“Movement is everything. It can become a deadly attack or an effective defence.” Leveraging a set of precise movements perfected over the years, Kru Hemanth will show you how to turn your fists into lethal weapons in Muay Thai.  

To begin, clench your fingers together into a fist. In Thai we call it ‘Madh’ and this simple action could give you the power to destroy a target. Movement of the fists is called a punch and this releases energy – be it in a straight line, circular, up-down, sideways, diagonally or even reverse. Before you practise the different types of punches, you need to be mindful of a little thing called range.  

Before you practise the different types of punches, you need to be mindful of a little thing called range. 

Types of Range

In Muay Thai, the distance to be maintained with your target is referred to as range. There are primarily five different range measures that we follow in this sport. 

• Boxing range
• Kicking range
• Elbow range
• Knee range
• Clinch range

For the punches that we’ll be focusing on today, we’ll adhere to the boxing range which is basically one-arm length distance between the striker and target. The remaining ranges will be covered in later posts and each of them serves a specific purpose as you’ll come to appreciate. 

Before you start throwing punches, don’t forget your first lesson on stance – one hand should always be on-guard while the other proceeds to attack. With that in mind, let’s look at a technique called 6 boxing hands which is quite useful to develop the various movements when you’re learning to punch in Muay Thai. 

6 Boxing Hands

Simple everyday motion can be the basis for a punch. Starting in the square stance and with your palms open, move your hands forward and backward like you’re picking something up in front of you. You’ll feel the energy flowing in a forward direction. This movement represents the straight and cross jab punch. 

Try a swing motion in line with your face, like you’re slapping someone. Feel the energy moving in a circular direction. That’s the basis of your hook punch right there. 

Imagine you’re presenting a ring to your partner or giving something to a person standing in front of you. The energy flows upward, setting the stage for an uppercut punch. 

These are the four primary variations of punches in Muay Thai. There are also several sub-variations which you’ll learn in time. For now, let’s focus on the first two punches – the straight jab and the cross jab.

Straight Jab

When you’re looking for a quick and effective attack, the straight jab is perfect as it’s released from the lead leg and thus closer to your target. From the on-guard position, move your fist in a straight line, turning the wrist before making contact, accelerating the strike and generating much torque. Return to the on-guard position without dropping your hands.  

The point of contact for the straight jab is usually the opponent’s face. It can also be used to feign and conceal the actual attack during a fight. 

Cross Jab

For a more powerful strike, we use the cross jab which is released from the rear leg. The power flows from the ground up and through your feet. As your foot turns 45 degree, your hips generate torque and deliver a devastating amount of force through your fist. As in the straight jab, the range here is one-arm length as well.  

In Muay Thai, punches are integral to a well-planned attack strategy and can often end up turning the tide of battle. A simple punch delivered from your fist is not all that simple and can end up causing much damage to a target. 

So, keep practising these jabs for now. Read our next blog post to know more about the hook, upper cut and other sub-variations of punches. If you thought the jabs were deadly, wait till you learn those!