11.01.2023
Today’s lesson saw my client move from boxing to Muay Thai and the application of the cross arm guard in this sport. I was extremely grateful for the work of Sylvie Von Duuglas-Ittu for her observations of this guard in Muay Thai. Sylvie’s story in Muay Thai is remarkable and I highly recommend that all those who enjoy my work check out her blog and her YouTube channel. This video was of particular interest.
Nak Muays have a preference for the long guard over the diamond or what Sylvie calls the “Armadillo Guard”. Nevertheless, the cross arm guard has its uses against boxing punches and perfectly placed for elbows. A key point to consider, which we did in this lesson, is to be able to switch between the long guard and the cross-arm guard. The Muay Thai cross arm guard is different from Boxing’s version in that the top arm has to be held higher, protecting the forehead from cuts.
As with boxing, it’s pretty crucial to establish the purpose of the guard and we began with me feeding my client various strikes within a Muay Thai context. I encouraged him to regularly use shin-checks in addition to defending with the diamond guard. We then looked at how the guard might be used deflect teeps and catch kicks as well as closing in to clinch. By coupling the guard with the long guard, the nak muay can move from close range to range quickly in order to set up a long knee or round kick.
After going through the technical work we moved onto sparring:
Round 1 – Defence only. Testing the diamond and long guards.
Round 2 – Ditto with roles reversed.
Round 3 – Straight punches and kicks versus defence only.
Round 4 – Ditto with roles reversed.
Round 5 – Body shots and clinching only. Testing the diamond guard as an attacking tool at close range.
Round 6 – Free sparring.