The Ultimate Guide To The Muay Thai Clinch
The clinch is what really makes Muay Thai unique. While much is made of the shin kicks and knee strikes of Muay Thai, it’s the presence of wrestling that makes Muay Thai so different to other forms of kick fighting.
If you find yourself constantly getting ragdolled and beaten up in the clinch, it will be near-impossible to advance your Muay Thai career. Learning how to control your opponent is the ultimate form of combat dominance. From tie-ups to sweeps, and knees to elbows, mastering every element of the clinch gives you the foundation needed to be a truly effective nak muay!
If you’re a newcomer to Muay Thai, it might not be immediately clear why the clinch is so important to a sport that appears to be little more than kickboxing.I. Engaging the Clinch
In boxing, the clinch is usually used for defense. As...
5 Signs It's Time To Replace Your Muay Thai Gloves
KNOW WHEN TO LET A GOOD GLOVE GO
From Muay Thai Guy
Whether it’s due to the color, the feel or the lovely ‘snap!’ you hear when you hit, everybody has a favorite pair of gloves.
It’s like having a favorite shirt – everything about it just feels right and it makes you feel good about yourself. But, like all things that are worn too much, it’s hard to admit when it’s simply time to let them go and get a new pair.
Here are some tell-tale signs that it’s time to go shopping for a pair of shiny, new gloves:
“AM I SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THEM?”
#1 – HOLES & TEARS:
One of the most annoying things about having gloves is that they can tear in odd places and get holes in them. For the most part, if the tear happens within a month or two of you getting the gloves, the gloves themselves are still fine to use, and the tear or hole is nothing but a cosmetic defect.
...
Breakdown of Muay Thai Styles: Samart vs. Saenchai
Muay Thai Styles: A Tale of Two Technical Fighters
From Muay Thai Guy
There is a saying in boxing “styles make fights.” This holds true for Muay Thai as well.
The recent boxing match of the century between Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was one of the most predictably boring fights of the century, when it comes down to it their styles just didn’t make for an exciting fight, technical fighter vs. brawler is rarely exciting if the technical fighter has anything to say about it.
In the Golden Era of Muay Thai back in the 80’s and 90’s when there was an abundance of top-level fighters they use to match up styles to take out the best.
For example Samart Payakaroon considered one the of greatest technical Muay Thai fighters of all time was only able to be defeated by Dieselnoi, the greatest Muay Kao or knee fighter of all time.
In this article I will be talking about Muay “Feemue” which is the technical fighter. Two examples of...
FAQs to Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
What Is A Sak Yant Tattoo? And How Do I Get One in Thailand?
From Muay Thai Guy
Traveling Welshman.
Sak yant are traditional Thai tattoos. Literally meaning “tattoo yantra”, they are believed to be magical and give the bearer protection, strength, good fortune, and more, depending on the yantra received.
Sak yant is extremely popular in the Muay Thai community, namely in those that have visited Thailand. With geometric shapes and depictions of animals and gods, sak yant is as beautiful as it is painful to receive.
Who does sak yant?
Sak yant are done by monks or arjan who have studied the art for a very long time (are also usually long time ex-monks). Monks are not allowed to make profit off doing the tattoos, as part of their code, so going to a temple to get it done is always donation-based. One of the most popular temples to get sak yant done is Wat Bang Phra.
If you go to a temple, be sure to dress appropriately...
How To Fuel Your Fighting Body With The Right Foods
The Golden Rules For Fight Fuel
From Muay Thai Guy
“Food is fuel.”
This phrase has been used and heard by health enthusiasts and fitness junkies alike across countless sports and disciplines. Why this saying is so popular is because of the amount of truth it holds.
While everyone reacts differently to certain foods, there are some golden rules that are true for all healthy individuals.
(Title image courtesy of Attachai Muaythai Gym.)
WHAT YOU SHOULD EAT BEFORE TRAINING
Eating well and eating enough before training will help you perform your best. If you’re able to give 100%, you will reap the benefits from your sweat and fatigue.
The opposite can occur if you don’t eat properly, resulting in you feeling as if you can’t even handle the warm-up.
If you only have a two-hour window before training, keep the meal light. Make it mostly faster-digesting carbs, such as white rice or pasta. Go...
Top 5 Muay Thai Youtube Channels
The 5 Best Muay Thai Video Channels You NEED To Subscribe To
From Muay Thai Guy
If you’re addicted to Muay Thai then you’re probably constantly trying to find more fight videos, technique tutorials and intense workouts to add to your training.
Since I spend a decent amount of time online watching Muay Thai related videos, I figure I’d share my top 5 best Muay Thai yotube channels that you should definitely subscribe to.
#1) Lawrence Kenshins Striking Breakdowns
By far one of my most visited Muay Thai channels by far. Lawrence is a genius at breaking down and analyzing fights. It’s so cool being able to see the application of techniques, strategies and tactics of Muay Thai legends like Buakaw, Saenchai, Coban, Dekkers and others.
The great thing about Lawrence Kenshin’s channel is that this is just the beginning! He’s got a new website coming out soon and has been putting out more and more consistent, quality...
How To Cut Weight For Muay Thai, MMA & Other Combat Sports
Why Cut Weight At All?
From Muay Thai Guy
More likely than not, if you plan on going far in your respective sport, you are going to have to cut weight at some point. Yes it sucks, and yes it’s not the most fun thing in the world, but if you want to keep the odds in your favor, cutting weight is a must.
Benefits Of Weight Cutting
If you are able to cut weight safely and effectively and refuel properly after weigh ins, you will most likely hold a huge strength and power advantage on your opponent.
For instance, I walk around at about 160lbs but weigh in the day before the Muay Thai fight at 147lbs. But just because I weigh in at 145lbs doesn’t mean I fight at that weight.
After rapid rehydration and refueling my body with the liquids and foods it needs, I weigh about 157-158lbs when I step into the ring. That’s almost 15 extra pounds I can use to my advantage!
Dangers Of Weight Cutting
Unfortunately some athletes and fighters go about weight cutting the wrong way by...
Post-Workout Stretching Routine For Muay Thai
My 15-Minute Post-Training Stretching Routine
By Sean Fagan
Stretching is a crucial aspect of Muay Thai training that many people overlook. Without any type of flexibility, it can be very difficult to perform head kicks (and even body kicks sometimes too). Not to mention, lack of flexibility can also cause serious issues in the body including lower back pain and knee problems.
With that being said, here is the post-workout stretching routine that I do after almost every one of my training sessions. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
15-Minute Stretching Routine For Muay Thai
Like I mention in the video, although stretching is important, it’s still only 1 of 9 aspects of flexibility. And I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty naive when it comes to flexibility and although I’ve been doing yoga for 3+ years and stretching routinely, I still haven’t even come close to getting the results I want.
It wasn’t until recently an online...
How To Increase Punching Power For Muay Thai
The Best Exercises & Workouts To Develop KO Power In Your Hands
By Sean Fagan
Want to increase punching power?
Want to learn how to punch hard so you can land the perfect knock out punch the next time you fight?
Want to know the best tips and great exercises that are sure to help you improve your punching power?
If you answered yes to all of those questions, scroll down to find great boxing, mma and Muay Thai training tips and the best explosive exercises to increase punching power!
Top 5 Exercises To Punch Harder
Explosive Pushups
Plyometric exercises like explosive pushups are sure to help you increase your power punching. An explosive pushup is very similar to a regular pushup except you are pushing yourself off the ground as high as you can.To make it even more of a challenge, try doing explosive push ups like the guy to the right!
Clean and Press
This full body power lifting exercise helps increase the power and explosiveness of your entire body.There...
15 KILLER Muay Thai Elbow Techniques & Combinations
Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Muay Thai Elbow Strikes and Technique Videos
By Sean Fagan
ONE.
There isn’t a much cooler feeling than landing a clean elbow strike in a fight, but on the other hand, being hit or cut with an elbow is not cool at all.
Knowing a variety of Muay Thai elbow techniques is a crucial component of the clinch game, and neglecting to learn certain elbow techniques can leave you at a disadvantage in the clinch.
There are also elbow strikes you can use from the outside like the spinning back elbow, which is SICK if you land it!
Even if you don’t fight with elbows (in a modified rules bout or a kickboxing fight), it’s good to still practice them and know them for when you are allowed to throw them. Below I’ve come up with a bunch of the best muay thai elbow strikes and technique videos to check out. Give them a look and start to implement them into your training!
4 Basic Muay Thai Elbow Techniques
In this technique video Sean...
