Trouble defending punches

[mixedup]

Hi all
I would really appreciate any comments you guys can offer with regard to defending against punches.
I've been training Muay Thai for around 10 months now - OK, I know that is a very short period but I am frustrated that I can't seem to cope with combination punches. Defending against single punches is not a problem but when faced with a flurry of punches, I seem to fall to pieces.
I try to focus on my parries but always seem to be one step behind my opponent's punches!
No other aspect of the art is causing me the same difficulty - I have no problems with elbows, knees etc.
I've read some excellent posts before and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Mark.

[smokerfights]

I am working on similiar problems too. My suggestions:

Take boxing classes.
Learn to spin out or side-step. If you go backwards when the flurry comes, you'll stay in trouble.
Have your sparring partner slow down. Get used to watching what is coming and covering. Build up the speed over time.
Stay loose, relaxed, and learn to move your head.
Try working on two-step sparring drills. Have you partner throw only a two punch combo and learn to defend against it. Then go three-step, etc.

[Khun Kao]

There are three basic punch defense positions in MuayThai you should focus on for starters....

(bear with me as I might have the spellings wrong!)

LEN MUAY: Place the heel of your hand firmly on your forehead, right above your eyebrow on the same side. Your elbow should be right in front of your face. You use this to "cross block" a straight punch. For instance, if someone is throwing a left straight punch, you would use "Len Muay" from your left to block the punch.

TUT MALA: Place the palm of your hand firmly over your ear. (your fingers should wrap slightly around the back of your head/neck) Hold the elbow in such that the elbow is directly in front of your eye on the same side. You use this to block hooks, i.e. - if your opponent throws a left hook, you will use "Tut Mala" on your right hand side.

TUT MALA WAI: Similar to "Tut Mala", except you reach across with your hand to put your guard on the opposite side. For instance, you would reach your left hand across in front of your face and place the back of your hand firmly over your right ear. The elbow should be directly in front of your face. This has multiple uses. For instance, you can use this as your defense while performing spinning maneuvers, or can use it as a defense and counter to the inside of straight punches.

When taught in a purely traditional environment, the above defense positions are performed in a "line drill" where your non-defending hand is kept at your waist. However, for modern sport MuayThai application, you should keep your non-defending hand up in guard position. I have my newbies train the above positions in a drill where starting with your lead and alternating sides, you perform Len Muay, Len Muay, Tut Mala, Tut Mala, Tut Mala Wai, Tut Mala Wai.

You can then start adding a partner to this drill by having a partner (with GLOVES!) throw light punches at you. Have them start with just the straight punches and perform cross-blocks with "Len Muay". Then have them throw Hooks while you defend with "Tut Mala".

*Uppercuts can be blocked with either "Len Muay" or "Tut Mala". I prefer to block with "Len Muay".

After you get comfortable with the 1st two defense positions, you can start working with "Tut Mala Wai". An example of "Tut Mala Wai" is when your opponent throws a right cross, and you use your right hand to parry to the inside of the punch as you step in. When you parry, you should parry at the joint between the forearm and bicep (crook of their elbow). As you step in on this, you literally are bringing your head forward to where the parry is and drive your elbow diagonally upwards across their chin. (hope that made sense!)

[Khun Kao]

(PERSONAL OPINION ONLY):

1. I would learn the blocking techniques first.

2. Then start learning defensive footwork. (There is footwork in MuayThai you can use to avoid punches and other attacks without needing to block).

3. Learn some head motion.

4. Finally, learn to counter by hitting them first.

[Khun Kao]

FINAL NOTE:

The defensive positions I mentioned do not only apply to boxing defense. They are also used as defense against many other attacks. They also can be used effectively as counter-attacks, as I've already mentioned in regards to "Tut Mala Wai"

[seppuku]

Much appreciated post Khun Kao.
I'm having difficulty seeing how to block an uppercut with either, there seems to be a space about where the uppercut comes in behind the block, and i cant see how to close it without exposing other parts of the head. Despite my confusion there it was still informative. Thanks

[mixedup]

Thanks!

Thanks for the replies guys - much appreicated!!

[Khun Kao]

seppuku...

Its all a matter of getting the block in place and moving to make sure the fist meets your elbow, not your chin.

mixedup...

You're welcome. Wish I had pictures to post as well, but at this time I don't.

[Khun Kao]

I got my co-coach to pose in the positions. Hopefully you'll get a better understanding of what the positions are from these photos.

One thing to understand is that these are the BASIC positions. There are subtle adjustments or variations you can make to each of these for individual needs....

#1: LEN MUAY:



Notice the heel of the hand is directly above the eyebrow. The elbow points straight forward. Notice how the arm forms a "triangle" with your body. This "triangle" is meant to be a very SOLID structure to fend off attacks coming straight on.

This also can be used as an ATTACKING defense because its real easy to step straight forwards into your opponent and SPIKE them in the chest or face with this elbow ("Sawk Puong Malai")

[Khun Kao]

#2: TUT MALA:



In retrospect, I should have taken two photos of this, the other angle you should see is from the front

Notice how the fingers curl around behind the head, and the palm covers the ear. The elbow is tucked tightly against the head such that it covers one half of your face. This defends against blows coming from the side such as hooks, elbows, or round kicks.

Having your fingers around the back of your head is VERY CRUCIAL to this blocking technique. Many MuayThai strikes are designed to circumvent someone blocking incorrectly to strike across the back of the head/neck. Having your fingers in this position will put your boxing glove in the right place to create a barrier against these attacks.

When you begin to reach the level of an actual MT fighter, you will no longer keep the elbow tucked in tight, but will instead spike the elbow outwards to meet the incoming attack to destroy the weapon.

[Khun Kao]

In each of these last two examples, blocking the uppercut is merely a matter of how you angle your guard. You won't simply stand in place, put the guard in position, and hope he hits your elbow! You will change the angle of your body or of the guarding arm so that it places the elbow in the path of the Uppercut!

[Khun Kao]

Last, but not least.....

3. TUT MALA WAI:



This one can be tricky. It has many uses, but you really have to know when and HOW to use it effectively! I'll be honest and admit that I have not yet mastered this one, so I only know a few scenarios where it comes into play....

First, it is used as your defense when you perform a spinning attack. Lets say, for instance, that you are throwing a Spinning Elbow attack. You should use "Tut Mala Wai" as your guard because it will properly protect the side of your head/face which is exposed during the attack.

Second, you can use it as an attacking defense. Lets say your opponent is throwing a Right Cross. You step in with your right foot, and use your right hand to parry the Cross. The parrying hand should be placed in the crook of the arm to fend off the attack. As you are stepping in and parrying, you should be sure to step in such that you are able to bring the left side of your head in to come touch the back of your parrying hand, which will simultaneously drive your right elbow up diagonally across the point of your opponents chin.

Third, if you have ever watched Buakaw Por.Pramuk fight, you will see he uses this defense quite often against punches. (SEE PHOTO BELOW)....



He typically uses this defense to setup his clinch & knees. He will extend his arm forward as he "slips/sits" under the punch. His extended arm is used to wrap around the back of his opponents head to initiate the clinch and knees

[mixedup]

Thanks again

Your help goes way beyond the call of duty! But the photos are really useful to supplement your earlier explanations.

One question I forgot to ask is that in our class we focus very much on parrying to denend against punches as opposed to the techniques you have described above.

Is this simply because of the level I'm at?

Thanks

Mark

[Khun Kao]

Parrying is meant to setup counterattacks, so that is probably what your coach is looking for, a parry & counter. Most of what I've described above is from the standpoint of pure defense (though I have mentioned a little about counters)

[gabbah]

Buakaw also uses that defense after a left leg teep. Because when he left teeps he brings his left arm all the way down to get more hip thrust. If a punch comes at him directly after the teep he will use the defense above with his right arm, and the transisition into clinch as his left arm comes up again.