Muay Thai Evolved - Fighting in Small Gloves with Christian Knowles

Small Glove Muay Thai Training for the Modern Fight Game

Small glove Muay Thai changes the way a fighter needs to think about distance, defence and attacking.

The techniques may look familiar, but distance, guard position, boxing exchanges, clinch entries and the risks associated with every decision can change significantly when competing in 4oz gloves.

In Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves, world-class striking coach and Knowlesy Academy founder Christian Knowles presents his complete framework for adapting traditional Muay Thai to the demands of modern small-glove competition.

These aren't theoretical concepts.

They are systems, drills and coaching methods developed through years of working with elite fighters at The Knowlesy Academy, including ONE Championship World Champion Jonathan Haggerty and other internationally successful athletes.

Across this full-length instructional, Christian breaks down aggressive and defensive teeps, dynamic kicking, kick catches and counters, small-glove Boxing, punch defence, long guard, clinch fighting, layered fighter drills and the tactical adjustments required when traditional Muay Thai moves into smaller gloves.

The objective is simple:

Keep what makes Muay Thai effective — but understand what needs to change when the fighting environment changes.

 

 

Learn from Christian Knowles and The Knowlesy Academy

Christian Knowles is the founder and head coach of The Knowlesy Academy, one of the UK's leading Muay Thai and K-1 gyms.

A highly accomplished former Super Heavyweight competitor himself, Christian accumulated more than 50 fights and won titles across British and international competition before establishing himself as one of Britain's most respected striking coaches.

His real legacy, however, is increasingly being built through the fighters he develops.

Alongside his brother and fellow Knowlesy Academy coach Lyndon Knowles, Christian has created a training environment responsible for developing champions from domestic level through to the highest levels of international Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

The academy's fighters include Jonathan Haggerty, who has captured ONE World Championships across multiple weight divisions and rulesets; rising ONE Championship fighter Freddie Haggerty; and established ONE Championship Muay Thai contender Liam Nolan.

Different fighters. Different attributes. Different styles.

But behind them sits a coaching methodology designed around technical precision, intelligent drilling, adaptability and developing skills that continue to work under genuine fighting pressure.

 

 

The Coaching Behind Jonathan Haggerty

Jonathan Haggerty provides perhaps the clearest example of Christian's approach to modern Muay Thai.

Known for his movement, distance management, teeps, dynamic kicking, long guard, aggressive Boxing and ability to transition between ranges, Haggerty has successfully adapted his striking to both Muay Thai and Kickboxing at the highest level of ONE Championship.

That adaptability is central to Muay Thai Evolved.

Christian isn't trying to replace traditional Muay Thai.

He's showing you how to take its fundamental weapons and adapt the way they are trained and applied to meet the changing demands of modern competition.

 

Why Small Glove Muay Thai Changes the Fight

Small gloves don't simply make punches more dangerous.

They change the defensive landscape of the fight.

A traditional high guard provides less coverage. Punches can penetrate through gaps more easily. Hand fighting and frames become increasingly important. Long guard positions need to be understood properly. Boxing exchanges carry different risks, while controlling distance before an opponent establishes punching range becomes even more valuable.

That means fighters and coaches need to reconsider questions such as:

How should I defend punches when my gloves provide less protection?

How can I control an opponent before they enter Boxing range?

How should I use the long guard?

How does my teep game change?

How can I enter the clinch safely?

How do I transition between kicking, Boxing and clinching without leaving unnecessary openings?

Muay Thai Evolved gives you Christian's framework for answering those questions.

 

 

 

What You'll Learn

Aggressive Teeps – Take Control of the Range

Learn how Christian develops the teep as an offensive weapon rather than simply using it to keep an opponent away.

You'll explore different ways to attack with the teep, control distance and use it to impose your game on an opponent.

Defensive Teeps – Stop Pressure Before It Develops

Understand the difference between attacking with the teep and using it defensively.

Christian demonstrates how fighters can use the teep to interrupt forward movement, prevent opponents establishing their preferred range and create space for their own attacks.

Dynamic & Advanced Teeps – Become Less Predictable

Move beyond the basic front teep.

Learn how to disguise your intentions and attack different targets using both the lead and rear leg, making it considerably harder for opponents to anticipate when and where the teep is coming.

Countering the Teep

The teep is one of Muay Thai's most important range-control weapons — which means serious fighters also need answers when an opponent uses it against them.

Christian breaks down his preferred methods for defending, controlling and countering the teep during sparring and competition.

Aggressive Kicking – Attack Across Different Ranges

Develop a more assertive kicking game through drills designed to help fighters attack effectively with both legs.

Rather than practising individual kicks in isolation, Christian shows how they can be incorporated into a wider attacking system.

Catching Kicks – Control, Counter & Sweep

Learn the Knowlesy Academy approach to dealing with incoming kicks.

Christian breaks down the details needed to catch effectively before progressing into counters, sweeps and positional opportunities.

The objective isn't simply to catch the kick.

It's to understand what you do with the position once you've created it.

Boxing in Small Gloves

One of the biggest tactical changes created by small gloves is the increased threat presented by Boxing.

Christian explains how punching exchanges change when fighters can no longer rely on the coverage provided by traditional Muay Thai gloves.

Learn how to adapt your positioning, guard and defensive responsibility while still remaining capable of attacking effectively with your hands.

Punch Defence for Small-Glove Muay Thai

Traditional defensive habits don't always translate perfectly into smaller gloves.

Christian explores the defensive adjustments fighters need to make when punches can find gaps that larger gloves might otherwise cover.

Develop a defensive system built around positioning, awareness, frames, movement and intelligent guard selectionrather than simply absorbing attacks on the gloves.

Muay Thai in Small Gloves – Adapt the Complete Game

Small-glove Muay Thai isn't simply traditional Muay Thai with different equipment.

Christian demonstrates how the different elements of the sport need to work together when the defensive margin for error becomes smaller.

Understand how to connect teep, kicks, Boxing, defence, long guard and clinch into a more complete modern striking system.

Fighter Development Drills

Technique alone isn't enough.

Fighters need training methods that help them recognise situations, make decisions and apply their skills against increasingly unpredictable resistance.

Christian shares the layered drills he uses to develop these abilities within The Knowlesy Academy.

Rather than simply feeding predetermined combinations, the objective is to progressively create fighters who can see, react and make intelligent decisions for themselves.

Clinch Fighting

The clinch remains one of Muay Thai's defining ranges.

Christian demonstrates drills for entering, controlling and working from the clinch using different ties, locks and positions.

Learn how to establish control while remaining capable of transitioning between striking and clinching as the fight develops.

Long Guard Masterclass

The long guard has become an increasingly important tool within modern Muay Thai.

Christian provides a detailed framework for using it across different ranges and against different styles of opponent.

Rather than treating the long guard as a static defensive position, you'll learn how it can help manage distance, disrupt attacks, frame against opponents, create entries and connect different phases of the fight.

 

 

 

More Than Small-Glove Techniques

The real value of Muay Thai Evolved isn't simply learning another collection of techniques.

It's understanding why your Muay Thai may need to change according to the environment you're fighting in.

Christian's system connects:

Range determines the threat.

The threat determines your defensive position.

Your defensive position affects your attacking options.

Your opponent's reaction creates the next opportunity.

That is why the volume moves between teeps, kicks, Boxing, defence, long guard, clinch and fighter-development drills.

They're not separate subjects.

They're different parts of the same fight.

  

 

 

Traditional Muay Thai Fundamentals. Modern Fighting Application.

The rise of small-glove Muay Thai has created a different challenge for modern fighters.

The fundamentals of Muay Thai remain incredibly effective, but fighters need to understand how to apply them when punches become more difficult to block, exchanges become increasingly dangerous and the distance between kicking, Boxing and clinching can change almost instantly.

Christian Knowles has spent years solving these problems inside The Knowlesy Academy.

The results can be seen in fighters competing successfully at the highest levels of international Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

Muay Thai Evolved gives you access to that coaching methodology.

 

 

Who Is This Instructional For?

Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves is ideal for:

• Muay Thai fighters preparing for small-glove competition
• ONE Championship-style Muay Thai practitioners
• Fighters wanting to improve their transition between kicking and Boxing ranges
• Coaches developing athletes for modern Muay Thai competition
• Kickboxers looking to incorporate more effective Muay Thai weapons
• MMA fighters interested in adapting Muay Thai to smaller gloves
• Experienced practitioners wanting to understand modern striking tactics
• Students looking to develop better teeps, kick defence, long guard and clinch skills

You don't need to be an elite fighter to benefit from the material.

The same principles that Christian applies with world-class competitors can be progressively introduced into your own training, sparring or coaching.

 

Exclusive Christian Knowles Instructional Content

Christian Knowles has become one of the most popular coaches featured on the Warrior Collective YouTube channel, with his free coaching content accumulating more than one million views.

But free clips can only show individual pieces of a much larger coaching system.

Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves is Christian Knowles' exclusive full-length Warrior Collective instructional and the only opportunity to study his complete coaching methodology in this format outside of training directly with him and his team.

For fighters and coaches unable to regularly train at The Knowlesy Academy in London, it provides rare access to the systems behind one of Britain's most successful modern Muay Thai teams.

 

 

Learn the System Behind Elite-Level Fighters

There is a major difference between knowing techniques and knowing how to develop fighters.

Christian Knowles has spent decades doing both.

From his own competitive career to developing British, European and World Champions, his coaching has continually evolved alongside the sport itself.

Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves brings that experience together into one structured training resource.

Learn how to:

Control range with the teep.

Attack dynamically with both legs.

Catch and counter kicks.

Adapt your Boxing and defence for smaller gloves.

Use the long guard intelligently.

Enter and control the clinch.

Layer your training to develop genuine fighting ability.

Most importantly, learn how those individual skills connect when the fight becomes unpredictable.

Don't simply train Muay Thai techniques.

Learn how to adapt them to the modern fight game.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Glove Muay Thai

What is small glove Muay Thai?

Small glove Muay Thai is Muay Thai fought using smaller gloves, commonly 4oz gloves, rather than the larger Boxing-style gloves traditionally associated with the sport.

The core weapons of Muay Thai remain — punches, kicks, knees, elbows and clinch — but smaller gloves can significantly change distance, defence, hand fighting and the way striking exchanges develop.

In Muay Thai Evolved, Christian Knowles explains how fighters can adapt their traditional Muay Thai skills to these different demands.

How is small glove Muay Thai different from traditional Muay Thai?

The fundamental techniques remain similar, but smaller gloves change how effectively fighters can cover and block incoming punches.

This can make distance management, head movement, frames, long guard, teeps and intelligent positioningincreasingly important.

Small gloves can also make transitions between Boxing, kicking and clinching feel very different because fighters have less protection when exchanges become close and aggressive.

Christian's system focuses on understanding these differences rather than simply taking traditional Muay Thai and putting smaller gloves on.

What size gloves are used in small glove Muay Thai?

Small-glove Muay Thai promotions commonly use 4oz-style MMA gloves, although exact glove specifications can vary according to the promotion, weight category and ruleset.

ONE Championship has helped popularise this format internationally through its Muay Thai competition.

Whatever ruleset you compete under, fighters should always train specifically for the equipment and regulations they will encounter in competition.

How does Boxing defence change when fighting in small gloves?

Small gloves provide considerably less surface area for covering punches than traditional Boxing or Muay Thai gloves.

This means fighters cannot rely as heavily on simply placing both gloves around the head and absorbing punches onto the guard.

Instead, effective small-glove defence can require a greater emphasis on distance, positioning, parries, frames, long guard, head movement and controlling the opponent before their punches arrive.

Christian dedicates specific sections of Muay Thai Evolved to Boxing, punch defence and the adjustments needed when fighting in smaller gloves.

Does the Muay Thai long guard work with small gloves?

Yes. The Muay Thai long guard can be particularly useful in small-glove fighting when used correctly.

Rather than treating it as a static defensive position, Christian teaches the long guard as a tool for managing distance, disrupting attacks, framing against opponents and helping connect striking and clinching ranges.

The instructional includes a detailed long guard section showing how Christian applies the position against different attacks and styles of opponent.

How should you train for small glove Muay Thai?

Training should go beyond simply wearing smaller gloves during normal Muay Thai sessions.

Fighters need to understand how the equipment changes range, defence, Boxing exchanges, hand fighting, entries and transitions between different phases of the fight.

Christian uses progressive and layered drills to develop these skills, allowing fighters to first understand the technique before gradually introducing movement, reactions, decision-making and greater resistance.

The objective is to develop skills that remain effective when sparring or fighting becomes unpredictable.

Can traditional Muay Thai techniques be used in 4oz gloves?

Absolutely. The foundations of traditional Muay Thai remain extremely effective in 4oz gloves.

The important difference is understanding how those techniques may need to be adapted to the new environment.

Teeps, kicks, knees, elbows and clinch remain fundamental weapons, but the way a fighter controls distance, defends punches, uses their guard and transitions between ranges may need to change.

That relationship between traditional Muay Thai fundamentals and modern small-glove application is one of the central themes of Muay Thai Evolved.

Is this instructional suitable for MMA fighters?

Yes. Although Muay Thai Evolved is primarily focused on Muay Thai, many of the concepts are highly relevant to MMA fighters because MMA is also contested in small gloves.

The sections covering distance management, teeps, long guard, punch defence, kick catches, clinch control and fighting effectively in smaller gloves can all provide useful ideas for MMA striking.

MMA fighters will naturally need to adapt individual concepts to account for takedowns and the wider MMA ruleset.

Who is Christian Knowles?

Christian Knowles is a former high-level Super Heavyweight Muay Thai fighter and the founder and head coach of The Knowlesy Academy in London.

After accumulating more than 50 fights during his own competitive career, Christian became increasingly recognised for his work as a coach, developing fighters from domestic level through to World Championship competition.

His coaching combines strong traditional Muay Thai fundamentals with progressive training methods designed to prepare fighters for the changing demands of modern Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

Is Christian Knowles Jonathan Haggerty's coach?

Yes. Christian Knowles is the long-time head coach of Jonathan Haggerty, one of the most successful British Muay Thai fighters of the modern era.

Haggerty has won ONE World Championships across multiple divisions and rulesets, including Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

Many of the principles explored throughout Muay Thai Evolved, including distance management, teeps, long guard, dynamic kicking and adapting Muay Thai for smaller gloves, reflect the wider coaching methodology developed by Christian and his team at The Knowlesy Academy.

What is The Knowlesy Academy?

The Knowlesy Academy is a highly successful Muay Thai and Kickboxing gym based in London and founded by Christian Knowles.

Christian works alongside his brother Lyndon Knowles and the wider coaching team to develop everyone from recreational students through to professional fighters competing internationally.

The academy has produced numerous British, European and World Champions and has become particularly recognised for developing fighters capable of succeeding within modern Muay Thai and Kickboxing rulesets.

Which fighters train at The Knowlesy Academy?

The Knowlesy Academy has developed and worked with numerous successful fighters.

Its best-known athlete is Jonathan Haggerty, a multiple-time ONE World Champion who has competed at the highest level of both Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

The team also includes Jonathan's younger brother Freddie Haggerty, who has progressed from British and European Muay Thai success into ONE Championship, and Liam Nolan, another established ONE Championship Muay Thai competitor.

The success of fighters with different physical attributes and fighting styles demonstrates the adaptability of the coaching methodology Christian has developed at The Knowlesy Academy.

Is this instructional suitable for Muay Thai coaches?

Yes. Muay Thai Evolved has been created for coaches as much as individual fighters.

Christian doesn't simply demonstrate techniques. He explains the concepts behind them and provides structured drills and progressions that coaches can incorporate into pad work, partner training and fighter-development sessions.

This makes the instructional particularly useful for coaches looking to develop training around small-glove competition, modern Muay Thai, long guard, defensive systems, teeps, kicking and clinch fighting.

Is Muay Thai Evolved Christian Knowles' only instructional?

Muay Thai Evolved – Fighting in Small Gloves is Christian Knowles' exclusive full-length instructional available through Warrior Collective.

Christian has appeared extensively in free Warrior Collective coaching content, where his videos have accumulated more than one million views, but this volume provides the opportunity to study his methodology in a much more detailed and structured format.

For fighters and coaches who cannot regularly train with Christian and his team at The Knowlesy Academy in London, the instructional provides unique access to the systems and training methods used within one of the UK's leading Muay Thai teams.

        

 

Below is an extract from the volume.  This clip is from Video 8 - Muay Thai in Small Gloves