Effective Skill

Muay Thai is a stand-up striking art with four main weapons: punch, kick, knee and elbow. Each class will focus on building students’ technical fluency of combat movement. Below are the basic footwork and weapon variations (with the Thai translation) and the training modalities used to practice the skillsets:

I. Footwork

STANCE & FOOTWORK VARIETIES

•Fighting Stance "Jod Muay"

•The Golden Triangle (Switching between stances from left side forward to right side forward) "Yam Sam Kum"

•Tiger Step (Stepping in all four directions in the same stance) "Sieu Yam"

•Horse Step (Switching stance to step forward or backward) "Mah Jong"

•Fish Step (Stepping forward or backward at a diagonal angle) "Salap Fan Plaa"

•Turning "Yam See Teet"

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II. Long-Range Weapons

PUNCH VARIETY 1

Straight Punch (Jab-Lead Hand)/(Cross-Rear Hand) "Matruong Sai/Khua"

PUNCH VARIETY 2

Side Punch (Hook) "Mat Weyang"

PUNCH VARIETY 3

Upward Punch (Uppercut) "Mat Ngab"

KICK VARIETY 1

Push Kick "Teep"

KICK VARIETY 2

Swing Kick "Tek"

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III. Short-Range Weapons

KNEE

Straight Knee “Khao Trong”

ELBOW

Side Elbow "Sok Tad"

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IV. Modalities

Bagwork

The heavy bags are meant to withstand intense and frequent contact, making it the perfect instrument to build striking power and strength.

*Practice can be individual or with a partner.

Pad work

Thai pads are used to sharpen power, coordination and precision, with pad holders providing necessary resistance to challenge their partner’s weapons.

Hand-to-Hand Drills/Playspar

Light contact is an essential way to improve composure, coordination and precision. “Play” intensity allows students to land and receive weapons on the body without fear of injury, as moves are thrown with skill and without power.

Shadowbox

Individual practice of weapons and footwork meant to refine form, coordination, and speed without impact.