Muay Thai Long Guard: How to Use It, Attack From It & Counter It
Muay Thai Long Guard: How to Use It, Attack From It & Counter It
The Muay Thai long guard is one of the most recognisable defensive positions in the sport.
At first glance, it looks relatively simple: extend one arm towards your opponent while keeping the other closer to your head.
Used properly, however, the long guard is much more than an alternative way of holding your hands.
It can help you:
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Control distance
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Disrupt an opponent's Boxing
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Deflect and redirect punches
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Frame against aggressive fighters
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Set up kicks, knees and elbows
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Hand-fight for dominant positions
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Create clinch entries
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Draw predictable reactions
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Transition quickly between defence and offence
But the long guard also has weaknesses.
Leave the arm extended without purpose and a skilled opponent can work around it, manipulate it, attack underneath it or use your own frame against you.
The key is understanding that the long guard is not a static position. It is a system of control.
In this guide, we'll break down how to use the long guard in Muay Thai, how to attack from it, how elite fighters have incorporated it into their games and, just as importantly, how to counter it.
Throughout the guide we'll draw upon Warrior Collective coaching from Dean James, Daniel McGowan, Yoddecha Sityodtong, Christian Knowles, Kevin Ross and Damien Trainor, giving different perspectives on how the long guard can be applied in real Muay Thai.
In This Guide
What Is the Muay Thai Long Guard?
The Muay Thai long guard is a defensive and positional framework in which one arm — normally the lead arm — is extended towards the opponent while the opposite hand remains closer to the head.
There isn't one single position that should always be labelled the long guard.
The extended hand might be used to:
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Measure distance
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Post or frame against the opponent
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Occupy their vision
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Parry punches
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Control their lead hand
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Prevent them stepping freely into range
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Guide them towards another attack
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Establish contact before entering the clinch
The rear hand, shoulder, forearm and elbow continue to have defensive responsibilities.
This is important because one of the biggest misunderstandings surrounding the long guard is treating it as a static defensive pose.
Effective long guard is active.
Sometimes you post. Sometimes you parry. Sometimes you frame. Sometimes you retract the arm. Sometimes you hand-fight. Sometimes you transition into the clinch.
Your guard should change according to what your opponent is doing.
Think less about holding the long guard and more about working from the long guard.
Why Does the Long Guard Work?
One of the biggest advantages of the long guard is that it allows you to begin dealing with an opponent's attack before it reaches your head.
With a conventional high guard, you may allow punches to travel most of the way towards their target before blocking them with your gloves and forearms.
The long guard puts something between you and your opponent much earlier.
Instead of:
Punch → Block → Counter
you can potentially create:
Opponent enters → Make contact → Disrupt attack → Control position → Counter
That distinction becomes increasingly important as your level increases.
You're no longer simply defending individual strikes.
You're attempting to control the conditions under which your opponent is allowed to attack.
How to Use the Muay Thai Long Guard
1. Use the Lead Hand to Find the Opponent
The extended lead hand can provide valuable information about distance.
If the opponent is outside your frame, they're probably also outside effective punching range.
As they enter, physical contact gives you immediate feedback about their position and movement.
Your lead hand can therefore act as both a defensive barrier and a range finder.
2. Keep the Rear Hand Responsible
Extending one arm doesn't mean abandoning the other side of your defence.
Punches can still travel around or underneath the lead arm.
The rear hand, forearm, shoulder and elbow must continue to protect the head and body according to the attack you're facing.
Think of the extended arm as the first layer of your defence rather than the entire defensive system.
3. Combine the Guard With Footwork
The long guard becomes considerably more effective when your hands and feet work together.
You might:
Frame → Step back
Post → Pivot
Parry → Angle off
Control → Hold position → Counter
An extended arm cannot indefinitely compensate for poor positioning.
Your feet still determine whether you're operating at the correct distance.
4. Don't Leave the Arm Extended
A static long guard gives an experienced opponent a stationary problem to solve.
Touch, frame, parry, retract, move and re-establish.
The more dynamically you use the position, the harder it becomes for your opponent to predict what comes next.
Using the Long Guard Against Aggressive Boxing
The long guard can be particularly useful against opponents who want to close distance behind punches.
Rather than accepting the Boxing exchange they want, you can interfere with their ability to establish it.
The extended hand can occupy or redirect their lead hand while the frame makes it more difficult for them to freely step into range.
This has particular value in Muay Thai because you possess weapons unavailable in conventional Boxing.
If your opponent becomes preoccupied with getting through or around your hands, you can attack with:
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Body kicks
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Low kicks
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Teeps
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Knees
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Elbows
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Clinch entries
The long guard therefore isn't necessarily the end of your defensive sequence.
It's often the beginning of your counterattack.
Using the Long Guard to Set Up Kicks
The long guard can be extremely effective for creating kicking opportunities.
If your hand is controlling, distracting or occupying the opponent, their attention is naturally drawn towards the upper body.
At the same time, the frame can prevent an aggressive opponent from collapsing the distance you need to kick effectively.
This creates simple sequences such as:
Frame → Rear body kick
Parry → Rear kick
Post → Angle → Kick
Long guard → Opponent pressures → Create space → Kick
The important principle is that your hands aren't simply defending you.
They're creating the conditions for your legs to work.
Yoddecha Sityodtong: Turn Defence Into Kicking Offence
Former Lumpinee Stadium No.1 ranked fighter and multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Yoddecha Sityodtong provides an excellent example of this approach.
In his Warrior Collective coaching, Yoddecha demonstrates how the long guard can disrupt an opponent's punches while maintaining enough distance to immediately counter with kicks.
This is particularly useful against aggressive Boxers.
Instead of continually retreating to create kicking range, the frame can help physically manage the opponent's forward pressure.
The sequence becomes:
Intercept → Control → Counter.
The key lesson is simple:
Don't defend and then decide what to do next. Use your defence to create your next attack.
▶️ Watch Yoddecha Sityodtong Use the Muay Thai Long Guard to Set Up Kicks
Yoddecha expands on long guard, setting up kicks, countering aggressive fighters, movement, changing ranges and progressive Muay Thai drills in his full-length Warrior Collective instructional:
Muay Thai Drills – Camp Training: Beginner to Fighter
Using the Long Guard for Knees and Clinch
The long guard has a natural relationship with knee fighting.
An opponent trying to punch through your frame needs to move closer.
That brings them towards your knees and clinch.
Instead of automatically retreating when somebody pressures forward, you can potentially meet their pressure, control it and convert it into your preferred range.
The extended hand has also already established physical contact.
From there it can transition into:
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Head control
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Collar ties
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Bicep control
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Shoulder control
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Frames
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Arm traps
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Clinch entries
This is why the long guard is particularly interesting for Muay Khao fighters.
The opponent's attempt to beat the guard can potentially bring them directly towards the range in which the knee fighter is most dangerous.
Different Ways Elite Fighters and Coaches Use the Long Guard
There isn't one correct way to use the position.
Different fighters build different strategies around the same underlying principles.
The following Warrior Collective coaches provide useful examples.
Dean James: Building Attacks Around the Long Guard
Former multiple-time World Champion Dean James demonstrates how the long guard can become part of an attacking framework rather than simply a defensive shell.
Once an opponent starts reacting to your extended hand, those reactions become information.
Do they knock it down?
Reach for it?
Punch around it?
Change level?
Step outside it?
Every response can potentially create your next attack.
The objective is therefore not simply to stop your opponent hitting you.
It's to make them respond to the long guard and then exploit their response.
▶️ Watch Dean James demonstrate attacking from the Muay Thai long guard
Daniel McGowan: Developing an Active Long Guard
Elite UK Muay Thai fighter Daniel McGowan provides another perspective on how the long guard can be incorporated into high-level striking.
The important lesson is that your lead hand should continually change roles.
One second it measures distance.
The next it controls the opponent's glove.
Then it becomes a frame.
Then it retracts to attack.
Then it returns to protect space.
This active approach is much harder to solve than simply leaving an arm fully extended throughout the exchange.
▶️ Watch Daniel McGowan break down Muay Thai long guard concepts
Christian Knowles: Long Guard for Small-Glove Muay Thai
The long guard becomes particularly interesting when Muay Thai is fought in smaller gloves.
Larger gloves provide significantly more surface area with which to cover incoming punches. Smaller gloves reduce that margin for error.
That increases the value of controlling punches before they arrive.
World-class coach Christian Knowles, founder of The Knowlesy Academy and long-time coach of Jonathan Haggerty, explores this extensively within his Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves system.
Rather than relying exclusively on a tight shell, Christian uses frames, hand controls, movement and positioning to prevent opponents freely establishing the range from which they want to punch.
The question changes from:
“How do I block this punch?”
to:
“How do I stop my opponent establishing the position they need to punch effectively?”
▶️ Watch Christian Knowles teach the Muay Thai long guard
Christian explores long guard, small-glove Boxing defence, teeps, kicking, kick catches, clinch fighting and fighter-development drills in his full-length Warrior Collective instructional:
Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves
Kevin Ross: Long Guard and Hand Control
Former Bellator Kickboxing World Champion and Lion Fight World Champion Kevin Ross provides another useful perspective on connecting the long guard to the wider Muay Thai game.
Your hands don't always need to be punching.
They can:
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Control the opponent's guard
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Block their vision
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Frame
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Measure distance
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Redirect attacks
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Create angles
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Open opportunities for other weapons
This becomes particularly important when trying to connect Boxing, kicking, elbows and clinching rather than treating them as unrelated parts of Muay Thai.
▶️ Watch Kevin Ross demonstrate long guard and hand control
Kevin expands on these concepts in:
Muay Thai Fighting – The Art of 8 Limbs
Muay Thai Fighters to Study for the Long Guard
Drills teach you the mechanics.
Fight footage shows you when and why those mechanics are used.
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn
Legendary knee fighter Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn is one of the clearest historical examples of using long frames as part of a complete fighting system. His famous fight with Samart Payakaroon provides an excellent case study in how the long guard can be used to disrupt punches, close distance and transition into the clinch.
His extraordinary height and reach obviously helped, but his effectiveness came from what happened after he established contact.
Dieselnoi could use his extended arms to disrupt punches, hand-fight, frame, close distance and transition into the devastating knees and clinch work for which he became famous.
The lesson is important:
Build your guard around where you want the fight to go next.
Samart Payakaroon
Samart Payakaroon provides a very different study.
Watch his ability to combine hand fighting, parries, distance management, timing and exceptional footwork rather than simply holding opponents away.
The famous Dieselnoi vs Samart fight is particularly interesting because it demonstrates two elite fighters attempting to solve distance and positional problems in very different ways.
Buakaw Banchamek
Buakaw Banchamek provides useful examples of frames and extended hand control within a more aggressive Muay Thai and Kickboxing environment.
His approach demonstrates that long guard principles don't have to be associated purely with retreating.
Frames can complement forward pressure and powerful kicking.
Jonathan Haggerty
For modern small-glove Muay Thai, Jonathan Haggerty is particularly valuable to study. The former ONE Flyweight and Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion has competed extensively at elite level under ONE's small-glove rules.
His ability to combine long-range hand positioning with teeps, dynamic kicks, elbows and rapid transitions between ranges illustrates why these concepts remain so relevant in contemporary Muay Thai.
It also provides useful context for understanding the coaching methodology of Christian Knowles and The Knowlesy Academy.
How to Counter the Muay Thai Long Guard
Everything we've discussed might make the long guard sound extremely difficult to beat.
It isn't.
Every defensive system protects certain areas while sacrificing something elsewhere.
The objective is to understand what the long guard is protecting and what the fighter has exposed in order to protect it.
Damien Trainor: Learn to Fight the Guard in Front of You
Two-time Muay Thai World Champion Damien Trainor addresses this problem directly in his Warrior Collective coaching.
As fighters progress beyond novice-level sparring, they'll encounter opponents using increasingly varied defensive systems.
Trying to attack every guard with exactly the same combinations makes little sense.
A long guard presents different opportunities from a conventional high guard.
Rather than repeatedly attacking the strongest part of the defence, learn to recognise the openings the guard creates.
▶️ Watch Damien Trainor demonstrate how to counter the Muay Thai long guard
Damien explores different guards, distance, fighting taller and shorter opponents, functional kicking, scoring and tactical problem-solving in:
Muay Thai Sparring – Developing World Class Striking
Counter 1: Change the Angle
Don't continually attack directly into the extended frame.
Move outside it.
Force the defender to turn and rebuild their position.
Once the frame is no longer directly between you and the target, punches, kicks and combinations can become available.
The principle is simple:
Don't attack the strongest part of the guard. Move until it isn't strong anymore.
Counter 2: Manipulate the Extended Hand
The long guard gives you something to make contact with.
You can parry, pull, redirect, knock down or briefly pin the extended arm.
But don't become obsessed with fighting the hand itself.
The objective is:
Move the hand → Create the opening → Attack the opening.
Counter 3: Attack Different Levels
A fighter concentrating heavily on controlling your head and hands may give you opportunities underneath.
Body punches, body kicks and low kicks force them to solve different problems.
Once they begin adjusting the guard to defend lower targets, opportunities can reappear upstairs.
Body → Legs → Head.
Make the defensive system continually change.
Counter 4: Attack Underneath
Depending on the long guard variation, space can exist underneath the extended arm.
Uppercuts and body punches may exploit that opening.
However, charging underneath a long frame without controlling the opponent can take you directly into knees, elbows or clinch.
Create the opening first.
Then attack it.
Counter 5: Feint the Guard Into Position
This is where things become more tactical.
If your opponent consistently extends their lead hand when you jab, don't wait for them to randomly give you the reaction.
Make them give it to you.
Feint the jab.
Draw the long guard.
Then attack the opening created by their response.
Once a defensive reaction becomes predictable, it can be manipulated.
Counter 6: Attack During the Transition
A fighter may be well protected once their long guard is established.
But what happens while they're extending it?
Retracting it?
Changing to high guard?
Moving backwards?
Transitioning into clinch?
No guard is equally strong at every moment.
Sometimes the best time to attack isn't when the position is established.
It's while the position is changing.
Common Muay Thai Long Guard Mistakes
Leaving the Arm Extended Too Long
The longer your position remains unchanged, the more time your opponent has to study and manipulate it.
Touch. Frame. Control. Move.
Don't simply leave the hand hanging in front of them.
Reaching Instead of Framing
If you lean your head and body excessively forward to establish contact, you can compromise your balance and defensive position.
Your frame should support your positioning rather than destroy it.
Forgetting the Rear Hand
The lead arm isn't an invisible wall.
Punches can still travel around it.
Keep the rear side responsible.
Using Long Guard Without Footwork
Your arm and feet should work together.
If your feet consistently leave you at the wrong distance, an extended hand won't solve the problem indefinitely.
Becoming Predictable
If every jab creates exactly the same long-guard reaction, a good opponent will eventually feint the jab and attack your response.
Variation matters.
Treating Long Guard as Defence Only
A successful frame should lead somewhere.
Long guard → Kick
Long guard → Knee
Long guard → Clinch
Long guard → Angle → Counter
If opponents know they can repeatedly attack your frame without consequence, they'll continue doing it.
How to Train the Muay Thai Long Guard
Don't begin by trying to perfect everything during hard sparring.
Build the skill progressively.
Stage 1: Position and Distance
Have a partner move while you maintain the correct distance and long-guard structure.
Learn where the position works before adding attacks.
Stage 2: Single Punches
Introduce controlled jabs and crosses.
Practise when to frame, parry, retract and move.
Stage 3: Combinations
Add hooks and different punch trajectories.
Now the defender must adapt rather than relying on one static position.
Stage 4: Add Kicks
Allow the attacker to mix punches and kicks.
This quickly exposes whether the defender has become too focused on upper-body threats.
Stage 5: Add Counters
Every successful defensive action should begin producing offence.
Frame → Kick
Parry → Punch
Long guard → Knee
Frame → Clinch
Stage 6: Let the Attacker Beat the Guard
Now allow your partner to deliberately manipulate, feint and counter your long guard.
This is essential.
You don't fully understand a defensive system until you understand how somebody can defeat it.
Stage 7: Situational Sparring
One fighter actively works from long guard.
The other tries to solve it.
Swap roles regularly.
This develops a far deeper understanding than simply drilling the position against a compliant partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Muay Thai Long Guard
What is the long guard in Muay Thai?
The Muay Thai long guard is a defensive and positional framework where one arm is extended towards the opponent while the other remains closer to the head.
The extended arm can control distance, frame, parry punches, interfere with the opponent's guard and establish contact for counters or clinch entries.
Rather than thinking of it as simply another guard position, experienced fighters use it as a way of controlling the space and opponent in front of them.
How do you beat the Muay Thai long guard?
Effective options include changing angles, manipulating the extended arm, attacking different levels, working underneath the frame, using feints and attacking during transitions between defensive positions.
Don't repeatedly attack directly into the strongest part of the guard.
Instead, identify what the opponent is protecting and what they've exposed in order to protect it.
Is the long guard good for shorter fighters?
Yes.
Although longer reach can make the long guard particularly useful for taller fighters, shorter fighters can use the same principles to interrupt punches, frame while exiting, control an opponent's hands or safely transition into their preferred range.
Physical attributes influence how you use the long guard rather than whether you can use it.
Is the Muay Thai long guard better for taller fighters?
It can be particularly effective for taller fighters because they can establish contact while keeping shorter opponents outside comfortable punching range.
However, reach alone doesn't make a good long guard.
Legendary knee fighter Dieselnoi was exceptionally effective because his frames and hand fighting connected directly to his knees and clinch.
The real question is not whether you're tall, but what you want the long guard to lead into next.
What is the Dracula guard in Muay Thai?
The Dracula guard is a related long-guard variation where one arm is extended while the opposite forearm is positioned across the lower part of the face.
The name comes from the position resembling Dracula covering his face with his cape.
It can provide additional protection while closing distance or dealing with punches and elbows, but like any long guard variation, it works best as an active transitional position rather than something held indefinitely.
Can you use long guard in small-glove Muay Thai?
Yes.
The long guard becomes particularly interesting when Muay Thai is fought in smaller gloves.
Modern promotions such as ONE Championship contest Muay Thai bouts in 4-ounce MMA gloves, creating a very different defensive environment from conventional larger-glove Muay Thai.
Frames, distance, hand control and parries can help interfere with punches before they reach the head.
However, smaller gloves also make lazy or predictable frames easier to manipulate or punch around, which is why the long guard should be combined with movement, positioning and active defence.
Can you use the Muay Thai long guard in MMA?
Yes, many of the principles can transfer to MMA, particularly framing, distance management and hand fighting.
However, MMA fighters must also account for takedowns.
Extending the arms carelessly or adopting an overly upright position can create opportunities for level changes and wrestling entries.
The long guard therefore needs to be adapted to MMA rather than copied directly from a Muay Thai ruleset.
What are the biggest mistakes when using the long guard?
Common mistakes include leaving the arm extended too long, reaching and compromising your balance, forgetting the defensive responsibility of the rear hand, remaining stationary and reacting in exactly the same way every time.
Another major mistake is treating the long guard purely as defence.
Ideally, a successful frame should create movement, a counterattack, a clinch entry or another positional advantage.
Which Muay Thai fighters use the long guard?
Many elite Muay Thai fighters have incorporated long guards, frames and extended hand controls.
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn is an excellent historical example, using frames and hand fighting to connect his striking with a devastating knee and clinch game.
Samart Payakaroon is valuable for studying distance, parries and hand control, while Buakaw Banchamek demonstrates how frames can complement aggressive kicking.
For modern small-glove Muay Thai, Jonathan Haggerty is particularly interesting to study for his long-range hand positioning, teeps, dynamic attacks and transitions between ranges.
How should you practise the Muay Thai long guard?
Start with controlled partner drills.
Develop the position and distance first, then introduce single punches, combinations, kicks and different angles.
Next, connect your defence to counters such as:
Frame → Body kick
Parry → Punch
Long guard → Knee
Frame → Clinch
Finally, allow your partner to deliberately manipulate and counter your long guard before progressing into situational sparring.
Learning both how to use the guard and how to defeat it creates a much deeper understanding of the position.
The Long Guard Is a System, Not a Position
If there's one idea to take away from this guide, it's this:
Don't think of the Muay Thai long guard as somewhere to put your hands.
Think of it as a way of interacting with your opponent.
You can use it to feel distance.
Interrupt punches.
Control hands.
Create kicking range.
Set up knees.
Enter the clinch.
Create angles.
And force reactions.
But your opponent can also manipulate it, attack underneath it, change angles, kick around it and exploit predictable reactions.
That's what makes the position so interesting.
The better you become, the less the question is:
“How do I hold the long guard?”
and the more it becomes:
“What can I make my opponent do because I'm using it?”
That's where a defensive position starts becoming a fighting system.
Continue Your Muay Thai Training
The long guard is only one part of developing a complete Muay Thai game.
Warrior Collective gives fighters and coaches access to full-length instructionals from elite Muay Thai fighters and coaches covering fundamentals, sparring, defence, Fight IQ, clinch, kicking, small-glove Muay Thai and fight strategy.
Christian Knowles – Muay Thai Evolved: Fighting in Small Gloves
Learn Christian's approach to long guard, teeps, small-glove Boxing, defence, kicks and clinch as part of the modern Muay Thai systems developed at The Knowlesy Academy.
Damien Trainor – Muay Thai Sparring: Developing World Class Striking
Learn how Damien approaches different guards, range, taller and shorter opponents, functional kicking and the tactical problems encountered during sparring.
Yoddecha Sityodtong – Muay Thai Drills: Camp Training – Beginner to Fighter
Explore progressive Muay Thai training, long guard, setting up kicks, countering aggressive fighters, changing ranges and fighter-development drills.
Kevin Ross – Muay Thai Fighting: The Art of 8 Limbs
Explore hand control, range, defence, kicking, elbows, clinch and the connections between the different weapons of traditional Muay Thai.
Or explore the complete Warrior Collective Muay Thai instructional library and learn directly from world-class fighters and coaches.