Basic Skills

There are many different ways to train for MuayThai. Some camps will teach the usage and techniques of each weapon (fists, feet, knees and elbows) to the novice at the beginning. The novice will then practice these moves. After a period of time, the trainee will exercise with the sandbag, a partner or the instructor. Then and only then is the novice allowed to put on gloves and spar. In other camps, the trainers will search out people who have the potential to be fighters. The novice will learn some techniques and practice on the sandbag. So after a short period of training, the novice will compete in the ring to gain experience. If the novice is gifted, he will continue to win - using experience gained in each fight. The lucky ones will move up the rankings to become champions, the unlucky ones will return home to look for a new profession.

These 2 methods of learning can seem prohibitive to the beginner who just wishes to learn MuayThai as self-defense or out of interest in culture. So, here we would like to recommend a method of training suitable for all – for self-defense or competing in professional competitions.

We will look at 4 basic areas:

A. Preparation for training

B. The standing position.

C. How to make a fist

D. The attacking and retreating stance.

Diagram 1.

A. Preparation:
When training a large group of people, it is an idea to line them in a military – type formation. Thus the trainees stand in lines in front of the trainer – the shorter to the front so that all can follow the instructions. (Diagram 1)

B. Standing position:
There are 2 major positions; Ta Yeun Song Koom (frontal or square stance) and Ta Yeun Sarm Koom (triangular stance) See pictures 1 and 2.

There are 3 different positions for the arms and hands.

Arms and fists resting naturally at the side of the body (picture3)
Ta Thep Nimit - the guard is up. (picture 4)
And lastly - depending on the skill of the trainee ! (picture 5 and6)

C. How to make a fist:

The trainee should stand with his arms by his side, this is Phase 1. Now bend the lower arm perpendicular to the upper arm with the elbow secured tightly to the body, this is Phase 2. The lower arms point directly in front with the palms upward and his fingers straight. For Phase 3, make the hands into fist by rolling the fingers with the thumbs resting on the index and middle fingers. The fist should be form and tight.

D. The Attacking and retreating stance:

These are considered the most important and basic of all the MuayThai movements. The trainee needs to learn how to change stance from left to right, understand the weight shift from one leg to another and learn the footwork.

Attacking:

Here the foot should slide slightly forward to assist the weight shift. As you move the rear leg forwards, the weight transfers from one to the other. Similarly with the fists, the rear moves in a circular motion to the front. (pictures 15 and 16)

Retreating:

The procedure is the same as for the attack but in reverse. The emphasis here is on protection not attack. (pictures 17 and 18) These 2 movements must be continuously practiced until they can be carried out effectively.