Breaking Down The Muay Khao Style In Muay Thai

Muay Thai is a flexible sport. With eight weapons to hone, it permits fighters to develop a myriad of preventing types based mostly on those who they’ve sharpened to develop into most harmful. In consequence, there are 5 principal types incorporating the complete vary of weapons and every model has its personal distinctive strengths and weaknesses. Whereas every model is revered for its distinctive expression of lovely Muay Thai, everytime you ask fighters which sort of fighter they dread probably the most, as a rule they are going to say, “Muay Khao.”

On this article, we’re going to introduce you to the Muay Khao model of preventing in Muay Thai. We’ll introduce the strengths and weaknesses which might be frequent to this well-known model earlier than introducing you to a number of the most dreaded Muay Khao fighters in historical past. However, earlier than we get into the specifics, let’s outline precisely what a Muay Khao is.

What Is A Muay Khao?

Muay Khao interprets into English as “knee fighter” and that’s precisely what to anticipate whenever you see certainly one of these dreaded athletes within the ring. They march ahead into shut quarters, locking on into the clinch to unload devastating knees with the single-minded aim of smothering their opponent and smashing them into submission. It’s a brutal solution to struggle, not only for their opponents but in addition for the Muay Khao warriors who must struggle relentlessly via Muay Thai’s lengthy and close-range weapons to execute their sport plan.

Muay Khao Strengths

Endurance: That is the important thing to Muay Khao’s sport plan. Any first rate Muay Khao goes to have unimaginable energy and health to outlast their opponents and maximize their effectiveness within the clinch. They use their energy to regulate their opponent whereas their high-level cardio permits them to always rating with knees (and the occasional elbow) in order that the referee doesn’t separate them from their prey to renew the struggle at vary.

Ring Management: A Muay Khao is aggressive and geared up with distinctive ringcraft. This allows them to shepherd their evasive opponent into the ropes and corners the place they can not escape.

Clever Clinch Entries: Once they wish to enter the clinch, a great Muay Khao will strategy intelligently and safely. They are going to use a good guard, feints, and entry methods such because the hop, lengthy guard, or excessive march to enter knee and clinch vary as safely as doable. Alternatively, they are going to enter the clinch behind strikes as a solution to preserve their opponent on the again foot.

The above video reveals some spectacular clinch entries from golden period legend, Joreongthong Kiatbanchong, used to nice impact. You’ll discover that he usually likes to attend for his opponent to throw punches, capitalize on these openings they created as a possibility to enter the clinch and assault with knees whereas they’re off-balanced by the missed strikes.

Widespread Muay Khao Weaknesses

This close-ranged and aggressive model could be exhausting to take care of however, usually, most Muay Khao fighters share comparable weaknesses which might be drawn immediately from the strengths of their craft.

The Lengthy-Vary Recreation: As Muay Khao fighters are solely efficient at extremely shut vary, they begin the struggle with an uphill battle of preventing previous the lengthy and midrange Muay Thai weapons reminiscent of kicks and teeps. Because of this they’re at an obstacle dealing with the Muay Femur (counterfighter) or Muay Tae (kick fighter) types that make use of long-range strikes at the side of evasive footwork to remain out of clinching vary whereas utilizing the Muay Khao’s ahead aggression to create alternatives to attain.

Accrued Harm: A two-dimensional Muay Khao, who can’t feint, use footwork, or change tempos early in a struggle is at an enormous drawback as they must struggle previous kicks and teeps after which muscle via punches to get into the clinch. Because of this they usually take a whole lot of injury which might affect them because the struggle progresses.

Scoring Disadvantages: Although Muay Khaos have unimaginable endurance, it may be troublesome to swing the scorecards again of their favor as soon as they’ve fought previous their opponent’s lengthy and midrange assaults. As soon as they’re locked within the clinch, they nonetheless want to beat their opponent’s knees and elbows in addition to spoiling techniques as a result of, if their opponent can stall them for lengthy sufficient, the clinch can be damaged, they usually’ll must struggle via all the ranges another time.

Evasive Footwork: Whereas ringcraft could be an asset to a Muay Khao, an opponent with distinctive footwork could make the job of coming into knee vary even more durable. The higher an opponent is at utilizing a Muay Khao’s aggression to hit and transfer with out being caught, the extra injury they accrue and the more durable it’s for them to overhaul their lead on the scorecards.

Well-known Muay Khao Fighters

If you wish to get a transparent image of what the Muay Khao model appears to be like like in motion, contemplate looking out up these legendary knee fighters. Every man has made it to the top of Muay Thai using this model and the wealthy library of struggle footage every athlete has out there on-line will present you easy methods to struggle for those who select to compete with this devastating model.

1) Petchboonchu FA Group

FA Group Gymnasium in Bangkok is known for producing a number of the most feared Muay Khao’s within the historical past of Muay Thai. The cream of their illustrious crop is retired fighter and former Evolve MMA coach, Petchboonchu. The tall and relentless fighter was a five-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion and a Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion who defeated the Legendary, Saenchai, thrice in his profession.

2) Dieselnoi

Followers of the Golden Period are nicely acquainted with Dieselnoi; the quintessential Muay Khao to whom each knee fighter has been in contrast since. He’s a former Lumpinee Stadium World Champion and Three-time Sportswriter’s Combat Of The Yr recipient, certainly one of which was awarded following his victory over the legendary Samart Payakaroon.

3) Yothin FA Group

Whereas Petchboonchu could be the most profitable of FA Group’s Muay Khao fighters, present Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion, Yothin, could quickly overtake him. He’s already a two-time Rajadamnern World Champion whose trophy cupboard additionally boasts WMC World and WBC Worldwide Titles.

Conclusion

So, after discussing and analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, and a few well-known Muay Khao fighters, what do you assume? The Muay Khao model is one price trying into, particularly with the actual use of knees that are essential in close-range conditions such because the clinch. Whether or not you’re a seasoned fighter or simply beginning, strive incorporating some parts of the Muay Khao model into your coaching, and who is aware of, maybe it’ll offer you that edge within the ring!