A Helpful Guide to Understanding the Unique Art of Muay Thai
Learning combat sports can be enriching physically and mentally. They involve various activities that test your agility, strength, and endurance and teach discipline and hard work. These lessons can also help develop self-confidence, mental toughness, and self-defence skills, especially crucial during dangerous situations.
One of the most effective martial arts you can learn at your nearest training centre is Muay Thai, a highly efficient combat sport known as the art of eight limbs. Unlike other martial arts, fighters in this sport use more body parts to defeat their opponents.
Whether you want to kickstart your fitness journey or improve your self-defence skills, this article will highlight these eight parts and the Muay Thai techniques you can use.
Thai Boxing or Chok
Muay Thai incorporates Western boxing’s fundamental punch techniques, including the jab, hook (mat tong), cross, uppercut (mat aat), and overhead punch. Fighters can also use a long-range hook.
However, Thai boxing differs from its Western counterpart in how they hold their guard due to the need to counter punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. The guard position is further away from the body, with elbows extending further to defend against various attacks.
1.Elbow Strikes or Sok
The Muay Thai precursor Muay Boran significantly emphasized using elbows in combat. Practitioners of this martial art employ the following elbow strikes:
The horizontal elbow strike involves swinging your elbow towards the target, usually aimed at the side of the head, like a hook punch. It uses similar movements, and fighters can quickly learn it.
The downward elbow technique is challenging unless you’re tall or fighting a smaller opponent. A variation of the method involves jumping and letting gravity carry your elbow down to the challenger’s head.
On the other hand, fighters usually throw upward elbows like an uppercut punch. When striking pads, successfully executing this move can make you feel good, like the horizontal elbow.
Spinning elbows involve rotating your body while delivering a horizontal strike with your elbow.
While the driving elbows resemble a step in a boxing jab, they’re dangerous and aren’t ideal for practising in live sparring.
2.Knees
Like elbows, knees were crucial in Muay Boran’s effectiveness and remain essential in Muay Thai. Knee attacks can cause serious harm and can render the opponent vulnerable. Fighters can execute them in a clinch or as a strike, and they usually throw in the following styles:
Aim the knee toward the opponent's stomach when performing a straight knee strike. This technique involves thrusting the pelvis forward as you lift the knee and lean the upper body back. It's particularly effective in close combat situations.
Occasionally, fighters may use the jumping knee technique as a showy move for the spectators or to knock out their opponent.
During a clinch, a fighter uses the round knee technique to strike the ribs and kidneys, functioning like a hook.
3.Muay Thai Kicks or Teep
Fighters focus on the different kicks in their training to imp training centre, and being patient.
Markham Martial Arts is a facility that teaches Muay Thai near Markham, Ontario, to help students of all ages and skill levels master self-defence and stay physically fit.
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