Video Clip Series: Understanding Muay Thai Fighting Strategies and Techniques

UNDERSTANDING MUAY THAI FIGHTING STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES

A Muay Thai fighter can attack you from either sides

Muay Thai fighters always attack in a series. In other words, they do not attack once, then think of a second attack, which is what many martial artists do and which makes them hesitant and slow.

To be able to counter Muay Thai fighters more effectively, it is necessary to know the attack sequences they commonly use. Sifu Roland and Peter demonstrate the Muay Thai attack sequences.

For better understanding, we shall label them as follows:

Right kick, left kick, right elbow.
Left jab, right sweeping kick, left reverse kick, right elbow.
Left tap, right elbow, left elbow, and knee jab.
Low right sweeping kick, high left sweeping kick, right horizontal elbow, left vertical elbow.
False right jab, right knee, left knee, right knee.
Left tap, left jab, right jab.
Left tap, right low sweep, right horizontal elbow.
Right horizontal elbow, left vertical elbow, right knee

Please click the pictures below to view the videos

Poise of Muay Thai Fighter Different from that of Boxer

The typical poise of a Muay Thai fighter is different from that of a Boxer. A Boxer usually has one leg and one hand in front of the others, but a Muay Thai fighter has both hands in front, and his feet are spaced out in parallel, giving him the option to attack easily from both sides.

Right Kick, Left Kick, Right Elbow

Sifu Roland demonstrates a common Muay Thai attack sequence. He initiates with a right kick, then a left kick, followed by a right elbow strike. How would you counter such attacks?

Left Jab, Right Sweeping Kick, Left Reverse Kick, Right Elbow

Here is another Muay Thai attack sequence. Sifu Roland starts with a left jab, then a right sweeping kick and a left reverse round-house, followed by a right elbow strike. Muay Thai attacks never come singly; they are always in a series.

Tap, Two Elbows and a Knee Jab

Sifu Roland shows a few Muay Thai sequences. One formidable sequence is to initiate with a frontal leg tap, followed by right and left elbows, and then a right knee jab.

Two Sweeping Kicks and Two Elbow Strikes

Sifu Roland starts with a low right sweeping kick, follows with a high left sweep kick, continues with a right horizontal elbow strike and completes with a left vertical elbow strike.

Three Consecutive Knee Jabs

Sifu Roland gives a false right punch. His purpose is to grab the opponent's head and executes three consecutive knee jabs. Many martial artists find it hard to counter Muay Thai knee jabs. Do you know how?

Tap and Two Jabs

Peter demonstrates another Muay Thai attack sequence. He executes a leg tap, and follows with a left jab and a right jab. It is quite similar to a Boxer's attacks except that he starts with a leg tap.

Tap, Sweeping and Elbow

Here is another attack sequence by Peter who poises as a Muay Thai fighter. He initiates with a left kick tap, continues with a right low sweep, follows with a right horizontal elbow strike.

Five Different Techniques in Five Continuous Attacks

Here Peter adds two more patterns to the sequence he has just shown. This new sequence, which has five attack patterns, consists of a left leg tap, a right low sweeping kick, a left horizontal elbow strike, a left vertical elbow strike and a left knee jab. It incorporates five different techniques in five continuous attacks.

Two Elbow Strikes and a Knee Jab

To facilitate systematic learning, Grandmaster Wong asks Peter to take out the first two attacks from the five-attack sequence he has just shown, thus making a new sequence of three attacks. Hence, the sequence consists of two elbow strikes and a knee jab. In what way do you think keeping three attacks in an attack sequence can facilitate learning?

Creating Different Combinations of Sequences

The advantage of keeping three attacks to one sequence can be seen here. Instead of having five attacks in one sequence, Peter now has two sequences with three attacks each. Notice that the last attack of the first sequence is the same as the first attack of the second sequence. In the same way, you can create different combinations from the two sequences.

You can view all the videos above by clicking the picture or the caption below

Understanding Muay Thai Fghting Strategies and Techniques from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

Grandmaster Wong’s Home Page

Special Shaolin Kungfu Course -- Part 118

16-22 April 2007