No matter how long or short you’ve been practicing Muay Thai, it’s always good to look over some general etiquette so the gym is a comfortable place for everyone.

By Sean Fagan

1. Show up on time. Better yet, show up 10-15 min early.

One of the best quotes when it comes to punctuality came from the movie Drumline:

“If you’re on time you’re late, if you’re early you’re on time.”

Get off to a good start by showing your trainers that you’re game and ready to learn; the first step to doing this is respecting the class start and end times. Show up early to change, wrap your hands, and other things you may need to do before taking a class.

2. No shoes on the mat.

This goes for most martial arts, not just Muay Thai. Stepping on the mat with your shoes brings in all the dirty stuff from outside and can include diseases like staph.

3. Have and bring your own gear.

If you’re just starting out, it’s understandable that you...

SCARED OF GETTING HIT? TRY THESE DRILLS & SPARRING TIPS FOR MUAY THAI

By Sean Fagan

Scared of getting punched in the face?

Worried about wearing a body kick on your ribs?

Don’t like the pain of getting your kicks checked?

Well, believe it or not, you are not alone. Almost everyone who starts out training Muay Thai has the same fears you do. They don’t want to get hurt. They don’t want their pretty face punched in. They avoid sparring because they are worried about being embarrassed or beat up.

Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, whether you like it or not, if you want to improve your technique and actually become competent in the art of Muay Thai, you are going to have to face your fears at one point or another.

You are going to have to come to terms with pain, anxiety, and fear. You are going to have to be a little crazy if you want to be successful in the art of eight limbs.

Now I don’t mean to brag but, I’m really good at getting...

The Liver Shot – Muay Thai Technique Tutorial

By Sean Fagan

The Pit.

The liver shot is can absolutely CRIPPLE your opponent if you set it up and place properly. The human body can’t help but react when it gets pummeled to the liver… it’s a horrible, painful feeling.

Kickboxing legend Ernesto Hoost is known for his signature liver punch technique followed by a brutal low kick. Watching how much power and force he puts into each and every liver punch is INSANE. Even when his opponents were aware of his powerful liver punch, he would find ways to open up his opponents guard with setups like the one in the technique video below.

Learn how to set up a liver punch like Ernesto Hoost so you can KO your opponents or drop your sparring partners to their knees!

Do you know an even MORE brutal shot to take to the body?

Well, if you’re a Muay Thai guy (or girl) then you should know about the power behind a...

Why You Shadowboxing is an Absolute MUST!

By Sean Fagan

If you half ass or skip shadow boxing you probably don’t understand how much it negatively effects your Muay Thai technique (and overall work ethic).

Most people think it is boring and only a warm up to the actual Muay Thai training session… but it’s not.

Shadow boxing the best place to take your Muay Thai technique to the next level. If you take the time to flow with your techniques, be creative with your combinations and feel how your muscles, joints and limbs move, you will become more self-aware which is key to being your own teacher.

Top 5 Shadowboxing Tips For Muay Thai

How to get the most out of your shadowboxing 

1) Set time aside to focus and just shadow box.

If you just go through the motions and do a round or two of shadow boxing without putting your mind into it, you’re missing the point. Having intention and focus behind everything you do will dramatically improve your...

Muay Thai Knees, Elbows and Sweep Techniques

By Sean Fagan

The Muay Thai clinch.

It can be your best friend or your worst enemy… and I’m guessing you want to be friends with your clinch game right?

When it comes to learning the intricacies of the clinch game it can get a bit overwhelming. There are basically an infinite number of clinch knees, elbows, sweeps, defensive moves and off-balance techniques that you have to be aware of to be proficient when battling on the inside.

So, in order to help you add more variety to your and embrace the clinch game I want to share you some of the best Muay Thai clinch techniques that you should consider adding to your skill set.

First I want to show you a couple effective clinch knee techniques that you can utilize to land a flush knee either to your opponents body or head. The first video below is by UK Muay Thai champ, Damien Trainor of K-Star Legacy Gym who demonstrates a useful off-balancing technique followed by a...

How Yoga Will Make You a Better Muay Thai Fighter & Person

By Sean Fagan

Is it crazy for me to say that Yoga has been a major part of my success in Muay Thai and in life?

It might be, especially when most people have preconceptions about practicing Yoga that are (mostly) not true.

Sure, there are some weird chants, poses, and techniques that you’ll find yourself doing during an intense Yoga class, but if you’re able to laugh at yourself and take Yoga for what it is, it can be incredibly beneficial to your Muay Thai training and life in general.

I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and give Yoga a try. Although it might not be for everyone, I’m confident that you will take something useful from the practice if you stick with it. 

6 Benefits Of Yoga For Muay Thai

1. Flexibility

One of the most obvious benefits you’ll notice when you start to implement Yoga and Muay Thai together is the improvement in your flexibility and...

How To Throw A Teep / Front Kick / Push Kick (All Same Same)

By Sean Fagan

You need to learn how to throw a push kick before you step into the ring to spar or fight!

This basic Muay Thai kick technique also called ‘teep’ or front kick is important for keeping your opponent at bay, upsetting his/her tempo and even using it to hurt your opponent!

Needless to say the teep technique seems like there isn’t much to it and that it wouldn’t really hurt that much getting hit by it. Take it from a guy who has been hit with a lot of front kicks to the body… that shit hurts!

There are many reasons why you should learning how to throw a push kick. Regardless whether you use it for offense, defense or set up purposes, it’s important to know the minor details in order to get the most out of your Muay Yhai front kick technique.

Basic Muay Thai Push Kick Technique Tips:

• Push up on the balls of your post foot. This will help generate power, improve your...

The Best Ideas For Muay Thai Presents For Passionate Fans and Fighters

By Sean Fagan

Muay Thai gifts are always on the top of my wish list whether it’s my birthday, Christmas and even Valentines Day ;)

There is no present you can get an avid Muay Thai fan or fighter that will be better than any of the Muay Thai present ideas on the list below!

As a professional fighter and an avid fan of the sport, I always want the newest, coolest Muay Thai training equipment, Muay Thai shorts, tickets to fights, instructional DVD's and pretty much anything related to the art of eight limbs...

... and I bet the person you’re shopping for feels the same way!

Check out the list of the top 10 best gifts to buy a Muay Thai fan or fighter for their birthday, Christmas or other special holidays and occasions!

The Best List of Top 10 Muay Thai Gifts

#10. Pay For Their Gym Membership

Help support the Muay Thai addict in your life by paying for their gym membership!

If the...

Basic Muay Thai Techniques: How To Throw A Switch Kick Correctly

By Sean Fagan

If you’ve ever seen Buakaw throw a Muay Thai switch kick then you already know how powerful, fast and effective this type of Muay Thai kick is.

It’s one of the go to weapons for many Thai fighters and the switch kick should definitely be a part of your arsenal of attacks if you want to succeed in Muay Thai.

A Muay Thai switch kick is a basic Muay Thai technique but it doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn and perfect. Just like any basic or advanced kicking technique you have to learn how to throw your hips, shoulders and entire body into the strike to deal maximum damage. Check out these basic tips to help you get the full effect of the switch kick: 

Basic Switch Kick Technique Tips

• Switch your feet quickly! Don’t give your opponent a chance to defend your kicks by telegraphing the switch.
• Switch your hips too. It’s not just your feet...

The Basic Fighting Stance For Muay Thai

By Sean Fagan

Now I don’t have the typical Muay Thai Stance, but it does have a lot of similarities to the traditional fighting stance that the Thai boxers use. Regardless whether or not you choose to do your Muay Thai training in the same type of fighting stance that I do, it’s important to take in consideration these factors:

• Feet shoulder width apart to allow for easy movement and a solid base to attack and defend from.
• Elbows tucked in to allow straighter punches and protect from body strikes. The traditional Thai fighting stance would have your hands a little higher with your palms facing outwards. I prefer to have my fists in towards my chin.
• Hands up and chin tucked! Pretend you have a $100 bill underneath your chin and you lose it if you drop it!
• Have power hand/foot in back. This will allow for you to turn your hip into your more powerful, natural side.
• Never be flat footed. Make sure to be light...