The crowd is buzzing, your motivation is high and you’re about to step into the ring. Fists, elbows, knees, feet… the sequences promise a great show! Muay Thai is a complete combat sport, requiring flexibility, mental strength and perseverance.

Would you like to get started or develop at your own pace? Daisho offers you a complete guide to the basic moves used in this art of the eight limbs.

Kick (Muay Tei-Tei):

Foot techniques can be circular, frontal, lateral or vertical. They are very powerful and can hit an opponent from a long distance. While the power of the strike is partly the result of physical strength, it is also the result of great precision and requires excellent coordination, from toe to head. Working on your pivot and balance is essential if you want to progress rapidly.

• Circular or semi-circular kick (high line, medium line, low line) :

The circular kick is used for two main purposes: to make the opponent lose balance or to cause maximum damage.

Tei Tat Low circular: low line, from the front or back leg, attacking or defending
Tei Lam Toa Middle circular: middle level, from the front or back leg, attacking or defending
Tei Kan Kro High circular: high line, from the front or back leg, attacking or defending
Tei Krueng Kheng Krueng Khao Middle circular: the striking surface is located at knee and shin level, middle level, attacking or defending

• Frontal kick / direct / linear / tip (line and low line) :

It can be used as a defensive technique to push the other fighter back and create distance. It’s also an excellent way of hitting him in the head or chest, creating sufficient damage.

• Sidekick :

Often used as a “coup de grâce”, the sidekick is aimed at the opponent’s ribs, kidneys or liver.

Basic punches (Muay Mat) :

Unlike other martial arts, Thai boxing punches don’t focus solely on arm strength or speed. They call on your whole body to generate powerful strikes.

• Direct punches (left or right)

These are linear punches in which the aim is to grow taller and reach the opponent’s face as quickly as possible. The hips are slightly turned outwards, so that you’re almost in profile to your opponent. The rear leg pivots, the arm is extended and the shoulder is raised.

Blows delivered with the front fist are called jabs, while those delivered with the rear fist and crossing the midline of the body are called crosses.

• Short or long hooks

Short hooks are fast, powerful attacks executed at close range. They are ideal when the opponent is very close. Here, the arm movement is short, often less than 90 degrees of elbow flexion. The target? The chin, jaw or side of the head! The fist moves in a short, rapid arc and the hand stays close to the face for optimum protection.

Long hooks combine speed and reach. The amplitude of the elbow is more open, while the fist describes a wider arc. Often used to hit the opponent’s head, ribs or liver.

In both cases, the hips and shoulders play a major role in terms of power!

• Uppercuts

These are very powerful upward punches, in which the opponent is struck from below! Often, the nose, chin or jaw are prime targets. Power comes from a rapid extension of the legs and a beautiful rotation of the hips and shoulders, projecting the fist upwards.

To perfect your training, equip yourself with comfortable, sturdy Thai boxing gloves.

Elbow techniques in Muay Thai (Muay-sok) :

Mostly used in close combat or at mid-distance (unless you’re performing a “jump” strike), elbow strikes are formidable techniques and much appreciated in Thai boxing! They enable you to inflict “cuts” on your opponent.

In theory, there are as many elbow strikes as there are variations and possibilities! So there’s plenty of fun to be had. Be careful! They are only allowed in certain professional competitions.

Tip: try to touch your shoulder with your thumb to bend your elbow and avoid injury. You can also buy a set of protectors.

Here are a few well-known elbows:

• Uppercut el bow strikes under the opponent’s chin or temple.
• Horizontal elbow strikes
• En ligne droite / direct (Forward-elbow – Sok-poung)
• En revers (Reverse-horizontal – Sok-klap)
• Jumping elbow: blow delivered by jumping forward
• Reverse elbow: the blow is pivoted to strike the opponent from behind.
• Downward and backward elbow strikes (Sok-sap)

Knee techniques (Muay Khao):

• Direct (body, face) :

This is one of the first knee strikes learned in schools! Grab your opponent’s neck with both hands so that he lowers his head, arch his back and push his hips forward.

• Circular (khao khong):

Ideal if you want to get out of a hand-to-hand situation by neutralizing and weakening your opponent! The knee moves parallel to the ground and targets the ribs.

• Oblique (khao chiang):

The principle is very similar to the direct knee strike, except that it is directed diagonally towards the opponent’s flank or ribs.

• Sauté (body or face) :

Jump, pivot and stun! Quite spectacular, this Thai boxing technique can be used when the second fighter is off-balance or when you want to get closer.

As you can see, training or sparring in Muay Thai (Thai boxing) requires learning precise movements and techniques. Need to equip yourself for your first lesson or to perfect your skills?

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