[How to close the gap to start inside fighting?]

Hi everyone,

After going to Thailand and learning privately with Yodkhunpon for many sessions, I have really improved a lot in the field of elbow and knee fighting, and have really dominated the close range fighting zone in my gym. (Thanks for Sylvie)

But lately, there came a new fighter who has really good Boxing skills. His punches are so fast, hard and accurate, that even though he has little experience in inside fighting, I had really tough times just getting close enough to make use of my elbows and knees during our sparring. Turns out this guy was a professional Boxer and won WBC fights, no wonder lol.

So I come here to ask, if there is any effective way to close the gap between myself (a Muay Sok/muay Khao) and a heavy puncher (a Muay Mat)?

I'd appreciate it very much

[Best way to train elbow strikes]

10 hours ago, Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu said:

I'll answer through what I've learned from Yodkhunpon, who I think is probably the expert above experts on this. He says you train elbows mostly in shadow, because that way you're wearing grooves in your fluidity and feeling, which is 99% of how elbows become dangerous. It's about finding the full range of motion and feeling the correct timing on them. However, in order to really understand timing you have to be employing them against someone who doesn't want you to hit them with elbows, which isn't a bag or padwork, it's a person. You have to be super mindful when practicing elbows with a person, meaning you either pull them and just feel the timing without throwing them, or you wear lots of padding and protection and still throw pretty light.

Thank you Sylvie! That's super enlightening. I appreciate it very much!

[Best way to train elbow strikes]

Hi guys,

Is the best way to train elbow strikes through shadow boxing, or by hitting the heavybag? Of course sparring and competition are better ways for honing any skills,but I mean by training on ourselves.

I'd appreciate anyone's opinion on that. Thank you very much.

[Could Yodkhunpon's elbow style work with elbow pads?]

I'm just wondering, could Yodkhunpon's elbow style work with elbow pads? I love his elbow style, but right now I'm training and competing in Europe. We're allowed to use elbows in fights, but must wear elbow pads to protect the fighters. I know that Yodkhunpon's known for his cutting elbows, but could his way of throwing elbows also be used to KO opponents, instead of just cutting them open (which is unrealistic with elbow pads)?

If anyone could answer this question, I'd appreciate it very much. :)

[Strength training for improving knee striking power]

Hi,

I wonder if there is any supplemental strength training or conditioning methods that are specific for improving knee striking power, except for the high repetitions on hitting pads and the heavy bag. For example, could kettlebell swings help knee strikes? Since they both involve using hip hinges to throw your hips forward?

[Can Yodkhunpon be catagorized as a clinch fighter?]

18 hours ago, Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu said:

He did clinch, but he didn't lock, which is the Golden Age style of clinching. His latching hand is very sticky. I think if you see the clinch style of Langsuan, who does this to the extreme, you'll see the element of clinch I'm talking about, where you use grabs to redirect and attack, and not to immobilize. But, you are very right, clinch is not the primary part of his game. And you are also right that it is very likely nobody ever fought like him, before or since. He'd be categorized as a Muay Sok fighter (and Elbow Fighter), but know that these categories aren't real. They are just very loose descriptors. He was maybe generally a Muay Khao fighter (knee fighter who derns) who also used elbows to pressure, and open up his knees. Karuhat once told us he wouldn't be worried about Yodkhunpon's elbows, he'd worry about his knees. It should also be said, even though we in the west love him, his style is I think considered a very "low" style in Thailand, denigrated and without a ton of appreciation. Even to this day he is vastly underrated in Thailand. It is full of art and creativity, and really beauty. But many Thais can or could not see it because of biases about kinds of fighting, a style that elbows very heavily, and is relentless. You can hear Yodkhupon talk a little about Samson Isaan, and why he made his Top 5 list. This is somewhat the story of Yodkhupon as well. Samson's Muay was also not appreciated in his day:

 

 

Thanks Kevin, that answers a lot of my questions about Yodkhunpon's unique fighting style. I once saw a video showing Yodkhunpon fight a western kickboxer, and in that fight elbows weren't allowed. He then fought just like Dieselnoi, which is to just double lock the opponent's head and knees, like a classic muay Khao fighter. It's very interesting and rare to see him fight without elbows.

[Can Yodkhunpon be catagorized as a clinch fighter?]

I'm always wondering about Yodkhunpon's unique elbow fighting style. In muay Thai I never seen anyone who fights like him. In some videos he's catagorized as a muay khao or clinch fighter. But to me he doesn't seem to be like the traditional clinch fighters in that he actually didn't clinch too much. So could anyone please help me catagorize Yodkhunpon's style into a type of fight in Thailand?

[Elbow Strike Power]

Hi Sylvie, I've been following your videos and muay thai library for a long time. My favorite fighter of all time is Yodkhunpon Sittrapium. I love his relentless elbow style and have tried to learn his fighting skills. Could you suggest me some strength training methods that are specific to increasing elbow strikes power, and if possible, specific to Yodkhunpon's elbow style? I'd appreciate it very much.