27.01.20 Monday night brought my client up to the fourth hour of her third Muay Thai course, where we are focusing on punching. Tonight we threw the spotlight onto the uppercut. My client has made large notable improvements in our performance due putting in more training time at home between lessons. The lesson began with the usual light but specific callisthenics and dynamic stretching exercises before moving onto mirror footwork. Here I had my client work more on Western Boxing footwork to make better use of space and range. We did the Thai step-jab as a useful bridge between the disciplines as it is a great tool for moving into and then back out of range effectively. I also worked on her slipping and rolling to bring the straight punches and hooks respectively. This was all done without gloves - as has been our procedure with this course - in order to ensure good technique. We then switched to the rear uppercut and addressed the following points: dipping the shoulder, squatting, retaining the guard on the descent and driving upwards from the feet into hip activation into the punch which should extend through the target. Usually beginners make the mistake of scooping their punching hand which unnecessarily compromises their guard whilst also telegraphing the technique. My client did not have this problem. If anything she kept too tight a guard during the execution and I needed to get her to loosen the punching arm a little to get some hinging action. The uppercut was then incorporated into several different combinations. We began using it after a double jab and then v-stepping to get to a new angle of attack. This then became part of a larger combination that involved a round kick, a hook and a cross. We then brought it into a collar-tie clinch and I then reintroduced the lead uppercut. This technique was then brought into the six punch combination. We will use this as the basis for much of the work that will follow in successive lessons. The class finished, like last time, with one three-minute round of Boxing and one three minute round of Muay Thai. A great compilation of nak muays teaching the uppercut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMojFa0ESuI
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