Muay Thai Combinations You Need To Know To Win Your Fights.

I've got a confession to make. I like watching science programs and nature programs. I recently watched a National Geographic special on The Science of the Punch and learned a lot about martial arts that I hadn't considered before. I learned that the single most powerful punch – by a factor of 30% - was from good old fashioned Western boxing. I saw a lot about transferring energy from the back leg through the core of the body that I'd known before, and some really cool stuff from ninjitsu that I'd never seen before. But what impressed me most of all was watching their section on Mauy Thai, and how some of the combinations in Mauy Thay deliver the ultimate combination of economy of motion and force to the body.

This inspired me to check out some Mauy Thai instructional videos. Yeah, yeah, it's Yoshi talking about Yet Another Couch Potato Style Kung Fu Style, right? Not quite. The thing about Muay Thai instructional DVDs, since Muay Thai is, effectively, a mixed martial arts full contact sport, is that the DVDs are really about bare bones practicality. They're not going to load you up with lots of "Contemplate the caterpillar weaving its cocoon" philosophy – they get straight on with it, covering stances, blocks and traps, and how to combine them into combinations.

Muay Thai words from three basic stances – the closed stance, which is used for kicks, the side stance, which is used for traps and setting up joint locks, and the horse stance, which is designed for powerful punches, and combinations. There's a lot of emphasis in the Muay Thai instruction DVDs on good stance and good footwork; you have to be able to go from a grab-and-pull to a head grab to a knee to the sternum, and for that you need good balance.



I'll be honest – I had an easier time with this one than most will; I've worked with Wing Chung Kung Fu and jiu jutsu for years, and a lot of the concepts transfer over well; most of what I got out of Muay Thai was the focus on pure pragmatism. It's entirely about taking the block and setting up the counterstrike, be it with knee, elbow, fist or foot. I could see from the Mauy Thai instructional DVD that I got that real Muay Thai practitioners get hit a lot – there's much more contact in the DVD than I'm used to seeing in training or sparring.

Following along, I got a good workout, and was really glad it was just me and a freestanding bag rather than me and some kid who's 10 years younger than me. Seriously, that Muay Thai instructional DVD made me feel my years. My knees were aching when I was done, and I was soaked. It was a good workout, like most martial arts training is. I can say this – I'd never try this with another person without some serious protective gear on me!

Boxing Through The Ages

Boxing has been around longer than most would think, both as a sport and as a form of entertainment. It can be dated back to the antiquities where the beginning of sporting competitions was first referenced. There have been many punches thrown throughout the centuries, with many a bad intention behind them.

There is proof that the Greeks took part in boxing events. Of course, it was not referred to as boxing, but it was the first competitive fighting event where fighters wore gloves. They were not padded as we see in our more modern boxing matches. Rather, the gloves that were worn in ancient Greece were much simpler than what we see today. They were just simple, cloth wrappings around the hand, and that was it.

The first time the word boxing was used was not until the eighteenth century in England. The term boxing was derived to create a difference between competitive fighting, and fighting as a result of a problem between two or more people.

Currently, boxing as we know it, is a match between two people dressed in gloves, and proper protective gear. This may include a cup, a mouthpiece, and even padding around the head. There are very specific rules and goals to be followed in the ring where the boxing match occurs.

The boxers face each other in the ring for a number of rounds or until one boxer is knocked out before the other. There is a referee in the ring with the two boxers. His job is to make sure that all the rules are followed, and to insure that the match is conducted in a safe, sane manner.




Boxing has been primarily a man's sport, although there is evidence of female fighters as far back as the eighteenth century. It is still the case today; even though many more women are currently approaching it. What may be contributing to this is the changing reasons for engaging in the sport. It used to be solely a competitive sport rather than a leisurely one. Nowadays, people are taking interest in boxing for its physical benefits as a prime consideration.

Since the nineteenth century, boxing has stayed relatively the same. But we have seen the development of new and different competitive fighting organizations and sports. This has taken some practitioners away from boxing, as one has so many choices when looking to join a martial arts fighting league. There's Kung Fu, Judo, kickboxing, mixed martial arts fighting, wrestling, and many more to consider. What we have witnessed as a result is that far less people are choosing boxing, creating a decline in the number of competitive boxers out there.

What has not changed is boxing as a form of entertainment. Out of all fighting sports, boxing matches still bring in some of the largest audiences. Interest in matches hasn't waned much, even if interest in practicing the art is on the decline. Sadly, there have not been a lot of great champions in a while, capable of making people everywhere want to put on a pair of gloves and be a hero for a while. Where oh where is the next Mohammed Ali?

Unlock the Secrets of the Art of Judo

With the rapid expansion of interest in judo throughout the world today, there has developed a need for more understanding of the art and science of this sport. The terms jujitsu and judo are common to our knowledge, but the difference in their meaning is not too clear.

Judo is a derivative of jujitsu and is the correct term used to refer to that art in today's language. The word judo specifically explains the truer meaning of the art as it is practiced today. The "ju" part of the word means "gentleness" or "giving way" and implies a flexibility of techniques, while the "do" part means "way" and signifies the application of the "ju" principle in the execution of the techniques, not only in the physical exertions of the judoist but also in his mental attitude. The older "jitsu", which was replaced by "do", meant "technique" or "art".

We can say that judo is an art because it is a method of arriving at self-realization and true self-expression. We can further say that judo is a science because it implies mastery of various laws of nature: gravity, friction, momentum, velocity, weight transmission, and unison of forces. In its most important phase, it constitutes a kind of higher logic developed through practice and the ascension of the true personality: a realization of the spiritual self in the philosophic rather than the religious sense of the word.

The study of judo without the realization of its secrets - that is, its metaphysical side - leaves one in partial mental emptiness. We must first realize that the study of true judo is symbolic of mental attitudes and behavior. The subconscious mind is where our behavior patterns are collected in a vast reservoir of our years of experience.

When we are able to tap these resources we can build our personalities anew, developing positive attitudes and, in the end, mastering the purely physical. It has been said, in regard to a judo expert's level of mental development, that "the arms are an extension of the mind".



Training in judo disciplines the mind through physical-symbolic exercises, bringing about a maturity of the skill of higher logic. It is the use of this skill that characterizes the mental reaction of the judoist to a given situation when it arises. This serenity of mind is developed in proper judo practice, but the true reservoir of mental composure is built through Zen meditation.

Zen is a relative form of yoga, without the difficult gymnastic feats. Through correct breathing and proper postural discipline, one creates a mental state of reserved energy. Throughout the meditation period, the Zen student concentrates on "nothingness" and accepts no opposing force of any kind. He seats himself in a kneeling-sitting position in a state of relaxation as nearly complete as possible.

There seems, however, to be no serious reason for the Western judoist to adopt this practice, since the Zen effect is embodied in the exercises of judo itself.

The beginning judoist should realize that it is better to learn the basic techniques and principles well than to oversaturate the mind with hundreds of subsidiary techniques that cannot possibly be mastered in one lifetime. In other words, it is better for the student of judo to perfect himself in the basic techniques and principles in order to set an impression on his subconscious mind. This is the result most to be desired.

Once these symbolic exercises have been impressed upon the mind, the new, positive, expert attitude to situations begins to develop. Two good judo maxims illustrate the purpose of such training: Seiryoku zenyo means "the maximum efficient use of physical and mental energy" and jita kyoei, "mutual welfare and benefit".

Self-defense in judo is only one basic aspect of this art. The nucleus must be mental control, in order that mastery of the self-defense techniques may be achieved. It is important for us to realize that even though Zen originated in a religious environment, it is a philosophy and can be applied to any of our personal beliefs.

Now you understand some of the philosophy of judo, it is time for you to begin the practice!

How Did Jujitsu Becomes Judo?

Most people are no doubt familiar with the words jujitsu and judo, but how many can distinguish between them? Here, Mr. Kano, the founder of Judo, will explain the two terms and tell why judo came to take the place of jujitsu.

Many martial arts were practiced in Japan during the feudal age. The use of the lance, archery, swordsmanship and many more. Jujitsu was one such art. It was a system of attack that involved throwing, hitting, kicking, stabbing, slashing choking, bending and twisting limbs, pinning and opponent and defenses against these attacks.

Although the techniques of jujitsu were known from the earliest times, it was not until the latter half of the sixteenth century that jujitsu was practiced and taught systematically. During the earlier period (1603-1868) it developed into a complex art taught by the masters of a number of schools. In Mr. Kano's youth he studied jujitsu under many eminent masters. Their vast knowledge, the fruit of years of diligent research and rich experience, was of great value to him. At that time, each man presented his art as a collection of techniques. None perceived the guiding principle behind jujitsu. When he encountered differences in the teaching of techniques, he ofter found himself at a loss to know which was correct.

This led him to look for an underlying principle in jujitsu, one that applied when one hit an opponent as well as when one threw him. After a thorough study of the subject, he discerned an all-pervasive principle: to make the most efficient use of mental and physical energy. With this principle in mind, he again reviewed all the methods of attack and defense he had learned, retaining only those that were in accordance with the principle. Those not in accord with it he reflected, and in their place he substituted techniques in which the principle was correctly applied. The resulting body of technique
The resulting body of techniques, was named judo to distinguish it from its predecessor, is what is taught in Japan.

The word jujitsu and judo are each written with two Chinese characters. The jujitsu n both is the same and means "gentleness" or "giving way." The meaning of jujitsu is "art,practice," and do means "principle" or "way," the Way being the concept of life itself.



Jujitsu may be translated as "the gentle art," judo as "the Way of gentleness," with the implication of first giving way to ultimately gain victory.

The name of the main institute in Japan is, literally, "the school for studying the Way." Judo is more than an art of attack and defense. It is a way of life.

To understand what is meant by gentleness or giving way, let us say a man is standing before me whose strength is ten, and that my own strength is but seven. If he pushes me as hard as he can, I am sure to be pushed back or knocked down, even if I resist with all my might. This is opposing strength with strength.

But if instead of opposing him I give way to the extend he has pushed, withdrawing my body and maintaining my balance, my opponent will lose his balance. Weakened by his awkward position, he will be unable to use all his strength. It will have fallen to three. Because I retain my balance, my strength remains at seven. Now I am stronger than my opponent and can defeat him by using only half my strength, keeping the other half available for some other purpose. Even if you are stronger than you opponent, it is better first to give way. By doing so you conserve energy while exhausting your opponent.

This is but one example of how you can defeat an opponent by giving way. It was because so many techniques made use of this principle that the art was named jujitsu. Let us look at a few other examples of the feats that can be accomplished with jujitsu.

Suppose a man is standing before me. Like a log on end, he can be pushed off balance -- frontward or backward -- with a single finger. If at the moment he leans forward, I apply my arm to his back and quickly slip my hip in front of his, my hip becomes a fulcrum. To throw the man to the ground, even if he greatly outweighs me, all I need do is twist my hip slightly or pull on his arm or sleeve.

Let us say I attempt to break a man's balance to the front, but that he steps forward with one foot. I can still throw him easily by merely pressing the ball of my foot just below the Achilles' tendon of his advancing leg a split second before he places his full weight on that foot. This is a good example of the efficient use of energy. With only slight effort, I can defeat an opponent of considerable strength.

What if a man were to rush up and push me? If instead of pushing back, I were to take hold of his arms or his collar with both hands, place the ball of one foot against his lower abdomen, straighten my leg and sit back, I could make him somersault over my head.

Or suppose that my opponent leans forward a bit and pushes me with one hand. This puts him off balance. If I grab him by the upper sleeve of his outstretched arm, pivot so that my back is close to his chest, clamp my free hand on his shoulder and suddenly bend over, he will go flying over my head and land flat on his back.

As these examples show, for the purpose of throwing an opponent the principle of leverage is sometimes more important than giving way. Jujitsu also includes other forms of direct attack, such as hitting, kicking and choking. In this respect, the "art of giving way" does not convey the true meaning. If we accept jujitsu as the art or practice of making the most efficient use of mental and physical energy, then we can think of judo as the way, the principle, of doing this, and we arrive at a true definition.

In 1882 Mr. Kano founded the Japanese institute of Judo to teach judo to others. Within a few years, the number of students rapidly increased. They came from all over Japan, many having left jujitsu masters to train with him. Eventually judo displaced jujitsu in Japan, and no one any longer speaks of jujitsu as a contemporary art in Japan, although the word has survived overseas.