No one ever wants to imagine being the victim of a physical assault.
Yet, if it happens to you, having an understanding of a few basic martial arts moves can be a valuable way to fight back.
Many combat sports, such as kickboxing and boxing, train followers to fight. However, many of them only engage a few points of contact, such as your fists, hands, or feet. This can leave the rest of your body vulnerable to attack.
On the other hand, Muay Thai moves engage both of your fists, legs, knees, and elbows. Thus, the sport is commonly referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs.” This is because it uses and engages all extremities.
Today, we’re taking a look at a few of the ways that practicing Muay Thai can help you ward off an assault.
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Building Your Core
Many Muay Thai moves are designed to strengthen the midsection of your body. This is also known as your core.
First, you’ll engage your arms and legs through punches, kicks, elbow strikes and more. Then, you’ll work to build up the front, back, and sides of your core. This leads to improved stability and a stronger defense against injury.
Moreover, the sport can also help you boost your stamina.
As you practice the moves with a partner, you’ll eventually find that even the most complex routines become more manageable over time.
Knowing the proper moves to perform is an essential part of ousting an attacker.
Yet, it’s equally important to be as resistant and fortified as possible in the face of an attack. That’s where a strong core and endurance come in. It’s where your Muay Thai training really shines.
Basic Kicks That Deliver
Unlike some martial arts, Muay Thai moves are traditionally straightforward, requiring little to no fancy footwork. As such, this makes them especially helpful to use during an attack. This is especially true since you may not have the control or ability to perform an elaborate fight routine.
Muay Thai kicks are known for being simple, yet incredibly powerful, tools.
A majority of the kicks often engage the lower part of the leg (from the shin to the foot.) However, most of the power comes from your hips. This is one of the many reasons a strong core is so important!
If you’re attacked, a simple body kick or leg kick can be enough to take your opponent down due to the sheer force it delivers.
Kicks are an essential part of any Muay Thai training routine. They can be powerful tools for self-defense.
Prepping for Short and Long-Distance Combat
Muay Thai moves are based on a combination of both up-close and at-a-distance sparring. The blend of both ensures that you’re ready to face any sort of attack that occurs. It means you are prepared to move with your opponent accordingly.
In a real-life attack, you’ll likely be in both scenarios at some point. Though you may begin apart from your attacker, the combat could quickly turn inward and vice versa. This means you’ll be going in and out more than once as you move around.
If you’re able to move the attacker away from you and are fighting with a significant amount of space between yourself and him, you can keep him at bay.
In these situations, a push kick, also known as a “teep” or a front kick, is an ideal way to retain some distance. When engaging your hands, a basic jab can serve the same purpose.
As you move closer together, you’ll need to switch up your technique.
In Muay Thai, standup fighting in which one opponent has another in a hold is called fighting “in the clinch.”
In this form of grappling, one person typically has great control over the other. As such, this is often where many fights are won — and lost.
If your fight moves into this position, you may not have the range of movement to perform some Muay Thai moves, such as a teep.
In this case, there are many moves that can help you dominate in the clinch and come out on top. From elbow strikes to chokes, the combination of possibilities is almost endless. This makes clinch training an important part of the Muay Thai discipline.
Fighting on Defense
We’ve discussed how Muay Thai moves can prepare you to fight back against an attacker. Yet, it’s equally important to note that the sport also readies you to protect yourself defensively in the same situation.
Your Muay Thai training will show you how to check, or block, all types of kicks or punches.
You’ll also learn how to seamlessly move from a check to a counter. This way, you can defend yourself against your opponent while also fighting back.
For instance, what happens if your opponent catches one of your kicks, such as your teep or your roundhouse?
With Muay Thai, you’ll learn how to use the weight shift to your advantage. You can up your impact and turn a potentially vulnerable position into a display of strength.
These are just a few examples of how Muay Thai moves can be applied to boost your chances of stopping an assault. Your local gym will be able to show you the specific routines that can boost your self-confidence as a fighter.
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