Thai Boxing Basic Techniques

Muay Thai is referred to as "The Art of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A practitioner of Muay Thai ("nak muay") thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) as in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts. (Muay Thai consisted of an arsenal of nine weapons—the head, fists, elbows, knees and feet—known collectively as na-wa arwud. However in modern Muay Thai, both amateur and professional, headbutting an opponent is no longer allowed.)

Front Kick - The Front kick, aka snap kick, tip kick, push kick is a staple of good Muay Thai technique. (roll the mouse pointer over the picture to see the 2nd step of movement) Proper execution of the kick requires raising the knee up to a defensive stance. The toes of the foot should be pointing down, tightening the calf muscle for the strike and locking the hip. Keep your hands up, and lean back slightly as you snap the leg forward.

Front-Tip Kick

• Use the pad of the foot to drive into the upper thigh, stomach, or solar plexus. Some fighters turn their hip at moment before impact and strike with the heel to the thigh of the leg. Make sure to quickly return the leg to a defensive posture. Do not step forward and lock the knee or leg. This leaves you open for a counter-kick.
  
• The front kick is used both as a offensive weapon and a defensive tactic. Using the front kick to attack the legs and stomach of an opponent will tire them and help bring the hands down for elbow and punch strikes.
  
• Defensively, the snap kick is good at driving back an opponent that is pushing forward or trying to get within your guard. Experienced fighters often use double-snap kicks, anticipating an opponent coming forward. Another tactic is to use the front kick to the thigh and stomach several times, then kick high to the head and face when the opponent anticipates another low kick.
  
• Thai fighters will practice the snap kick on the heavy bag by kicking 5 sets X 20 kicks with each leg. Practice aiming your front kick. Aim for thigh, stomach, solar plexus, head. Proper placement of a kick is as important as power.

Elbow Strike - The elbow strike, in all its forms is a powerful weapon in Muay Thai. The force the elbow can create per square cm can break bones and KO opponents instantly. The elbow is used as both an effective offensive weapon, and as a defensive guard.

• The elbow lacks the range of a punch or kick, but can be delivered very quickly from a compact stance. The elbow works best when set-up with a strong jab or hook.
  
• Step in behind the jab, keep your opposite hand high and tight against your chin/cheek. Shift your weight at hips and raise the shoulder and elbow. Bring the elbow in high, over the top of the gloves, striking with the point of the elbow into the jaw or head as the weight shifts downward.
  
• If an opponent is crowding you, or pushing forward, strike with the forward elbow in an upward strike. As your opponent moves forward, quickly step forward, bend at the knees slightly, shift hip towards the target and drive upward with the elbow between your oppenents gloves. Keep your opposite glove tucked in tight to protect against counter.
  
• As a defensive tactic, the elbows can create a wall against attack. Muay Thai fighters close in and raise their hands high with their forearms together to protect against attacks to the upper body and head.
  
• Muay Thai fighters practice elbow strikes on heavy bags and pads. 5 sets X 20 elbows in each type of attack. Try stationary strikes by bending slightly at the knees, lift and shift weight, and strike down with elbow in one motion.

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Knee Strike - The knee is an effective weapon inside for attacks to the mid-section, and provides a solid shield with the foreleg against kicks. In Muay Thai, fighters attack with the knees quickly and often to score points and wear an opponent down. In clinches, Muay Thai fighters combine body feints and pulls to expose an opponents side for a knee strike. An effective knee strike starts by stepping forward and rising onto the pad of the planted foot.

• The foot and toes of the striking leg and knee should point at the ground. As you shift your weight down, drive up and out with the knee. Lean back slightly at the end to extend the impact and protect against counter. Keep your hands up, locked on your opponent or in defensive stance.
  
• Muay Thai fighters like to grasp behind the neck and force the head down. Once the head goes parallel with the shoulders, they drive the knees upward, even jumping at times, into the head. Many KO's from knees to the head if a fighter can't keep his head up.
  
• A Muay Thai fighter will practice knees on the heavy bag and knee board. 5 sets X 30 each knee and 3 sets X 40 switch knees.

Overhand Punch - The overhand, straight, or power punch is the core of every good Muay Thai fighter. A good fighter sets up his punches with jabs, feints, footwork. The straight powershot relies on body movement. Set the powershot up by establishing a good jab. Follow the jab, with the right hand cocked and ready, planted against your cheek. As the jab arm returns, push with the back leg, turn on the hip and shoulders, and fire the punch 3-5 inches behind your intended target. The moment of impact of powershot focuses the transfer of weight in forward motion through the hips, shoulders, elbow joint, and glove hand.

• Keep the jab hand high and tight to protect against counter powershots. Spin away from your opponent in the clinch after a powershot to establish distance and control.
  
• Mix up how you deliver your powershots. Hooks and uppercuts can set up overhand shots as well. Watch your opponents defensive rythem. Where do his hands go when you fire a hard jab? Look for openings after feints and spins. Good footwork makes openings for hands.
  
• Muay Thai fighters depend on powershots and straight punches. Practice on the medium bag with 5 sets X 50 jab-straight punch (1-2).

Combinations - Muay Thai fighters rely heavily on using combinations. Because Muay Thai uses the entire body, there are an almost endless combinations to use. Punches and elbows to Knees and elbows.Find out your strengths, and emphasize them with combinations that work to your strong aeas. Basic combinations start off as easy as 1-2. (jab-overhand right).

• Then follow with a 1-2-5-2. (jab-straight right-left uppercut-straight right) Start adding an elbow and kick. A punch and a kick or knee. Each set of combinations relies on certain beliefs about how fighters defend themselves. Combinations create openings for attacks. You jab quick and hard, your opponent blocks with his hands high.
  
• You follow with a left hook to the ribs which were left exposed when your oppenent raised his hands.Some combinations are 3-5 actions long. You may deliver 3 blocked attacks to finally score on the 4th attack. Muay Thai fighters like to catch an opponents kick against their side and hooking the leg under the arm.
  
• With control of the leg, the fighter leans away pulling his opponents leg up and out, leaving the opponent unbalanced and exposed. The opponent could be exposed to a looping or overhand powershot, an attack against the controlled leg, or a sweeping kick to the back leg and knocking opponent to the ground.
  
• Muay Thai fighters spend a lot of time shadow boxing, which is a highly overlooked portion of training. 3 X 5 Minute rounds using combinations, feints, footwork.

At Extreme Sports Cafe's partner Phuket & Bangkok Muay Thai Schools guests have the opportunity to learn Muay Thai with true Master Instruction, helping you learn how to punch, kick, practice balancing, learn proper rhythm, and increase your speed and power as you hone your Muay Thai skills, in Thailand.

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