Jack Slack wrote a good article regarding Carlos Condit's use of standing elbow combinations vs Thiago Alves last weekend. Check it out as well as the highlight video below and in particular look for examples of the elbow combinations we worked in class last night.

This week we worked on developing a strong kick.  Check out these highlights from Aldo vs Faber, Aldo's kick is very strong and he employs it frequently.  You can see some of the mechanics that we worked on, with impressive results.

Tonight we worked on sweeps and throws from clinch. Here's a video from Muay Thai Guy demonstrating one of the sweeps we drilled tonight.

Clinch work in class tonight.  Here's a good video from Sinbi Muay Thai in Thailand with Saenchai clinching with Pot, one of their trainers.  Saenchai is P4P one of the best fighters in the world, but Pot is able to control him at close range with excellent clinch technique and flow.

More work tonight on the overhand and combos to set it up.  Today Jack Slack wrote an extensive and detailed article on the overhand with several clips and diagrams.  It's an excellent article and I highly recommend everyone read it.

Check out this clip of Tyrone Spong's boxing debut from last week.  The fight was a mismatch, but the finish is via a nice overhand right.  Watch the slow-mo replays at the end from different angles and look for the mechanics that we worked in class last night.

Tonight we worked mechanics and setup for the overhand.  Check out this video from Jacksons MMA striking coach Mike Winkeljohn and UFC fighter John Dodson on how they teach and apply the overhand.

Great K1 kickboxing fight between Mike Zambidis and Chahid Oulad El Hadj.  All out back and forth action, explosive punching from Zambidis, and both men have to get off the canvas to finish the fight.  We will be looking at some sequences from this fight in class this week.

Tonight we worked more on lead hooks to the body and different ways of setting it up.  Here's the video that we watched in class of boxer Mickey Ward, watch for several examples of one of the combinations that we worked tonight and one of his favorite combination, doubling up with the 3 (high)-3 (low).

As we like to say, "Clinch happens." Here's an interesting perspective from Muay Thai Guy about his evolving outlook on clinch work. In the local Muay Thai smokers and events we see a very high % of fights are in clinch range, which is why we spend a good amount of time on this a couple of times a week.

“Embracing” The Thai Clinch: Embarrassment & Epiphanies Inside the Clinch

Tonight in class we were working on different ways of setting up and applying the lead hook to the body.  Check out former boxing champ and great body puncher Ricky Hatton talk about he throws body shots.

Also check out this other video at 3:21 to see Ricky demonstrate a variation of the slide/pivot body hook setup that we worked at the end of class.

Nice video analysis by Tristar coach Firas Zahabi on how Yodsanklai deals with a larger opponent in the clinch via an underhook + reverse cross face and inside bicep control position.

Two years ago today Muay Thai legend Ramon Dekkers passed away.  In honor of his memory check out this highlight tribute.

Nonito Donaire is another great boxer who is known for having an incredible lead hook.  This video is a good demonstration of it, super slow motion from multiple angles.  Again look for the mechanics that we worked in class this week, including the elbow follow-through, shift in weight, and trajectory.

John Wayne Parr, an Australian Muay Thai fighter who has won multiple world titles, recently appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast.  This was a great discussion of Muay Thai and Thai culture, well worth a listen.

Felix Trinidad was a great boxer who was known for having a monstrous lead hook.  Watch the hooks that he throws in this highlight and keep an eye out for the mechanics we worked in class tonight, including the arc throughout the punch, the elbow follow-through, and the trajectory toward the opposite shoulder.

Tonight in class we were working the mechanics of the lead hook.  Check out Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach give his explanation of the mechanics.

In tonight's Muay Thai class we worked mechanics of the rear leg kick, and setting it up off of a lead hook to the body.  Check out this highlight of Ernesto Hoost for several examples of this in action.

In a couple of recent classes we've worked trapping a hand to setup a power punch or elbow.  Check out this clip of Tyrone Spong setting up a KO straight right hand by first trapping the defending hand.  (Fast-forward to 4:01, or go to this link.)

Gennady Golovkin fights tonight, definitely a good boxer and fight to watch. He's one of the best middleweights in the world at 31-0 (28KO). He's an aggressive stalking fighter with a great jab, vicious body attack, and power in both hands. Check out this highlight.