How To Land Head Kick Knockouts

From Muay Thai Guy

High kicks. The golden technique of martial arts and, in many ways, the mark of a good martial artist.

No one just throws a high kick; only people who dedicate their life to martial arts or ballet are able to get their leg that high that easily. Be it Jean Claude Van Damme or Saenchai, everyone who throws a high kick has spent years mastering it. You need great static and dynamic flexibility, great technique and, most important of all, the ability to set up your opponent for that highlight reel KO.

So if you want to be a part of the high kick club, there are a few things that you’ll need to know.

GETTING BENDY

It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that high kicks require a little bit of flexibility.

After all, if your leg can’t stretch up there comfortably, then there’s not much use kicking here. Lacking flexibility while aiming for a high kick will almost feel like you’re hefting a big weight into the air — the...

How To Knock Your Opponent Out With Elbows Inside The Clinch

From Muay Thai Guy

We’ve all got blades on our arms, some are sharper than others, but they slice and dice all the same. These blades I’m referring to are elbows.

Elbows, like knees, are made to be utilized within close range. Though you may be within the range they’re designed for, that does not always mean you’ll be able to use them properly. Positioning is key. 

What type of position will we be looking at today?

We’ll look, as one always should, at the position of maximal leverage; in this particular instance, the clinch. This is an important point to consider if you’re facing an opponent more physically able than you are. 

It would be silly to fight on an equal playing field, therefore you must be able to maneuver to positions advantageous to you and disadvantageous to him. 

The clinch will be such a position for you. Here are the tricks:

4 Deadly Elbow Techniques In The Clinch

Elbows are great on their own, b...

The Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 8

From Muay Thai Guy

What characteristics separate an average fighter from a great one?

This is an age old question that can be answered in a number of ways. In this episode of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul discuss the top 6 traits they believe are the most important for becoming an elite fighter.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what they chat about during the episode:

Top 6 Crucial Attributes Elite Fighters Possess

1. Work Ethic – Are you putting in the hours at the gym when your opponent is resting at home? Or are you sleeping in on the days you’re supposed to do some road work? Without a focused, intense worth ethic, it’s going to be difficult to compete at the highest levels.

2. Consistency – It’s extremely hard to stay hungry when you’re dealing with personal issues related to work, family, and other relationships. It’s even harder when you get injured or have a major setback that keeps you from training. Being able to continue p...

 Why Malaipet Couldn’t Stop Crazy

From Muay Thai Guy

The following post on how to defeat a more experienced opponent is written by Jon from MuayThaiAnalyst.com. If you enjoy this breakdown and analysis of Kevin Ross vs. Malaipet, you’ll definitely enjoy the rest of Jon’s work on his website. But for now, check out part 1 of this 3-part series on “Why Malaipet Couldn’t Stop Crazy”.

Kevin Ross is a pioneer in American Muay Thai and one of the most accomplished US fighters today. He was voted Muay Thai North American Fighter of the year in 2010 and has held titles from the WBC, USMF and Lion Fight.  Kevin has also fought a number former Thai champions including Saenchai, Sagetdao, Coke Chunhawat and Malaipet.

Ross and Malaipet met on Dec 5, 2010 at the Commerce Casino In Los Angeles. Malaipet Sasiprapa is a former Rajadamnern and WBC champion.  This was a tall order for Ross as Malaipet usually fought two weight classes above him and had almost 200 more fights than him.  Despite thi...

 FACT: IT’S GOOD TO LOSE TO BETTER FIGHTERS

From Muay Thai Guy

So the situation here might seem a bit absurd. You might be asking yourself: “Why on earth would I fight someone that I know is better than me? Why would I fight someone knowing that I will lose? What’s the point???”

Yes, at first impression, it is crazy to step into the ring with someone who has much more experience than you, or with someone whose style trumps yours in every way. Ego and fight record aside, doing this has great benefits, and is something commonly done in Thailand when prospects are on their way to becoming the next big thing in the sport.

Why do you it? The answer is quite simple: to grow as a fighter.

HARDSHIP IS WHERE WE LIVE

If you think about it, nothing you’ve done up to this point in your journey to be a successful fighter has been easy. Juggling work, school, training, and a social life is not easy. Going through fight camp when you have personal issues is not easy. Cutting weight is not eas...

MUAY THAI TECHNIQUES & PRINCIPLES: 10 CLINCH SWEEPS 

From Muay Thai Guy

The more weapons you have in your arsenal, the more capable you are as a fighter. However, it can be difficult to hold that many techniques in your brain and body. It’s difficult for all of the techniques to synergize.

We all know the sayings “jack of all trades, master of none” and “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” How true are these statements?

If you want to learn as many techniques as possible, you must find the commonalities and patterns of all techniques. Once you’ve found and mastered those things, you will have incredible results. For instance, almost all kicks require you to pivot on your standing leg. Once you’ve mastered the pivot, you will be able to transfer that to those 10,000 kicks and thus learn them quicker.

Now check out the below Evolve MMA video and see what patterns you can find:

MUAY THAI | 10 SWEEPS FROM THE ...

Muay Thai Guys Podcast – Episode 15

From Muay Thai Guy

If you compete in a combat sport like Muay Thai, chances are you’ll run into your fair share of fighters who try to mess with your mind leading up to fight night.

Your future opponent might tease you, talk trash, and even get personal with his attacks. Or, maybe he’ll be the friendliest person you’ve ever met and you’ll have to learn how to fight someone who is nice and respectful. Whichever the case, you’ll need to be mentally prepared to deal with a range of personalities and characters if you plan on being successful in this sport.

In this episode of The Muay Thai Guys Podcast, Sean and Paul (www.muaythaiathlete.com) discuss the types of mind games and various types of fighters they’ve had to deal with leading up to a fight. Here’s a brief rundown of their chat:

6 Types Of Fighters Who Play Muay Thai Mind Tricks

1. The Intimidator – Think Mike Tyson or Ronda Rousey. Both of these fighters are known for their scowls and inti
...

Why you need to be kind of crazy to be a successful fighter

From Muay Thai Guy

Wait. There’s an art to being crazy?

Fuck yea there is!

If you are a Muay Thai fighter, you have to admit. You are kinda insane.

You have a little section in your brain that most normal people don’t have. Most normal people wouldn’t want to push themselves to the physical and mental extremes that you do. Normal people wouldn’t make it through one of your training camps. Normal people definitely would not be able to fight a 5 round war in front of hundreds of blood thirsty fans.

In order to truly be successful, you need a healthy dose of ‘crazy’ as a part of your every day diet. Think about it, most successful painters and musicians were/are crazy, so why not you?

You are an artist too. You dedicate your life to a physical martial art that pushes you past your normal limitations and fears. Just like any painter, you start with a blank canvas when you enter the ring and it’s your job to make a masterpie...

Heavy Bag Drill to Increase Kicking Balance For Your Teeps

From Muay Thai Guy

Movement is balance.

The body is balance. If your chest is overdeveloped, your shoulders will round forward. This is both ugly and…not so pretty on your body. If your right is dominant, you’ll forget to use your left. This can quickly spell disaster when a certain action from your opponent requires a reaction from a certain side of you.

Balance of the body and equilibrium are both necessary in fighting. A strong foundation is balance, a strong foundation is power, and power…equals knockouts. Train your balance with this Muay Thai heavy bag drill and you’ll be like a cat, always landing on your feet and always being in a good position.

Muay Thai Heavy Bag For Better Teeping Balance

Flowing between soft and hard is an excellent way to train your body. Now here’s an entire workout you can shape around your training.

Drills make skills, and the more you train on this wonderful tool we call the heavy bag...

Great Fighters Are Fed, Not Bred

From Muay Thai Guy

Want to train and fight in top condition? It all begins with your diet.

Let’s get this out of the way: I am not a nutritionist.

I am, however, a former fighter who, like most of you, is always searching for tools and diets that will improve my daily living.

We all know that nutrition is the foundation to our performances and well-being. Below is a list of three superfoods that have helped me tremendously. Keep in mind that we are all different and what may work for me may not work for you.

Superfood: BEET JUICE

Beet root contains essential minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, sodium, zinc, and copper, just to name a few.

According to a 2012 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, consuming nitrate-rich beetroot improved running performance in healthy adults. In addition to that, in 2014, the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise discovered that beetroot jui...