Muay Thai / MMA

Hi guys,

I come from a Muay Thai background. I used to train with a good camp that always emphasized good technique first and foremost, good solid footwork and ring craft, etc.

Now I'm watching quite a bit of MMA, and while I am in ore of these guys, I'm beginning to question their Muay Thai. Infact, I'm not even sure that Muay Thai can be practiced while in a stance suitable to MMA - the Muay Thai stance would leave one open to take downs, yet a more MMA friendly stance seems to make it impossible to block leg kicks.

In the typically wider, MMA style stance... is there anyway to effectively stop leg kicks (other than simply taking them and hoping to get a take down as dividend)?

Be interested to hear you thoughts!

alleycat
 
I'm not in a place to answer the question but I went to NYC over the weekend to see a Muay Thai Tournament and I must say that it was much more exciting than watching MMA. I'm not a fan of watching ground fighting. I'm more of a toe to toe kind of guy.
 
It used to be that the guys would train in Muay Thai and BJJ or Judo, but now we've seen a transition to where they're getting MMA specific training. If you're going to want to compete in MMA then you're going to have to modify your stand up game to suit the needs of the environment.
 
It used to be that the guys would train in Muay Thai and BJJ or Judo, but now we've seen a transition to where they're getting MMA specific training. If you're going to want to compete in MMA then you're going to have to modify your stand up game to suit the needs of the environment.


This is it, precisely. But I believe that while the stand up game is evolving well (as Muay Thai is clearly the most suitable basis), I'm unsure how it can develop adequate defenses for the MT style low kicks.

Perhaps a more liberal use of the defensive 'teep' might be applicable? I find this to be among the most effective moves in the MT arsenal... yet don't see it used so much in MMA, maybe due to it's more 'passive' nature?

alleycat
 
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