Home CultureGet to know Muay Thai: Thai boxing techniques with illustrations

Muay Thai: Thai boxing techniques with illustrations

by Pierre To
19 minutes to read
Muay Thai: Thai boxing techniques with illustrations

The different techniques of Muay Thai with illustrations and names of the moves in Thai, English and French to help those who want to learn Thai boxing.

See also : Muay Thai or Thai boxing: all about the art of the eight limbs

The Thai boxing is mainly based on four techniques:

  • punches
  • kicks (mainly circular or frontal blows to push the opponent away)
  • elbowing (as formidable as stabbing, only allowed in some professional competitions)
  • Knee strikes

Fist techniques (Muay-mat) in Muay Thai

The action of striking with the fist. There are about ten main forms.


Direct (pistol) fistDirect (pistoned) fist;
in: Straight-punch (jab; cross);
th: หมัดตรง Mat-trong "


HookHook;
in: Hook;
th: หมัดเหวี่ยงสั้น Mat-wiyeng-san


SwungSwung;
in: Swing;
th: หมัดเหวี่ยงยาว Mat-wiyeng-klap


Reversal in rotationSpinning reverses;
in: Spinning back-fist;
th: หมัดเหวี่ยงกลับ Mat-wiyeng-soy


RemountingGoing up;
in: Uppercut;
th: หมัดเสย (หมัดสอยดาว) Mat-AT


SautéSautéed;
in: Jump-punch;
th : กระโดดชก Kra-tot-chok


DescendantDescending;
in: Overhand-punch;
th : หมัดฮุก Mat-yeip


Foot techniques (Muay-tei) in Thai boxing


DirectDirect;
in: Front-kick (flip);
th : เตะตรง Tei-trong


Direct (low line)Direct (low line);
in: Front-kick (flip);
th : เตะตรง Tip-paa-maak


Circular (high line)Circular (high line);
in: Roundhouse-kick (high-kick);
th : เตะตัด Tei-kan-kro


Circular (medium line)Circular (medium line);
in: Roundhouse-kick (medium-kick);
th : เตะตัด Tei-chiyang


Circular (low line)Circular (low line);
in: Roundhouse-kick (low-kick);
th : เตะตัด Tei-tat


Semi-circular (medium line)Semi-circular (medium line);
in: Semi-circular (diagonal);
th : เตะเฉียง Tei-rid


Circular wrapped around the shinCircular wound on the tibia;
en: Half-shin, Half knee-kick;
th : เตะครึ่งแ ข้งครึ่งเข่า Tei krueng-kheng krueng-kkao


Circular inside out or crochetedCircular inside out or crocheted;
in: Spinning hook-kick;
th: เตะกลับหลัง Tei-klap-lang


Circular plungeCircular plunging;
in: Down roundhouse-kick;
th : เตะกด Tei-kod


In hammerIn hammer;
in: Hammer-kick;
th: เตะเข่า Tei-kro


Circular skippedCircular skipped;
in: Jump-kick;
th : กระโดดเตะ Kra-tote-tei


Penetrating kicks in Muay Thai


Direct (Piston) FootDirect (piston) foot;
en: Front-kick (straight);
th : ถีบตรง Tip-trong


Lateral (pistoned)Lateral (pistoned);
in: Side-kick;
th: ถีบข้าง Tip-kang


Rear (here in a "piston" shape)Rear (here in a "piston" shape);
in: Back-kick;
th: ถีบกลับหลัง Tip-klap-lang


Drop and hookDrooping and crocheted;
in: Axe-heel-kick;
th: ถีบตบ Tip-kot


Direct jumpDirect jump;
in: Jumping font-kick;
th : กระโดดถีบ Kra-tot-tip


Knee techniques (Muay-khao)

The action of striking with the knee. There are about ten main forms. Their intervention is major in the context of hand-to-hand combat.


Muay Thai: direct kneeDirect knee;
in: Straight-knee -strike;
th : เข่าตรง Khao-trong


Semi-circular

Semi-circular;
in: Diagonal-knee -strike;
th : เข่าเฉียง Khao-chiyang


Side slapSide slap;
in: Knee-slap;
th : เข่าตบ Khao-thop


Direct (penetrating)Direct (penetrating);
in: Knee-bomb;
th : เข่ายาว Khao-youn


Sauté (direct)Sauté (direct);
in: Flying-knee -stike;
th : เข่าลอย Khao-loy


Elbow techniques: Muay-sok in Muay Thai

The action of striking with the elbow. There are about ten main forms: direct, jumping, backhand, circular, diving, rising, etc.


Semi-circular descendingSemi-circular descending;
in: Elbow-slash;
th: ศอกตี Sok-fim and Sok-tei


Circular

Circular;
en: Horizontal-elbow;
th : ศอกตัด Tii-sok


Elbow riseUpward elbow;
in: Uppercut-elbow;
th : ศอกงัด Sok-ngat


Muay Thai: direct elbowDirect elbow;
en: Forward-elbow -thrust;
th: ศอกพุ่ง Sok-poung


Reversed elbowReverse elbow;
in: Reverse-horizontal -elbow;
th: ศอกเหวี่ยงกลับ Sok-klap and Sok-kratoung


ReturnedReturned;
in: Spinning-elbow;
th : ศอกกลับ Sok-klap-lang


Descending elbowDescending elbow;
in: Elbow-chop;
th : ศอกสับ Sok-sap


Sauté elbowSauté elbow;
in: Mid-air-elbow -strike;
th : กระโดดศอก Kra-tot-sok


Hand-to-hand techniques in Thai boxing

Hand-to-hand combat, i.e. very close, which consists of direct engagement with the opponent. One can use hand-to-hand combat, for example, to recover physically by "sticking" to the opponent, or on the contrary, hit the opponent with knees in the flanks and thighs.

Spraying and mowing techniques

Projection The action of throwing the opponent's body to get out of hand-to-hand combat (without passing the hip).

Mowing The action of knocking an opponent off balance or down with a low, circular kick.

Blocking and seizure techniques

Blocking The action of preventing a blow from reaching its intended point (blocking with the arm or shin).

Input The action of taking a blow with the hand(s) in a quick movement to hold it and counterattack.

Dodge techniques in Muay Thai

Body movement to deftly avoid a blow.

Example: To avoid a low-kick or middle-kick, pull back the foot and then attack by swinging the hip and leg outwards; then re-attack with a middle-kick or low-kick.


Muay Thai: blocking with both forearms in a jab to the bodyBlocking with both forearms during a jab to the body


Covering with both gloves during a face jabCovering with both gloves during a face jab


Deflection of a jab with the palm of the gloveDeflection of a jab with the palm of the glove


Neutralize the weapons by sticking to themNeutralize weapons by going to stick (hand-to-hand)


Covering with the arm and glove during a high-kickCovering with the arm and glove during a high-kick


Absorption of a low kick associated with a counter in direct plungingAbsorption of a low kick associated with a counter in direct plunging


Muay Thai: parrying with both gloves at an opponent's high-kickParrying with both gloves at an opponent's high-kick


Muay Thai: Stopping an opponent's attackStopping an opponent's attack


Muay Thai (Thai boxing) terms

Muay bang - parrying and dodging techniques
Bang Mat : Parry with the hand (Blocked or chased parry with the front or back hand)
Bang Tei : Parry with the leg (Blocked parry of the front or back leg)
Bang Sok : Elbow parry (Blocked front or back elbow parry)
Bang Khao : Parry with the knee (Blocked or chased parry with the front or back knee)
Yok Toa Lop: dodge without moving the supports (dodge without moving the supports, lateral, front, back, by bending the trunk or by bending the lower limbs)
Lop Tchak : Dodge with displacement of supports (Dodge with displacement of one support by a step back, side step, pivot step or by a withdrawal of one support).


You can find accessories (gloves, shorts, oils) on :

The Muay Thai shop ofAmazon

See also :
The rules of Thai boxing (Muay Thai)
The Ram Muay, a ritual dance from before Muay Thai fights
Thai boxing music


Source: http://fr.wikipedia.org ; Drawings: Alain Delmas

Was this article useful to you?

Click on the stars to rate it!

Average score 4.6 / 5. Counting of votes : 46

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful....

Share it on social media 😉

We're sorry this post wasn't useful to you!

Let's improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

You may also like