| Most professional MMA fighters use Muay Thai as | | | | your opponents head or neck and bringing that down |
| their primary method of striking their opponent. One of | | | | as your knee is coming up. This is a more devastating |
| the reasons for this is how devastating the strikes are | | | | blow. |
| (i.e. punches and kicks). This article can help you with | | | | The left knee strike is a "switch" knee. This means that |
| proper technique, if you are just starting out in your | | | | you are in your basic stance then very quickly switch |
| Muay Thai career, or looking for a new way to | | | | the position of your feet. The Right foot is now |
| exercise. | | | | forward and the left foot is back and then you |
| Stance | | | | explode your left knee the same way you would do |
| This must be a wider stance than you would see with | | | | with your right knee. Explode your hips forward off |
| a traditional boxer. Traditional boxers tend to stand | | | | your back foot and bring your left knee up until you |
| more to the side instead of square to their opponents. | | | | finish on your right toes. This time bring both your |
| Thai boxers will stand squarer to their opponents, with | | | | hands passed your left hip. |
| their shoulders in the same line (one not ahead of the | | | | Kicks can be difficult at first. Do not get discouraged. |
| other). Thai boxers stand this way because in Muay | | | | As with anything practice makes perfect. Kicks in |
| Thai kicks are allowed. Since they are allowed, for | | | | Muay Thai are power kicks. You are not trying snap a |
| defensive purposes, you need to block (check) your | | | | kick like you would in Karate. Rather, you are trying to |
| opponents leg kicks. | | | | kick through your opponent with sheer power. |
| Stand with your feet shoulder width apart with a slight | | | | To begin we will view these kicks from a right hander's |
| bend in your knees. If you are a right hander, then | | | | stance. If you are kicking your right leg, you begin by |
| position your left leg forward, and if you are a left | | | | stepping slightly forward rotating your left roughly 45 |
| hander position your right leg forward. An added | | | | degrees outward. As you are throwing the kick rotate |
| benefit to this stance is you will have more power with | | | | on the toes and ball of your left foot. To get true |
| your lead hand in punches because you can get more | | | | power in your kicks lead with your hips. Your hips |
| of your shoulder behind your punch. For example, if | | | | should be rotating your body entire body. |
| you are a right hander, then your left jab will be more | | | | For the right kick as you are throwing it swing your |
| powerful in this stance then a traditional boxer's stance. | | | | right hand down passed your right hip and your left |
| Position your hands in front of your jaw, protecting | | | | hand up across your face. Bringing your right hand |
| mainly that part of your face. Keep your elbows low | | | | down will help with your torque, creating more power in |
| and close to your body for protection from both | | | | the kick. This will help turn your right leg over so you |
| punches and kicks. The right body shot from a punch | | | | deliver the kick in a downward angle. Bringing your left |
| or kick can melt you, so it's important to keep this area | | | | hand up is for defensive purposes, in case, your |
| protected. | | | | opponent counter attacks your hand is protecting your |
| Basic Punches | | | | face. |
| Punching starts with your legs, mainly your back leg. To | | | | Land the kick with your lower shin, not your foot. Your |
| get true power, you push off your back leg as you | | | | shins are much more powerful than your foot and if |
| throw the punch. Never forget to keep your hands up | | | | you land with your foot you risk injury. Return to your |
| at all times when throwing a punch. Never let your | | | | fight stance once completing the kick. |
| guard down. | | | | The left kick is a "switch" kick. This means (just like the |
| Straight Punches (Jab/Cross) - The jab is the straight | | | | "switch" knee) that you are in your basic stance and |
| punch with your lead hand. For a right hander, to throw | | | | then you very quickly switch the position of your feet. |
| a jab, step slightly forward with your left leg and twist | | | | Right foot is now forward (45 degrees outward) and |
| your body throwing a straight left directly forward. Be | | | | your left foot is now back. Then you explode into your |
| sure to get your shoulder in the punch. A cross is a | | | | left kick the same as a right kick. This time your right |
| straight punch with your power hand. For right handed | | | | foot is pointed outward 45 degrees, your left hand |
| people, throw your right hand straight forward twisting | | | | swings down passed your left hip, and your right hand |
| your body and getting power from your back leg. | | | | is across your face for a guard. |
| Keep in mind to stay balanced at all times. | | | | Where should your kicks land on your opponent? A |
| Hooks - The power in hooks comes from your hips | | | | low kick is landed on your opponents thigh, just above |
| and your technique. Your hips will and body torque will | | | | the knee. A roundhouse kick should be landed either at |
| provide the power. Technique has to do with your | | | | your opponents waist, neck, or head. Again, the lower |
| hands and arm positioning. To throw a hook, keep your | | | | part of your shin should be connecting with your |
| elbow at the same height or slightly lower than your | | | | opponent. |
| hand or you will lose power and risk injury. Never let | | | | Combos |
| your hands loop down around your body when | | | | Once you get the feel for your punches and kicks |
| throwing this punch. Letting your hands loop down | | | | start using them in combos. Each combo below is |
| takes too long, and you leave yourself vulnerable to a | | | | represented by a number: |
| punch from your opponent. | | | | 1 = Left Jab |
| Upper Cuts - It's very easy to throw in upper cut | | | | 2 = Left Jab - Right Cross |
| strictly with your arms. This is a common mistake | | | | 3 = Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Hook |
| made when throwing this punch. The key when | | | | 4 = Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Hook - Right Cross |
| throwing and upper cut is to bring your body down | | | | 5 = Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Hook - Right Cross - |
| squatting at the legs in almost into a coil position. Then | | | | Left Upper Cut |
| explode upward with your legs throwing an upward | | | | 6 = Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Hook - Right Cross - |
| moving punch like you are trying to hit underneath your | | | | Left Upper Cut -Right Cross |
| opponents chin. | | | | Once you are comfortable throwing these |
| Again with all these punches keep your hands up and | | | | combinations add a kick or knee to finish. If your last |
| never let them drop! | | | | punch is with your left hand, then finish with a right kick |
| Knees and Kicks | | | | or right knee. If you finish your last punch with your |
| To throw a right knee, if you are right handed, start in | | | | right hand then finish with a left kick or left knee. |
| your basic stance. Explode your hips forward off your | | | | Learning these basic Muay Thai techniques are just |
| back foot and bring your right knee up until you finish | | | | the beginning. Muay Thai is one of the best workouts |
| up on your left toes. Lifting up on your toes will add | | | | you can perform and for self defense purposes and |
| power. As your are striking with your right knee bring | | | | excellent art to learn. I encourage you to find a trainer |
| your both your hands down past your right hip. This is | | | | and take your skills to the next level. |
| done because in theory you are grabbing the back of | | | | |