Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System with Bryan Popejoy

Great counter fighters don't simply wait for their opponent to attack.

They create the attack they want to counter.

In Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System, world-renowned Muay Thai coach and Boxing Works owner Bryan Popejoy presents his complete Muay Thai counter fighting framework for developing intelligent, proactive counter strikers.

Rather than teaching counter techniques in isolation, Bryan explores the decisions and movements that happen before the counter — footwork, positioning, stalking, baiting, tempo, distance and angles — before showing how these concepts can be used to counter punches and kicks with greater consistency.

This is Volume 2 of Bryan's three-part Warrior Collective instructional series and takes the Fight IQ concepts introduced in Elite Level Striking Drills – Raising Fight IQ into a dedicated system for controlling opponents, creating predictable reactions and turning their offence into your own attacking opportunities.

 

 

Muay Thai Counter Fighting – Don't Wait for Counters, Create Them

Counter fighting is often misunderstood as being purely reactive.

Wait for the opponent to attack.

Defend.

Then counter.

Bryan Popejoy takes a much more sophisticated approach.

What if you could influence when your opponent attacks?

What if your footwork could encourage them to throw a particular technique?

What if changing your rhythm could disrupt theirs?

What if your positioning could deliberately create the opening you want them to attack?

And what if you already knew how you were going to respond?

Throughout this instructional, Bryan demonstrates how fighters can use movement, pressure, positioning, baiting and changes of tempo to make counter fighting increasingly proactive.

The result is a system designed to help fighters stop simply reacting to exchanges and start controlling how those exchanges develop.

 

Learn from Bryan Popejoy

Bryan Popejoy is the owner and head coach of Boxing Works in Los Angeles, California, and one of the most respected Muay Thai coaches in the United States.

After his own competitive career, Bryan dedicated himself to coaching and has spent decades developing fighters at Boxing Works.

His reputation has been built far more through the fighters he develops than through self-promotion.

Among his most recognised students are Janet Todd and Jackie Buntan, two of the most successful American strikers to compete on the international stage.

Todd became a ONE World Champion across Kickboxing and Muay Thai, while Buntan progressed from beginning her Muay Thai journey at Boxing Works as a child to becoming a ONE World Champion herself.

Bryan's ability to analyse fighting, continually develop his coaching methods and build systems around the individual qualities of his athletes has made his work particularly respected amongst fighters and coaches.

His Warrior Collective series provides a rare opportunity to study that methodology in detail.

 

 

   

Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System

This second volume focuses specifically on one of the most important aspects of high-level striking:

Understanding how to make your opponent give you the attack you want.

Across an extensive series of progressive drills and concepts, Bryan demonstrates how fighters can improve their movement, manipulate distance, draw attacks and recognise the moments when counter-striking opportunities appear.

From dealing with aggressive boxers to shutting down powerful kickers, the emphasis remains consistent throughout:

Don't just learn the counter. Understand how to create the situation that makes the counter possible.

 

 

 

What You'll Learn

Muay Thai Footwork & Agility

Counter fighting starts before a strike is thrown.

Bryan establishes the movement foundations required to control distance, reposition effectively and remain capable of attacking while moving.

Progress from fundamental footwork into increasingly advanced agility frameworks designed specifically for striking.

Stalking Opponents

Pressure doesn't always mean attacking.

Learn how to intelligently stalk an opponent, restrict their movement and apply enough pressure to encourage predictable reactions.

Bryan demonstrates how positioning can begin creating counter opportunities before the opponent even realises they're being manipulated.

Drawing the Attack

If you know what your opponent is going to throw, countering becomes considerably easier.

Learn how to probe, bait and present opportunities that encourage opponents to attack in predictable ways.

Instead of hoping for a counter opportunity, begin creating one.

Controlling Tempo & Rhythm

Fighting at one speed and rhythm makes you easier to read.

Bryan introduces drills designed to help fighters understand how changes in tempo can disrupt an opponent's timing, disguise intentions and create openings for counters.

Learn when to slow an exchange down — and when to suddenly accelerate through it.

Countering the Rear Hand

The rear straight is one of the most powerful and commonly used weapons in striking.

Bryan breaks down different defensive movements and positional responses that allow fighters to neutralise the rear hand before immediately creating their own offence.

Countering Kicks

Long-range kickers can make it extremely difficult to establish your own attacks.

Learn how to deal with opponents who use kicks to control distance and prevent you from establishing your preferred range.

Rather than continually resetting after defending, Bryan shows how defensive reactions can become opportunities to take control.

Countering Aggressive Boxing

Aggressive boxing has become increasingly important within modern Muay Thai and Kickboxing, particularly when competing in smaller gloves.

Bryan demonstrates how movement, positioning and intelligent defensive reactions can be used against opponents who aggressively close distance behind their hands.

The objective isn't simply to survive their pressure.

It's to make their aggression work against them.

Quick Counter Systems

Not every counter needs to be built around maximum power.

Speed and timing can allow you to intercept an opponent before their attack fully develops.

Bryan introduces a series of fast countering drills designed to improve reactions and help fighters consistently beat opponents to the next strike.

Positioning to Attack

Technique means little if you're standing in the wrong place to use it.

Bryan demonstrates how positioning can be used to create simple, high-percentage two-strike attacks from a variety of situations.

Learn to recognise where you need to be before worrying about what you want to throw.

Countering with the 3–2

Develop Bryan's framework for using the lead hook into rear straight as a powerful counter-punching combination.

Learn how an opponent's initial attack can create the opening for the 3–2 and how positioning and timing dramatically increase its effectiveness.

Counter the Counter

What happens when your opponent is also an experienced counter fighter?

Bryan reverse-engineers the counter-fighting process to explore how intelligent fighters can anticipate and neutralise an opponent's attempts to counter them.

Instead of thinking only one move ahead, begin understanding the exchanges that can develop after your initial response.

Angles to Counter Kicks

Defending a kick doesn't have to end the exchange.

Bryan demonstrates how angling after defending can move you away from your opponent's strongest weapons while simultaneously creating opportunities for powerful counters.

Learn to combine defence, movement and offence into one continuous action.

 

 

 

Counter Fighting Is About More Than Counters

The real value of this instructional isn't simply learning another collection of counters.

It's learning how to engineer counter-fighting opportunities.

Footwork changes the distance.

Pressure influences movement.

Baits encourage attacks.

Tempo disrupts timing.

Positioning creates openings.

Angles change the line of attack.

And once these concepts begin working together, counter fighting becomes considerably less dependent on reaction alone.

This is the Fight IQ behind Bryan Popejoy's system.

 

Who Is This Instructional For?

Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System is ideal for intermediate and advanced:

Muay Thai fighters wanting to become more intelligent and effective counter strikers.

Kickboxers and K-1 fighters looking to improve movement, positioning, timing and their ability to counter punches and kicks.

MMA athletes wanting to develop proactive counter-striking skills that can be adapted to smaller gloves and different fighting ranges.

Competitive fighters looking to understand how to manipulate opponents rather than simply exchange techniques with them.

And particularly coaches looking for structured counter-fighting drills and concepts they can progressively introduce into classes and fighter-development programmes.

 

Volume 2 of the Bryan Popejoy Coaching Series

Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System is the second instalment in Bryan Popejoy's three-part Warrior Collective instructional series.

Each volume explores a different aspect of the fighter-development methodology Bryan has built through decades of coaching at Boxing Works.

Volume 1 – Elite Level Striking Drills: Raising Fight IQ

Start with Bryan's broader approach to intelligent fighter development.

Develop lead and rear kicking systems, defence-to-offence, parrying, blocking, dynamic striking, kick exchanges, angles, feints and purposeful training drills designed to improve Fight IQ.

Volume 2 – Muay Thai Fight IQ: The Counter Fighting System

Take those principles into a complete counter-fighting framework.

Learn how to use footwork, stalking, baiting, tempo, positioning and angles to create predictable attacks before developing systems for countering punches, kicks and aggressive opponents.

Volume 3 – Muay Thai Training: Building Elite Muay Khao Fighters

Continue into Bryan's system for developing effective pressure and Muay Khao fighters.

Explore athlete-led pad work, clinch dominance, hand fighting, knees, elbows, positional control, sweeps, reversals and controlling exchanges at close range.

Each volume can be studied independently, but together they provide a much deeper insight into Bryan's complete approach to developing intelligent and adaptable fighters.

 

 

Looking for Bryan Popejoy's Complete Coaching System?

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page to discover the Bryan Popejoy Complete Bundle.

You'll receive every Warrior Collective instructional in Bryan's acclaimed series while saving substantially compared to purchasing each volume individually.

From elite striking drills and Fight IQ development through to advanced counter fighting, pressure, clinch control and Muay Khao training, the Complete Bundle provides an in-depth insight into the coaching systems Bryan uses to develop world-class fighters at Boxing Works.

Ideal for fighters looking to become more intelligent and adaptable strikers, and coaches wanting proven training methods, drills and frameworks they can introduce directly into their own sessions.

  

Stop Waiting for Counter Opportunities

The best counter fighters don't simply have fast reactions.

They understand how to influence what happens next.

They recognise patterns.

They manipulate distance.

They change tempo.

They create reactions.

And increasingly, they make opponents attack on their terms.

Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System provides a progressive framework for developing exactly that ability.

Don't just learn how to counter.

Learn how to create the counter.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is counter fighting in Muay Thai?

Counter fighting in Muay Thai is the ability to use an opponent's attack to create an opportunity for your own offence.

Rather than simply attacking first, a counter fighter uses timing, distance, positioning, defence and movement to make an opponent commit before responding with an effective strike.

Advanced counter fighting goes even further. Instead of waiting for an opportunity to appear, fighters can use pressure, feints, positioning and baiting to encourage predictable attacks and deliberately create opportunities to counter.

How do you improve counter fighting in Muay Thai?

Counter fighting improves through structured drills that develop timing, reactions, positioning and the ability to recognise common attacking patterns.

Rather than learning isolated counters, fighters should progressively practise identifying attacks, defending correctly and immediately responding from an advantageous position.

Bryan Popejoy's system also focuses heavily on what happens before the counter, using footwork, stalking, tempo changes and baiting to influence an opponent's behaviour.

How do you draw an opponent into a counter?

Drawing an opponent into a counter means deliberately creating a situation that encourages them to attack in a predictable way.

This can be achieved through distance, positioning, pressure, movement, rhythm changes and deliberately presenting an apparent opening.

If the fighter understands the likely response, they can already be prepared to defend or evade before immediately countering.

This is one of the central concepts in Bryan Popejoy's counter-fighting system: don't simply wait for the counter opportunity – learn how to create it.

What is Fight IQ in Muay Thai?

Muay Thai Fight IQ is a fighter's ability to understand what is happening during a fight and make effective tactical decisions accordingly.

It includes recognising patterns, controlling distance, understanding an opponent's reactions, changing strategy, managing tempo and knowing when to attack, defend, counter or reposition.

Technical ability gives fighters the tools to fight. Fight IQ helps them understand when and why to use those tools.

How can I improve my Fight IQ in Muay Thai?

Fight IQ develops through purposeful training that forces fighters to recognise situations and make decisions, rather than simply memorising combinations.

This can include situational sparring, counter-fighting drills, constrained partner work, tactical pad work and exercises built around specific reactions.

Studying experienced fighters and understanding why particular tactics work can also help.

Bryan's approach progressively connects technique with decision-making so fighters learn not only how to execute a counter, but how to recognise and create the circumstances in which it becomes effective.

How important is footwork for counter fighting?

Footwork is fundamental to effective counter fighting because your position determines which defensive and offensive options are available.

Good footwork allows fighters to control range, draw attacks, evade strikes and reposition at angles from which they can counter effectively.

Bryan begins his counter-fighting system with movement and agility for this reason. Before developing increasingly sophisticated counters, fighters need to be capable of consistently putting themselves in the right position to use them.

How do you counter aggressive boxers in Muay Thai?

Aggressive boxers can be countered by combining distance management, positioning, defensive movement, timing and appropriate counter strikes.

Rather than continually retreating from pressure, fighters can learn to recognise common punching entries and use those attacks to create their own opportunities.

Angles can also be particularly important. Moving away from the direct line of attack can reduce the effectiveness of continued punching while creating opportunities to counter from a new position.

How do you counter kicks in Muay Thai?

There are numerous ways to counter kicks depending on the type of kick, distance and position of both fighters.

Common responses include checking, blocking, catching, evading or moving away from the line of attack before immediately responding.

Bryan's system places particular emphasis on what happens after the initial defence. Instead of simply defending the kick and resetting, fighters learn how movement and angles can create opportunities to immediately take control of the exchange.

Why is timing important for counter striking?

A successful counter relies on exploiting a moment when the opponent is committed to their attack and may be temporarily vulnerable.

This makes timing just as important as speed or power.

Learning to recognise an opponent's rhythm — and deliberately changing your own — can make those moments easier to identify.

Bryan therefore incorporates tempo and rhythm changes into his counter-fighting drills, helping fighters become less predictable while disrupting their opponent's timing.

What is the difference between reactive and proactive counter fighting?

Reactive counter fighting means recognising an attack and responding to it effectively.

Proactive counter fighting goes a step further by deliberately influencing the opponent into producing the attack you want.

A proactive counter fighter might manipulate distance, apply pressure, change rhythm or present an opening specifically to encourage a predictable response.

Bryan Popejoy's system develops both abilities, but places particular emphasis on turning counter fighting from something that simply happens into something the fighter can deliberately create.

Is this Muay Thai counter-fighting instructional suitable for coaches?

Yes. Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System is particularly valuable for coaches because Bryan Popejoy teaches counter fighting as a progressive training methodology rather than simply demonstrating individual techniques.

The volume provides drills and frameworks covering footwork, stalking, baiting, tempo, positioning, countering punches, countering kicks and creating angles.

These concepts can be adapted into partner drills, pad work, technical classes, situational sparring and individual fighter-development sessions.

Can Kickboxers and MMA fighters use these counter-fighting systems?

Yes. Although the instructional is taught through Muay Thai, many of the underlying concepts transfer directly into Kickboxing, K-1 and MMA striking.

Footwork, timing, drawing attacks, changing tempo, positioning and creating angles are fundamental striking concepts across combat sports.

Individual techniques and defensive reactions may need to be adapted according to the ruleset, glove size and additional threats present in each sport.

Who is Bryan Popejoy?

Bryan Popejoy is the owner and head coach of Boxing Works in California and one of the most respected American Muay Thai coaches.

He has spent decades developing fighters and is particularly well known for his work with elite athletes including Janet Todd and Jackie Buntan, who have competed at the highest levels of ONE Championship.

Bryan's coaching is characterised by a highly analytical approach to striking, with particular emphasis on Fight IQ, adaptability, positioning and developing systems around the individual fighter.

Do I need Volume 1 before studying the Counter Fighting System?

No. Muay Thai Fight IQ – The Counter Fighting System is a complete standalone instructional and can be studied without owning Volume 1.

However, Volume 1 provides a useful foundation for understanding Bryan's wider approach to intelligent drilling, defensive responsibility, movement and Fight IQ.

Fighters and coaches wanting to study Bryan's methodology in progression can therefore begin with Volume 1 before moving into the specialised counter-fighting concepts of Volume 2 and the Muay Khao systems covered in Volume 3.

 

Below is an extract from the volume.  This clip is from Video 8 - Quick Counters

 

 

Bryan Popejoy Series

Volume 1 - Elite Level Striking Drills - Raising Fight IQ

Volume 2 - Muay Thai Fight IQ - The Counter Fighting System

Volume 3 - Muay Thai Training - Building Muay Khao Fighters