Muay Thai Training in Washington covers defense beyond the basics: how to block punches, kicks, and even knees, going deeper with the details of great defense. Where to look, so that you can see everything that the opponent throws.
Proper footwork, so you can control the distance management. Hand control, so not only can you stop the punches and the kicks, but also counterattack. Most of all, the secret sauce: great defense, it’s about reaction.
The Basic Guard and Punch Defense
A crash course in Muay Thai defense first, then the real meat of the content. Feet together. You don’t want to make the window wide open. This is the window, close it. Window open, window close. Make sure the elbow is extended so that when he jabs, you’re going to catch their jab either in the palm or on your forearms. Either one works fine.
Muay Thai Training in WA
Blocking the Jab
Every time your opponent jabs, try to keep their punch as far away from your face as possible. Keep the jab away, but still stay within range, so that you can counterattack. You want to make sure that the punch isn’t near your face.
This close, your opponent can do a lot of damage from this distance. Far away from the face, if they attack from this range, you have a better chance of making the miss, and you’re still within range to counterattack. That’s how you’re going to block the jab.
Blocking the Cross
Keep that cross, just like the jab, away from your face as much as possible, but still be able to counterattack. Block it with the forearm, this hand up.
Take a small step back, because that’s a power shot. You’re going to have to give yourself room. That’s how you block the jab and the cross.
Blocking the Muay Thai Kicks
Inside Leg Kick
Inside leg kick: block, turn the knee down. The weight goes on the back foot. Very simple. Hands up.
Rear Leg Kick
Rear leg kick: they’re going to try to get this thigh, and you’re going to block it with that hard part of the shin, the big piece of the bat. It’s going to hurt so much. Just a lift. Not lifting super high, just letting them get that shin.
Body Kicks
When you block the body kicks, all you do is lift the leg straight up. You don’t want to lift the leg out. Block like that and what’s open? The face is open, everything is open. When you block the body kick, all you’re doing is lifting straight up, lifting straight up, and you’re going to protect your forearm. Lift straight up, making yourself small. Lift it high and block. Base leg straight.
Where to Look
The first key to improving defense in Muay Thai Training in Washington, from zero to hero, is where you look. Instead of looking at the face, you look at the waist. You’re looking right at the waist. You see everything.
Also, it’s very easy to get tricked by looking at the eyes. What’s going on on the outside, what’s happening over the side, what they’re doing over here, look straight at the waist. Look at the waist and not the face. You will see everything.
Footwork Foundation
Footwork foundation is very important. Remember this and you’ll always be good: whatever direction you’re going, that’s the foot that’s going to lead. If he steps back, that foot leads. If he steps forward, that foot leads. He steps to his left; that foot leads.
What you don’t want to happen is, when you’re stepping back, bringing the feet together. You can’t attack like this. If he were to throw the kick right here, you couldn’t block from this position, because the feet aren’t set, not leading in the direction you’re going.
With the feet comes the hands: using your hands to protect your space. This is the bubble, this is the position: safe. If he steps forward, step. Still have this bubble, still have this shield. That’s how you control the distance, that’s how you control the spacing.
When you’re practicing in your shadow, practicing in your fight, put that in your mind’s eye, your mental: not going to let them inside this bubble. Visualize them: now he’s too close, he’s right here, step back. See everything. Step left, lead with the left. Step right, lead with the right. Remember those key points. That’s how you’re going to get better at Muay Thai Training in Washington.
Hand Control
The next key to defense beyond the basics is hand control. This is what really separates Muay Thai from everything else. Catching with the palms, they stay open. Not only can you do that, but you can also grab, and then you can also attack. That comes from this basic hand control: looking at his waist, not his face, using proper footwork, palms open.
You’re still keeping the base of guard that you started from; however, you’re just opening your palms up, just extending that lead hand so you can see everything. Instead of having your rear hand pinned to the eyebrow, you’re just going to open that up a little bit. Most importantly, protect your chin with your shoulder.
Reaction
The final piece to improving your defense and making you a monster: reaction. Develop a strong reaction so that no matter what the opponent throws, you’re going to be able to block it.
FAQs
Where should you look during Muay Thai Training in Washington?
Look at the waist and not the face. You will see everything.
How do you block a Muay Thai body kick?
All you do is lift the leg straight up. You don’t want to lift the leg out.
What is the footwork rule for defense?
Whatever direction you’re going, that’s the foot that’s going to lead.
How do you block a rear leg kick?
They’re going to try to get this thigh and you’re going to block it with that hard part of the shin.
Why step back when blocking the cross?
That’s a power shot. You’re going to have to give yourself room.
Conclusion
Block the jab and the cross, away from the face, still within range to counterattack. Block the inside leg kick, the rear leg kick and the body kicks. Look at the waist, not the face.
Whatever direction you’re going, that foot leads. Use hand control to stop the punches and the kicks and counterattack. Develop a strong reaction. Apply it in Muay Thai Training in Washington.
