I think everyone can agree that it’s better to be the guy attacking than to be the guy getting attacked. It’s also safe to say that if you try to hit someone they’ll try to hit you back. This is why today I’m talking about defense and countering. In muay Thai no one can win on defense alone, but having a solid defensive will save you some brain cells. Ideally the best way to defend yourself is to avoid a hit, but blocking can be just as effective and sometimes is better strategy. Blocking is done with the shin, knee, arm, elbow, and hand. Blocking will hurt because you’re still taking a hit, but not nearly as much as if you did not block. After successfully blocking a strike you should look for an immediate opening and go on your own attack if the opportunity presents itself. Many times a fighter will throw the same attack that was thrown at them. For example, if you check a low kick aimed at your lead leg you can respond with your own low kick to lead leg. If you’re fast enough, the other guy won’t have the time to bring his kicking leg back to establish his own check.
Learning to check (block) a kick is considered muay Thai 101. First, try to avoid blocking a kick with your arm. Unless of course the guy you’re fighting is a weakling, then block with whatever you want. Now of course if you’re fighting a guy with a strong kick you’ll want to check his kick with your shin. If he’s aiming at your midsection, pick your leg up so that your knee comes to the inside of your elbow. At this point your leg is covering the lower part of your body and your arm is covering the upper half. This creates a good barrier between you and the kick. For high kicks, use the outside of your forearm to block. Although even that can result in a broken hand (remember Couture’s fight with Gonzaga?). Whatever you end up using as a check it is crucial to remember to use a technique that will block effectively and leave you balanced so you can fire off a counter. That being said there are some rules for checking. Block Thai kicks aimed at your midsection (usually ribs) with the middle of your shin. This means your leg needs to be raised to the right height and angled at 45 degrees in relation to your opponent. If your knee is pointed at your opponent you’ll end up getting kicked in the thigh (even if you have tree trunk legs this will hurt more than getting hit in the shin). If your leg is angled to far from your opponent his kick can easily slip past your guard and land on your ribs. Also, remember to shift most of your weight to the leg that remains on the ground to maintain your balance when checking a kick.
If you have a tendency to drop your hands while you train more than likely this habit will translate to an actual fight. Your head is the most important part of your body to protect, and keeping your hands up is the best way to protect it. The best way to block head kicks and hooks is to bring your arm up and place it securely against the side of your face and head. Right before or at the point of impact lean away from the strike to lessen the blow. You may still get rocked a little, but it’s better than getting knocked out. If the attack is coming in straight it is best to keep your arms in tight to cover your head. You can also block with the elbow. In many cases this is better than blocking with the forearm because a strike landing on the blunt of your elbow has the potential to cause your opponent some pain. Try blocking straight punches with the blunt of your elbow and your opponent may find he has a fractured or even broken hand after the fight (assuming 6oz gloves or less).
That’s the basics of blocking. Next week I’ll actually outline what a weekly training regimen should look like for a serious Thai fighter. |
