This page is a basic look at various strategies employed in the ring. It is by no means a diffinitive guide, nore is it fool proof, every fighter develops their style over years of training and practice, but will no doubt be able to change or adapt their style of fighting in a heart beat.


The 'Puncher'
The puncher is a very dangerous style of fighter, if their timing is correct they can nullify most other styles of fighter. Usually moving in aggressively to reduce the range between you and them quickly. Unloading six to twelve punch combinations to the head and body to keep you back pedalling, waiting for you to drop your guard for the KO.

So how do you deal with The 'Puncher'? It is important to keep them either at long range with good use of front kicks, or to draw them in close to the clinch, where their punches will become worthless.

If your unfortunate enough to find yourself under a continuous bombardment from a puncher, one which you have been unable to tie up in the clinch. It is important that you stay behind your guard, stay calm and time your escape with some very evasive footwork.

The 'Clincher'
The clincher can very easily sap your energy levels, and are very technical fighters due to the complexity of closing the range into the clinch, holding the clinch and then delivering good quality knee strikes once there. This close range fighter nullifies most other weapons in their opponents arsenal.

So how do you deal with The 'Clincher'? It is very important to keep them at medium to long range, with good use of front kicks and roundhouse kicks.

If your unfortunate enough to be caught in the fighters grip, it is important that you use the close quarter weapons of the elbow. Whether already tied up or in the process of being tied up, you must make good use of horizontal, uppercut and straight elbows to bring your opponent to a stop.

The 'Elbower'
The elbower is a specialist who will be using very unusual movements to get in. Either giving away a few points or strikes from their opponent, to allow them to move in to the close quarter distance that they need to be to deliver their deadly weapons of choice. Once in, they will begin to try and either bring about a stoppage by a cut or by knockout.

So how do you deal with The 'Elbower'? It is important that you do not move into the inside of their guard. Staying to the outside with punches, roundhouse kicks, front kicks and long knees (ensuring that you lean out the way) will ensure that they will not have an opportunity to move in close.

If your unfortunate to find yourself in to close, it is important that you go to clinch and tie up their arms, by either wrapping over the top of both their arms, or by clinching high up under their arm pits to ensure that they cannot generate any power with their strikes.

The 'Kicker'
The Kicker is usually a powerhouse, concentrating on this sole technique when practising on the bag or pads. They are a very dominating force when in the ring, usually moving forward slowly and methodically throughout the whole fight, picking of their opponents with effective strike to the body.

So how do you deal with The 'Kicker'? It is important that you have good timing, waiting to deliver straight punches or hooks just as they are about to deliver their kicks. Or you can hold your ground and block strongly then counter with straight punches to your opponent.

If your unfortunate enough to find that your timing is not as good as it needs to be, try to cause your opponent to miss by dummying or faking techniques. This will hopefully cause them to throw weighty kicks that miss, and make them of balance or in a compromising position. From which you can take advantage by attacking their back or blind side.


Counter Fighter
A counter fighter will constantly move backward or make their opponent miss in the hope that their opponent will be wary of throwing techniques. Once their opponent is off balance or has missed their target the counter fighter will attack, and then move away again picking up points as they do. Quite often you will find that counter fighters will try to work from a corner or of the ropes, this ensures their opponent has to come to them, and that the counter fighter can pick points of at will.

So how do you deal with Counter Fighter? One particular way to deal with a counter fighter, is to stand off from them, make them come to you. The other way to deal with a counter fighter is to work the aggressive fighter style and drive forward, putting the counter fighter under immense pressure.

Aggressive Fighter
An aggressive fighter is constantly moving forward trying to deliver techniques in the hope that this will unease their opponent. Once they sense their opponent is unease or has been moved in to a compromising position, the aggressive fighter will become more aggressive, moving forward even quicker. Quite often you will find that aggressive fighters will also try to hold the centre of the ring, in the belief that by doing so, they are dominating their opponent.

So how do you deal with Aggressive Fighter? One particular way to deal with an aggressive fighter is to use a head on approach, matching the aggressive fighter with equal aggression. Another way to deal with an aggressive fighter is to work evasively, constantly moving, countering every time an opportunity arises.

Evasive Fighter
An evasive fighter is constantly moving in and out on their opponent, working both the counter and aggressive styles of fighting. Their main goal is to ensure that their opponent never gets settled in any one style, constantly making their opponent switch styles, distances and tactics. This constant change is what the evasive fighter is wanting. Quite often you will find that an evasive fighters opponent is frustrated at not being able to get a clean technique to land, or not being able to get a technique to land at all.

So how do you deal with Evasive Fighter? One particular way to deal with an evasive fighter is to wait for them, making them come to you, and making effective use of the small window of opportunity that arises when an evasive fighter moves in and out to attack. Another way to deal with an evasive fighter is to use the aggressive fighters style, hoping that you will put them under so much pressure that they will make a mistake which you will be able to take advantage of. Ideally you want to trap the evasive fighter against the ropes or in a corner, their style of fighting is based around being mobile, if they have limited space to move, their style of fighting becomes redundant.


Tall Fighters
A taller fighter in Muay Thai has an easier life than a shorter one, as their height advantage usually gives them a longer range to use their weapons with. The taller fighter makes good use of front kicks and long knees, with the added advantage of being above their opponent in the clinch. This means that they can drop elbows at will and create distance between them and their opponent with ease. The disadvantages of a taller opponent are those to do with speed when evading and power in their techniques. They can also find that if their opponent takes them into the clinch strongly around the waist/lowerback, that they are unable to deliver knees or create a distance between them and their opponent.

Shorter Fighters
A shorter fighter in Muay Thai has a harder life than a taller one, as their height reduces the range that they can use their weapons. However their height disadvantage can be over turned by the additional power and speed that they have. Using angles to get into a medium range so that they can deliver punches and roundhouse kicks, causes their opponent to shorten their own weapons, which reduces the power that they have. If the shorter fighter can successfully close the distance to clinching range, and take a good defensive posture in the clinch, being mindful of elbows form above. They will be in a very good position, as the majority of their opponents weapons will be useless. The disadvantages of a shorter opponent are those to do with range their opponents weapons have, and that the opponent can throw techniques from above.


Kru Anan 'Kaewsamrit' Chantip
'a fighter with good balance, timing and strength can
defeat all of these styles of fighter with good use of the Teab - Front Kick!'

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