24/8/17: Thai fundamentals and hook defences

Thai fundamentals

As the first part of being all about kicks and knees, the prominent concept from this part of the session, for me, was the hips and turning them over. Other key learning points that Steve clearly articulated were:
• Strong eyes – up and forward
• Leg like a baseball bat (not the shin or the foot)
• Squarer stance to allow al weapons to be employed
• Follow through with the leg
• Hands up as the kick goes through
• Aim to have the leg parallel to the floor
• Zoning off as you punch
• Aim to make the combination 1 technique not 2 or 3 separate ones.
Jab (lead) and then round kick (rear)

Uppercut (lead) then round kick (rear)

Hook (lead) then round kick (rear)

Jab-cross then round kick (lead)

Jab-cross then switch feet for round kick (which is now the rear)

Jab-cross then long knee (rear) but this was broken down into the following components:
1. Practising and drilling the initial step - left lead stance and stepping with the left leg onto a hard ankle, heel raised and 45 degrees or at 10 o’clock
2. Building on the previous step by adding a short knee by lifting the hips
3. Adding the complete long knee
4. Starting with the jab-cross then the long knee. The left arm guards the head as the right hand swings down to add counter balance to the thrusting motion of the knee strike.
After class, there was a discussion with Steve on how to practise the kicks at home ‘in the air’ as working on a bag can hide technical holes and correct use of the hips. He suggested using a small(ish) chair so you have something physical to kick over. And despite the poor technique displayed by me, Steve used a great analogy. He likened Thai kicks to the golf swing, you want to throw 7/10 good kicks. Likewise, on the golf course, you want more solid shots than shit ones. The good news for those of who are not pro fighters or golfers is that even the pros shank it or make mistakes. Of course, the difference is they do it less because they are so well practised. So, the secret to being excellent is good quality repetition; refine the mechanics and avoid resting on your laurels. We must strive to make our fundamental techniques appear easy and effortless.

Hook defences

Bob and weave
As the hook comes in, go in the direction of the punch and use your legs to take you down and under the punch and then back up on the outside of the punch. Adding to the motion coming from the legs were the attacks off the bob and weave – hook to lead hook to the body followed by a rear shovel hook and finishing with a straight lead.

Initially, it was worked in sets of three to get the mechanics correct but we worked up to working against continuous punches from both sides.

Double hand shoulder stop
Almost like a flinch response whereby both hands come up and inside the punch at the forearm and bicep of his attack. We then scooped the arm and controlled it to the body whilst stepping tightly to the outside of his body and inserting an uppercut to the head from under his controlled arm.

Working all 4
Class rounded off by working both defences on both side of the body to add quality repetition time.