How To Prevent Being Swept In Muay Thai

Sweeps are a few of the highest-scoring methods in Muay Thai. Knocking an opponent’s legs out from below them and sending them crashing to the canvas requires distinctive timing and talent. The mere sight of you standing over your grounded opponent can usually sway the judges and safe an in depth spherical in your favor.

Since a single sweep can undermine the efforts of a complete spherical, nobody desires to danger getting swept. Nonetheless, contemplating sweeps are sometimes executed as a protection in opposition to important methods just like the physique kick, it’s practically not possible to compete in Muay Thai with out a number of sweep defenses in your arsenal.

Fortunately, with the best talent set and strategy, it’s attainable to assault the physique relentlessly whereas stopping your self from getting swept by even probably the most expert opponent. On this article, we’ll share three easy but efficient methods for touchdown your physique kicks whereas stopping your self from getting swept to the canvas. So, in case you ever end up along with your again on the canvas each time you try a physique kick, learn on, this text has each piece of knowledge it is advisable know to keep away from getting swept the following time kick!

The Normal Catch And Sweep

Whereas Muay Thai affords all kinds of sweeps, the usual catch and sweep as a protection to the physique kick is by far the commonest. Physique kicks are the commonest weapon in Muay Thai and making an attempt to combat with out them often places you at an enormous drawback. For that reason, we’re specializing in defending in opposition to this sort of sweep within the subsequent few paragraphs.

We’ll refer again to this footage of former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion, Nong-O Hama demonstrating the catch and sweep with Evolve teacher, Penaek Sitnumnoi all through this text, so we suggest learning it completely earlier than studying on.

Sweep Protection #1: Concealing Your Kick Behind Punches

One of the simplest ways to keep away from the usual over-catch and sweep is to cease your opponent from catching your kick within the first place. With out first catching your kicking leg, your opponent may have a smaller window to kick out your supporting leg. Due to this fact, one of the best ways to keep away from this sort of sweep is to make sure that your opponent’s arms are too busy to catch your leg once you kick.

Within the above video, Penaek kicked Nong-O with out concealing the assault behind punches. Due to that, Nong-O was in a very good place along with his arms free, able to defend. Merely punching towards your opponent’s head simply earlier than you kick can usually be sufficient to forestall them from catching the kick, as their arms might be raised to defend their head, probably obscuring the kick from their view. The punches earlier than the kick additionally push your opponent onto their again leg, making it far more troublesome to sidestep and catch the kick. Many fighters gained’t danger trying the catch if they’ll’t step away to cut back the influence on their ribs.

Sweep Protection #2: “Pulling” Your Kick

Within the above demonstration you’ll discover that when Nong-O catches Penaek’s kick, Penaek’s foot is tucked behind his armpit. That is important for a catch and sweep because the foot acts as a ‘plug,’ stopping Penaek from having the ability to break away his leg caught by Nong-O’s grip. Due to this fact, Nong-O would solely be capable to pull this sweep off in an actual combat situation if Penaek kicked at a spread the place his foot traveled previous his physique.

In a combat the place efficient scoring is essential, you don’t essentially wish to kick in order that your foot connects along with your opponent’s physique as an alternative of your shin. Certain, in conventional scoring, each physique kick will rating you factors no matter whether or not your foot or shin connects, however kicks that trigger harm will definitely rating larger. In consequence, you’ll wish to prioritize utilizing your shin as a lot as attainable.

“Pulling” a kick when it’s about to be caught is the right technique to steadiness the necessity to land a kick with energy whereas avoiding being swept in case your opponent makes an attempt to catch your leg.

To do that, kick your opponent with the intent of battering them along with your shin and, in case you see them transferring their arm to catch you, pull your leg again by bending on the knee in order that solely your foot connects along with your opponent’s ribs. It’s going to nonetheless rating below many rule units and, even when your opponent has the best talent and timing to catch, your foot will nonetheless be capable to slip simply from their grip as you pull it again, making the catch and sweep not possible.

Sweep Protection #3: The Knee Guard

The knee guard protection, demonstrated within the above video by Chaowalit Jockygym. is usually used to cease an opponent from having the ability to knee you within the clinch, however this system can be applicable in conditions the place your leg will get caught to keep away from being swept.

To carry out the knee guard when your leg will get caught, merely flip your leg horizontally as your opponent scoops it below their armpit in order that your toes are pointing throughout their again reasonably than up into their armpit. Then, bend your leg on the knee and hop in direction of your opponent in order that your shin is pushed throughout the waistband of their shorts. This may cease them from having the ability to step via to comb you.

As you hop, safe your arms right into a clinch after which, along with your arms tied, pull their head in direction of you whereas pushing their hips away out of your shin. You have to do that to interrupt your opponent’s posture as they could nonetheless be capable to sweep you if they’re standing upright.

Within the above catch and sweep demonstration you’ll discover that Nong-O lifts Penaek’s leg excessive into his armpit and leans again after he catches it, breaking Penaek’s posture. In case your opponent does this it makes knee-guarding throughout the hips virtually not possible. Due to this fact, it is advisable transition to the knee guard shortly. As they’re nonetheless scooping your leg, you may usually keep away from being swept by swiftly pulling your foot again.