Muay Thai Fighting Logo

Top » Catalog » Muay Thai Articles » Basic Muay Thai Techniques
Basic Muay Thai Techniques

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)

English

Thai

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)

English

                 Thai

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)

English

Thai

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)  

English

    Thai

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)

English

     Thai

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:

  • Blocking: Defenders hard block to stop a strike in its path, so preventing it reaching its target.
  • Redirection: Defenders soft parries to change the directions of a strike so that it misses its target.
  • 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.
  • Evasion: Moving the body out of the way or range of a strike.
  • Disruption: Pre-aiming an attack.
  • Anticipation: Defender catching a strike or countering it before it strike.


This article was published on Tuesday 22 April, 2008.
Current Reviews: 0
Write Review
Tell a friend
Tell a friend about this article:  

Quick Find

 
Advanced Search


Categories

Manufacturers

Resources

Languages
 French Spanish
German Italian Portuguese

Bestsellers
01.Twins Special Muay Thai Boxing Gloves
02.Twins Special Ankle Guard
03.Twins Special Handwraps
04.Twins Special Headgear
05.Twins Special Shin Protection
06.Twins Special Fancy Boxing Gloves
07.Twins Special Armbands
08.Twins Special Muay Thai Shorts No Fear/Lumpinee TBS-02
09.Twins Special Groin Protector
10.Twins Special Training Bag Gloves

Information
Discount Promotion

Shipping Method

Paypal Logo

Logo Paypal

Logo SSL

What's New?
Twins Special Muay Thai Trunks BTS-03
Twins Special Muay Thai Trunks BTS-03
US$29.95

Shopping Cart
0 items


Shipping & Returns | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us

Copyright © 2007 www.Muaythai-Fighting.com