Training on the Move (diary entry)

21.09.16   Tonight’s class was my client’s fourth lesson in Basic Muay Thai for Martial Arts Cross-Training (the sixth lesson in her second course with me). Although I introduced some new techniques, the lesson was largely focused around sparring. We kept things moving from the beginning with an exchange of round kicks and teeps, set up by simple punching. From here we looked at shin-checks and scooping blocks.   The first technique, in earnest, involved catching a mid-section round kick. We discussed the importance of moving in to absorb the technique and unbalance an opponent. Like the shin-check to the low round kick, the arms intercept the mid-section round kick rather than simply try to deflect or block the attack. We then isolated the rear leg straight knee. The knee strike is an incredibly powerful blow delivered in Muay Thai, relying like many of the other leg techniques, on gaining momentum from the actions of the upper body. The arm on the side of the knee strike is pulled back to generate power into the driving straight knee. Full extension to the technique is then provided by rising up onto the ball of the supporting foot and pushing forward with the hips. We then combined this with the kick catch. Next we moved onto elbow strikes. We covered the horizontal elbow, the slashing elbow, the diagonal elbow and the chopping elbow. The strikes were trained in isolation and then integrated into clinching techniques. We also explored the relationship with the diagonal elbow and the chopping elbow. The lesson finished with an introduction to the round knee. This technique is very common in Muay Thai and another distinguishing feature of the sport. When these strikes start coming out you hear the audience and coaches chanting to get the rhythm going. It is for this reason that the technique really cannot be learnt properly or appreciated without first learning the footwork closely associated with its execution.