Muay Khao for short fighters

[giri]

I see that Sylvie is a short fighter that prefers Muay Khao style. I want understand her approach to this. 

As a short person, I prefer to low kick or slip to the opponent's either side to close the distance, land a few strong punches and again angle off out of range, preferably with a low kick, and repeat.

But to knee the opponent, I have to approach in a straight line, then sacrifice my mobility by raising one of the knees, and then reach a taller opponent's midsection. Even an opponent that's as short would have plenty of time to land lot of effective punches and step back, out if the knee range. This all sounds risky and uncomfortable to me. But Sylvie makes this knee dominant strategy work.

What is her approach? How does she make it work?

[FuckedElbow-Muay]

I'm not sure about Sylvies approach to this, and can't really relate since i ain't that short, but i might have a small tip on closing the distance relatively safely in order to use knees.. It might be a bit clumsy to explain this in text, but i'll try.

Try to push your opponent away with a teep, then follow up with a jab, you don't have to hit them with the jab, this is mainly to measure distance and maybe make them shell up a bit, then close the distance with a knee feint with your left knee, use the movement as you put your left foot on the ground again, step to the right of your opponent and try to grab them. Left hand upside down behind their neck, right arm on the outside of their bicep, use your strength to push their head downwards as you would in a normal clinch. If you do this fast enough, you will have very good controll of their body and they are in a pretty vulnerable position to take left knees in the stomach. When they try to push you away, you are also in a pretty good position to follow of with a sweep with your right leg as they step back, you will have maybe a second or so to do this as they gain their composure again, and you are still in the dominant position. 

I don't know how much you will understand of this as it is in text, but this has worked pretty good for me against taller opponents. But it is of course not withouts it's risks, every move is possible to counter. 

You might want to try this in a shadowbox routine before you apply it to sparring. 

[giri]

16 minutes ago, FuckedElbow-Muay said:

I'm not sure about Sylvies approach to this, and can't really relate since i ain't that short, but i might have a small tip on closing the distance relatively safely in order to use knees.. It might be a bit clumsy to explain this in text, but i'll try.

Try to push your opponent away with a teep, then follow up with a jab, you don't have to hit them with the jab, this is mainly to measure distance and maybe make them shell up a bit, then close the distance with a knee feint with your left knee, use the movement as you put your left foot on the ground again, step to the right of your opponent and try to grab them. Left hand upside down behind their neck, right arm on the outside of their bicep, use your strength to push their head downwards as you would in a normal clinch. If you do this fast enough, you will have very good controll of their body and they are in a pretty vulnerable position to take left knees in the stomach. When they try to push you away, you are also in a pretty good position to follow of with a sweep with your right leg as they step back, you will have maybe a second or so to do this as they gain their composure again, and you are still in the dominant position. 

I don't know how much you will understand of this as it is in text, but this has worked pretty good for me against taller opponents. But it is of course not withouts it's risks, every move is possible to counter. 

You might want to try this in a shadowbox routine before you apply it to sparring. 

Thank you. Let me study in detail.

[FuckedElbow-Muay]

17 minutes ago, giri said:

Thank you. Let me study in detail.

No worries! If you are unsure of the hand positioning in the clinch with this move, i can try to find some or maybe take a picture of it, it is a bit difficult to explain and understand movement correctly through text.

[giri]

22 minutes ago, FuckedElbow-Muay said:

No worries! If you are unsure of the hand positioning in the clinch with this move, i can try to find some or maybe take a picture of it, it is a bit difficult to explain and understand movement correctly through text.

I watched Sylvie's clinch video. I think I can relate to what you're saying. I'll practice and see if I can figure how to execute it.

[FuckedElbow-Muay]

15 minutes ago, giri said:

I watched Sylvie's clinch video. I think I can relate to what you're saying. I'll practice and see if I can figure how to execute it.

Sylvies clinch work is great. The technique i explained is very similar to a basic clinch, i'm sure you will figure it out

[dtrick924]

9 hours ago, giri said:

I watched Sylvie's clinch video. I think I can relate to what you're saying. I'll practice and see if I can figure how to execute it.

I'm not sure which video you watched but Sylvie has a whole clinch playlist

Hop In Clinch Entry

Getting in & Staying In

Clinch Basics Seminar