Muay Thai Course Round Up (diary entry)

12.10.16   My second lesson of the night took an overall perspective on Muay Thai, concluding this particular course and was mainly a sparring based lesson.*   The overall theme of the lesson was blending. Unlike many 20th century kickboxing arts such as Chinese Sanda, Japanese Kickboxing, Dutch Kickboxing and American Kickboxing, Muay Thai and its related Southeast Asian arts evolved with all its main weapons already in place for a few centuries.  Although influences are inevitable there is no obvious hybridisation and the kicks, clinching, punching, elbowing and kneeing have long been combined as one whole. This is one of its greatest strengths. Its weaknesses - often highlighted by an outsider’s desire to transplant an art wholesale – come from its cultural trappings and evolution as a spectator sport. Gambling and the culture of fighting camps has led to elbow strikes becoming more of a cutting tool kept in reserve for later rounds than as the devastating knockout weapon. Restrictions on the clinch have led to a weak takedown defence. However, within its restrictions we can see fighters taking advantage of being more focused on certain aspects of the fight. The more restricted clinch has possibly enhanced the way striking is so excellently harmonised with grappling and the limited grappling has led to better control of the head.     We warmed up with footwork, working on the rocking motion that distinguishes Muay Thai from most other forms of stand-up fighting. We covered backwards, forwards, lateral and angled patterns of movement before gradually adding on techniques. It was important to use the movement to propel the various strikes, which included punches, kicks, knees and elbows.   Next we began some partner drills, bringing the kickboxing and clinching ranges together. We looked at kicking after a clinch-break, kicking catching with jumping knees and spinning elbows, and using the clinch to counter kick-catches. Then we moved onto progressive sparring, gradually increasing the pressure to European rules Muay Thai sparring (no elbow strikes to the head).  

*I do not offer a pure Muay Thai course because I do not see myself to be qualified to teach the art in this way. My background was being awarded a "training instructor" qualification from Kru Tony Hayes back in 2004 after running a few of his classes and intensive training at his Warwick Warriors/Hayes Muay Thai gym. Since then I have trained at various Muay Thai gyms in Weymouth and Birmingham, and even attended a judging course with Kru Tony Myers when he visited K-Star, Birmingham in 2004, followed by being part of a shadow judging team at a local event.  Every time I train or study the art in some way I see enormous amount that seems new. Therefore, I only ever offer Muay Thai as a component art to MMA or as a cross-training method.      Photo Credit: 1st picture is of Kru Tony Myers (RIP) with Steven Male. Unknown photographer. This was used as part of Tony's publicity campaign circ.2003 2nd picture is of Jamie Clubb and Steven Male. Circ. 2006. Photograph taken by Sonia Audhali Photography