to learn authentic Muay Thai from someone who has decades of experience, has trained at some of the largest commercial schools, has been to multiple Thai boxing camps over many years, won the highest level of competition available at the time and has been a huge part of the corner and coaching staff at the highest levels of amateur and professional competition in the USA, Troy is definitely a top coach in the Midwest and in the nation.
