Countering the Long Guard in Muay Thai: A Comprehensive Lesson Report

03.09.2025

My 1.5 hour client focused on using and handling the long-guard in Muay Thai and we also did some hamstring strength training. 

Next week I am booked to teach a special two-hour session to my friends from Hinnerup Karate in Denmark who are visiting my gym as part of their training tour. I have been asked to address the long-guard and therefore, saw this to be a perfect time to work with my longest running client and solve the problem. 

We sparred for 10 x 10-minute rounds, but broke this time up to drill different solutions put forward to handle the long guard before testing them in sparring. 

1. Freesparring 

2. Long-guard versus everything (exploration and experimentation round)

3. Ditto

4. Inside jab/parry with same hand/over hand from the outside

5. Ditto

6. Punch the extended arm

7. Ditto

8. Go to the body

9. Ditto

10. Freesparring 

Concepts covered along the way included looking to exploit the inside by attacking the rear hand as well as baiting, feinting and drawing. 

Nordic workout 

3 x 10 reps nordic hip hinge

2 x 5 reps negative nordic curls

2 x 5 reps bent-hip nordics

2 x 5 reps nordic curl pulses

The lesson was completed with a full body static, dynamic and PNF stretching routine.