Some Basic Muay Thai Techniques

A majority of the offensive techniques that are usedThe low kick is a common Muay Thai attack, that
in Muay Thai utilize a students hands, feet, elbows,involves a circular movement from the stylist's body
and knees to strike an opponent.  In order to bindto kick the opponent in his upper shin area.  If the
the opponent for both defensive and offensivelow kick isn't blocked or defended, it can quickly lead
reasons, there is a small amount of grappling on theto fight being ended.  After a few well placed low
feet that is used - the clinch.  kicks, the opponent will be unable to put pressure on
The clinch occurs when someone gets in your circlehis legs due to the bruising, and will eventually
of radius, inside of your comfort zone.  To executecrumble.
knees and short kicks from the inside, the clinch canWith other martial arts styles, such as Tae Kwon Do,
be very useful.  The Thai fighter makes great usestylists use snapping kicks that are indeed faster to
of the clinch, tying up on opponent on the feet thenexecute, although they have less power. Muay Thai
pounding his stomach, ribs, knees, and legs with brutalon the other hand, teaches stylists to follow through
knees. Knees are very popular techniques with Muaywith kicks, using the shin instead of the foot.  Nearly
Thai, as Thai fighters spend a lot of time training theirall of the techniques involved with Muay Thai
strikes - especially knees and elbows.emphasis movement with the entire body, which
Although high kicks to the opponents head looksmeans rotating the hip each time the stylist kicks,
amazing during the fights, experienced Thai fighterspunches, or blocks.  The techniques are slower,
always say that knees and elbows have a lot morealthough they are far more powerful that techniques
impact, and they do the most damage to the body. found in Tae Kwon Do and even Karate.
If a Thai fighter is very experienced and has enoughAs a lot of people already know, the training and
power in his strikes, he can quickly and easily killconditioning training found in Muay Thai is nothing
someone with his techniques.short of legendary for the intensity and rigorous
In all Muay Thai techniques, two in particular havetraining.  The training in Muay Thai aims to harden
become very popular with other styles of martialthe weapons used in the martial art to a high
arts.degree.  Students who have been training in Muay
The roundhouse kickThai for many years can absorb a beating, yet if
The roundhouse Thai kick is a very useful techniquethey land a shin kick it will feel as if you have just
for both self defense and competitions, proving tobeen hit with a sledgehammer.
be very efficient when it is executed properly.  ThaiAll in all, Muay Thai is a very dangerous martial art
stylists execute the roundhouse kick by a straight legthat teaches punishing blows with very little
and the entire body rotating out from the hip.  Thegrappling.  Thai stylists are physical strong, capable
hip is locked shortly before the thrown leg makesof taking an opponent out with just one well placed
impact with the opponent.  If executed properly,strike.  Muay Thai is also one of the most well
the roundhouse kick can easily render someoneknown and most popular styles in the world today -
unconscious.which is why you shouldn't hesitate to study.
The low kick