disadvantages of MT(for self defense)

[cfr]

Same disclaimer as last time. Let me first start off with the disclaimer that I dont train at a full blown MT gym. I dont want to step on any toes here.

I watched MT fights the other night for my first time. Some of the things they got me wondering about how good it would be for self defense. Two thing in particular:

1; They stand almost straight up. Looks easy to be taken down.
2; They stand almost squared off. With the back foot not all that much further back than the front foot. Meaning that they're groins seemed exposed. I think the logic is because that way the back round kick would hit its target faster but thats just a guess.

Again, Im no expert on the subject. My school is a mix of MT with some other stuff and I was just observing something interesting. Am I correct on these thoughts???

[gregimotis]

I train Muay Thai and BJJ....

From a self defense standpoint It seems that you've got two good points. Thai boxers stand up tall and with squarded stance to address issuse specific to the Muay Thai rule format which may or may not contribute to 'street defense'.

The squared stance, for instance, allows the fighter to bring his legs into the action faster - both for kicking and shielding. This is quite useful in the ring, but yes, one could see how it exposes the pills a bit.

On the other hand, I'm not convinced that many 'street' fighters are going to use groin kicks and takedowns well enough to avoid knees, right crosses and elbows.

[gregimotis]

I have another thought on this subject, although it doesn't fall directly into the 'self defense' subject;

As I said, one of the reasons MT fighters stand squared up is because it allows us to bring either leg up to kick or block more quickly. Further to this, MT fighters use more kicking to the legs than many arts and we block those kicks to the legs by turning our shins (well, upper shin/knee) out to intercept incoming low kicks.
What I have found when working with stylists who stand more sideways - boxers included - is that the soft inner thigh and the back of the forward leg is often an easy target for my low kicks.

[Tom Yum]

I have another thought on this subject, although it doesn't fall directly into the 'self defense' subject;

As I said, one of the reasons MT fighters stand squared up is because it allows us to bring either leg up to kick or block more quickly. Further to this, MT fighters use more kicking to the legs than many arts and we block those kicks to the legs by turning our shins (well, upper shin/knee) out to intercept incoming low kicks.
What I have found when working with stylists who stand more sideways - boxers included - is that the soft inner thigh and the back of the forward leg is often an easy target for my low kicks.

It also makes it easier to work knees and elbows when you are square and upright.

[JIMI]

The only disadvantage I could see for self defense in reference to Muay Thai would be that they dont train any type of ground fighting. Otherwise, I see absolutely no disadvantage whatsoever. Muay Thai is simply dominating when it comes to stand up fighting.

[suksun]

[Thai Bri]

Whats that? the flying blow job?

For me Thai has a weakness in that it uses the closed fist. Obviously its lack of ground fighting could be its undoing also.

But it is still a million miles ahead of most so called fighting arts.

[IPON]

Whats that? the flying blow job?

ROTFL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

[suksun]

I don't blame anyone from 1st look. If you don't recognize that move from pic i just post.
don't say you know weakness and disadvantage of muay thai. you don't know real muaythai. you know only muay thai sport.
sorry for my poor eng.

[squidd]

i'm really awed by mt fighters...

so in my opinion the only disadvantage of mt is that the training involves battering. i guess you can never really say that you are an mt practitioner until your body has been battered, until your shins have been smacked repeatedly, and have gone through all those other pain-giving exercises.

so i guess that's the disadvantage. i imagine it would be very hard to find people that would subject themselves to such so the entry barrier to muay thai is, imo, very stiff.

last week my instructor and i had an accidental shin to shin... i don't intend to learn leg blocks anymore

[Tap4Me]

All that pain pays off. I think MT is a very good art for street self defense, just look at its history, used by the Royal Army, that should say alot, cause Iam sure when they went hand to hand, it was for real.

[squidd]

you are absolutely correct

All that pain pays off. I think MT is a very good art for street self defense, just look at its history, used by the Royal Army, that should say alot, cause Iam sure when they went hand to hand, it was for real.

i think i failed to add that the real problem of muay thai lies not in the technique but in the willingness of whimps like me to voluntarily hurt themselves training day in and training day out.

if only there was a way to learn all this without getting hurt or if only there was a process to elevate one's threshold of pain...

[squidd]

hi thai bri, just wanted to ask

[QUOTE=Thai Bri]Whats that? the flying blow job?

For me Thai has a weakness in that it uses the closed fist. QUOTE]

what do you mean by "closed fist?" do you literally mean the hands being closed into a fist or the use of gloves, maybe? and i would also like to ask what specifically is the "weakness" of closed fist styles (boxing, tkd, jkd too?). many thanks in advance.

p.s. if you're up to answering yet another

[squidd]

hi thai bri, just wanted to ask

[QUOTE=Thai Bri]Whats that? the flying blow job?

For me Thai has a weakness in that it uses the closed fist. QUOTE]

what do you mean by "closed fist?" do you literally mean the hands being closed into a fist or the use of gloves, maybe? and i would also like to ask what specifically is the "weakness" of closed fist styles (boxing, tkd, jkd too?). many thanks in advance.

p.s. if you're up to answering yet another question... have you ever been "swallowed" on the fly?

[Tap4Me]

Trust me, I dont like gettign hurt either, I have only been doing thai for about 6months, I still feel pain But training yourself isnt bad with all the cool technology we have now, like pads and gloves elimating the need for trees and rope .