On a whole a MT fighter depends on his kicks and knees a lot but if we were to improve out hand techniques to the level of a good boxer do you think we would be more successful fighters in the ring and on the street?

It definately gives you an edge. At the Thai boxing academy I train at it is a hybrid Muay Thai / Boxing club. we spend half the training session doing western boxing and the other half doing Muay Thai. We use our hands alot as a result. In the ring our guys have often caught their opponents off guard with good hands.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

Originally posted by adrenaline

On a whole a MT fighter depends on his kicks and knees a lot but if we were to improve out hand techniques to the level of a good boxer do you think we would be more successful fighters in the ring and on the street?

mate at our club, we have forsaken the old thai method of holding the hands out front and their punching style, instead arms are held so that elbows are guarding ribs, hands in front of face, and boxing punches taught very technically. Im from a boxing background and it certainly sets other techniques up if you hit your opponent with the boxing first :-), in fact i think its a necessity to know how to box properly first, very important

I agree. Boxing is very essential. Good work with the hands improves your overall range of attack. Also, the combinations that follow as a result can really offset your opponent as Damian already stated.

My personal style, comes from offsetting my opponent with attacks not common to MT. Boxing has been a great help to me in my training, however I do believe there are some boxing techniques and strategies that can't be transferred to MT training.

:asian: ThuNder_FoOt:asian:

Originally posted by ThuNder_FoOt

I agree. Boxing is very essential. Good work with the hands improves your overall range of attack. Also, the combinations that follow as a result can really offset your opponent as Damian already stated.

My personal style, comes from offsetting my opponent with attacks not common to MT. Boxing has been a great help to me in my training, however I do believe there are some boxing techniques and strategies that can't be transferred to MT training.

:asian: ThuNder_FoOt:asian:

very true, we cant duck and weave like a boxer, moving the whole upper torso down, incase the opponent throws a knee, we do however bend at the knees to get under a punch.
MT has to defend against more weapons so it is a totally different defense. your right.