THE ESSENTIALS OF PERFECT MUAY THAI FOOTWORK

During my time in Thailand, I quickly learned that fights are often won or lost based on footwork. Facing skilled Thai opponents, I saw firsthand how precise movement can create openings or completely shut down attacks.

The fighters who dominated the ring didn’t always hit the hardest—they moved the smartest. Whether you’re starting out or looking to refine your skills, these drills will help you take your footwork to the next level.

Shadowboxing with Footwork Focus

Shadowboxing isn’t just about throwing strikes; it’s the perfect time to refine your footwork. Move around the imaginary opponent, maintaining a balanced stance and light feet. Focus on lateral movement, pivots, and quick direction changes.

Key: Keep your weight evenly distributed to avoid being off-balance, and practice moving both forward and backward fluidly.

Ladder Drills for Speed and Agility

Using an agility ladder is one of the best ways to...

3 COMMON FAULTS NOVICES SHOW IN PAD WORK

By Daniel Nguyen

Hitting pads and putting in mitt work is one of the foundations of learning Muay Thai.

There is going to be a lot of both, and it won’t always be easy. It’s simple to see red and lose sight of the big picture when it comes to someone holding up a target (that’s literally red oftentimes).

Everyone can learn how to smash pads and finish up a combo sequence, but it’s smart delivery and good striking habits that separate novice from vet.

Here are the three common pitfalls beginners may be developing as they smash pads:

Fault: Poor Footwork & Crossed Feet

Most novices are all too eager to immediately throw a strike at any opening when an opportunity presents themselves.

Pad work drills can be like a quick game of rapid target acquisition for trigger-happy fighters (think pop-up targets at a shooting range). Unfortunately, this concept becomes the main concentration...