25.10.2022 My client's second course on Muay Thai began with a look at applying southpaw strategies. My client is left-handed but this isn't something I addressed in the first course. It was important to just teach the straightforward basics of the martial art. However, now it was time to look at how southpaw fighters handle their most likely opponents: orthodox fighters. This is usually a course I teach orthodox fighters much later on as mirror boxing and switch-hitting are important skills in a sport that will continue to grow in sophistication. For the reasons outlined above, this is far more than an advanced skill for southpaws that should come before learning spinning kicks, jumping kicks and more nuanced clinching, knee and elbow strikes. We began with the outside foot strategy. This is a very common way to train southpaws in stand-up fighting and also when fighting against a southpaw. The nak muay stands with their lead foot on the outside of their orthodox opponent's lead foot. From here they are angled in such a way that their rear hand is closer to the target than would usually be the case when facing an opposite boxer. The southpaw fighter can use the rear hand as they would their lead. In this vein, I introduced the jabbing cross and jabbing rear teep. Some Muay Thai krus even go so far as to say that the lead teep shouldn't be used by southpaws against orthodox nak muays and vice versa. We then looked at the lead hand which has to be delivered at an angle and over the opponent's lead arm/shoulder. Here I introduced the up-jab and I also emphasised low lead round kicks. The lesson finished with a three minute technical/speed/power burnout round on the focus mitts. https://clubbchimera.com/services/
Comments