Muay Thai Kickboxing Techniques

Muay Thai Kickboxing Techniques

Muay Thai has its own unique techniques. But unlike other martial arts such as Wushu and Arnis, it doesn't use any weapons such as swords or sticks. Instead, this combat sport treats the body as a weapon itself. In the earlier times, Muay Thai consisted of weapons namely the head, fists, elbow, knee and the feet. These weapons were collectively known as Na-wa-arud. These days however, it is no longer allowed to use the head in competitions, but enthusiasts can still learn how to attack using the head for self defense.

What sets it apart from other martial arts is that it involves a variety of methods to attack and defend. Martial arts such as Karate and Taekwondo only focuses on the hand and feet when attacking. In this combat sport, all the parts of the body can be used to attack as well as defend. So to better understand how this combat sport works, let me share to you some basic moves and techniques used.

PUNCHING TECHNIQUES (CHOK)

Punching is less used in combat because it makes the fighter vulnerable to knee and elbow strikes from the opponent. It's considered to be less effective than other techniques such as elbow and knee strikes.

Types of Punches: straight punch, hook, swing, spinning back fist, upper cut, cobra punch, overhead punch

ELBOW TECHNIQUES (DHEE SORK)

The elbow is used in various ways in Muay Thai. It's also considered as one of the most powerful part of the body that you can use to attack your opponent.

Types of Elbow Techniques: elbow slash, horizontal elbow, upper cut elbow, forward elbow thrust, reverse horizontal elbow, elbow chop, double elbow chop, mid air elbow strike

KICKING TECHNIQUES (DHE)

Muay Thai also involves a lot of kicking. It's one of the its striking similarities to other martial arts.

Types of Kicking Techniques: straight kick, nutcracker kick, round house kick, diagonal kick, half spin half knee kick, spinning hill kick, down round house kick, axe hill kick, jump kick, step up kick

KNEE TECHNIQUES (DHE KAO)

Just like elbows, knees are also used in different ways. It's also considered as one of the most powerful part of the body that you can use to attack your opponent.

Types of Knee Techniques: straight knee strike, diagonal knee strike, curving knee strike, horizontal knee strike, knee slap, knee bomb, flying knee strike, step up knee strike

DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES

There are different defensive techniques that you can use against attack. It is classified into six types namely: blocking, redirection, avoidance, evasion, disruption and anticipation.

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Muay Thai Techniques

Muay Thai Techniques
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The Martial art of Muay Thai has its own unique techniques. It consists of the use of nine weapons. The head, fists, elbow, knee and feet are collectively known as Na-wa arwud. But today the use of head is no longer allowed in the Muay Thai fights. In Muay Thai small amount of grappling is used (The Clinch) for both defending and attacking purpose. Muay Thai techniques are divided into two groups: Mae Mai or Major techniques and Luk mai or Minor techniques. All techniques in Muay Thai use the entire body movement, rotating the hip partially or fully with every punch, kick and block. This is the reason which sets Muay Thai apart from other forms of martial art.

Punching Techniques: ( Chok)

Straight punch = Mud Dhrong

Hook = Mud Wjang San

Swing = Mud Wjang Yao

Spinning Back fist = Mud Wjang Glab

Upper Cut = Mud Seub

Cobra Punch = Kra-Dod Chok

Over Head Punch = Mud Khouk

The judges in Muay Thai fights scores less to the fighters for the punching techniques as they are generally less effective and powerful than kicks or knee strikes. Body punching is also used less in Muay Thai as it exposes the fighters head to the strikes of knee or elbow from the opponent.

Elbow Techniques: (Dhee Sork)

Elbow Slash = Sork Dhee

Horizontal Elbow = Sork Dhad

Upper Cut Elbow = Sork Ngad

Forward elbow Thrust = Sork Poonk

Reverse Horizontal elbow = Sork wjang Glab

Spinning Elbow = Sork Glab

Elbow Chop = Sork Sap

Double Elbow Chop = Sork Glab Koo

Mid Air Elbow Strike = Gra-Dode Sork

The elbow is used in seven ways in Muay Thai, horizontally, diagonal upwards, diagonal downwards, uppercut, downward, backward spinning and flying. The elbow is also used from the sides as a finishing move or to cut the opponents' eyebrow so that he bleeds. Bleeding blocks the vision and also affects the fighter's performance.

Kicking Techniques: (Dhe)

Straight Kick = Dhe Dhrong

Nutcracker Kick = Dhe Paa Maak

Round house Kick = Dhe Dhad

Diagonal Kick = Dhe Chivang

Half-spin, half knee kick = Dhe Krueng Kheng Krueng Kao

Spinning hill Kick = Dhe Glab Lang

Down Round house kick = Dhe Kod

Axe Hill Kick = Dhe Khouk

Jump kick = Gra-Dode Dhe

Step Up Kick = Yiep Dhe

The most common kick in Muay Thai are Foot Jab (Theep) and the Kick (Tae), upward in the shape of a triangle targeting the ribs and arms (Chieng). This angle kick in Muay Thai has been adopted by many other forms of martial arts as it is very effective. The round house kick is almost similar to the kicks used in karate or taekwondo. Many Muay Thai fighters also uses a counter rotation of his arms to enhance the power of his kick. A Muay Thai fighter is always taught to hit with his shin. Although the shin is very sensitive for an untrained person the shin is the strongest part of the leg than the foot as it contains fine bones and is much weaker.

Knee Techniques: (Dhe kao)

Straight Knee Strike = Kao Dhrong

Diagonal Knee Strike = Kao Chijang

Curving Knee Strike = Kao Kouwng

Horizontal Knee Strike = Kao Dhad

Knee Slap = Kao Dhob

Knee Bomb = Kao Youwn

Flying Knee Strike = Kao Loi

Step up Knee Strike = Kao Yiep

Other Knee Techniques: - Kao Dode: (Jumping Knee Strike) Jump on one leg and strike with that legs knee. - Kao Loi: (Flying Knee Strike) Take step(s), jump forward and off one leg and strike with that legs knee. - Kao Tone: (Straight Knee Strike) Thrusts it forward. Not upward unless the fighter is holding opponents head down in a clinch and intend to knee upward into the face. - Kao Noi: (Small knee Strike) Hitting the inside upper thigh (above the knee)of the opponent while clinching.

Foot Thrust Techniques: (Theep)

Straight Foot Thrust = Teep Dhrong

Sideways Foot Thrust = Teep Kang

Reverse Foot Thrust = Teep Glab Lang

Slapping Foot Thrust = Teep Dhob

Jumping Foot Thrust = Gra-Dode Teep

It is also known as 'Push Kicks' and is commonly used in Muay Thai. It is mainly used to attack opponents' attack, and get the opponent off balance.

Fighters in The Arm Clinch Position:

There is a difference in Muay Thai from the western Boxing. During the arm clinch position the fighters are separate in western boxing; however they are not in Muay Thai. There are several clinching techniques in Muay Thai including:

- Arm Clinch

- Side Clinch

- Low Clinch and

- Swan Neck.

Defensive techniques against attack:

It as categorized into six groups:

1. Blocking: Defenders hard block to stop a strike in its path, so preventing it reaching its target.

2. Redirection: Defenders soft parries to change the directions of a strike so that it misses its target.

3. Avoidance: Moving a body part swiftly out of the way or range of a strike, making the position of the opponent for a counter strike.

4. Evasion: Moving the body out of the way or range of a strike.

5. Disruption: Pre-aiming an attack.

6. Anticipation: Defender catching a strike or countering it before it strike.

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