Vicious Details

On the Gaussian distribution of vicious, I’m at least in the 90th percentile of humanity. I cultivate methods of hurting other human beings. But I’m an amateur compared to the likes of muay thai former world champion, Matee “Dragonleg” Jedeedpitak, as demonstrated by his seminar at Top Level Gym. Matee has an apparently inexhaustible set of ways to control and inflict damage in the ring.

We started with a light warm-up of bouncing on the balls of our feet, then translating this into stepping out on alternating sides throwing a jab-cross. We then did one sided kicks and knees.

When you slip it is a more lateral motion and slouch than boxing to avoid getting kicked or kneed. It is important to keep looking at your opponent. Recover to your original posture, slipping back and then to the angle off the cross. To warm this up we slipped our partner’s jab, then cross, then the combo jab cross.

The jab slip counters:

• Elbow: As you slip, step deeper bringing your inside elbow up, fist pointed at the floor, and rotate the shoulder to provide power. In practice, target the flat part of your proximal forearm to their chest. In a fight, consider the axilla or chin (depending on your rules).
• Hook: Whip a hook to the chin, using the second knuckle (index finger) thumb down as of you were stabbing at a 45° degree angle into their neck. It is like throwing an inverted back hand but hit with your knuckle. We subsequently drilled this with the pads, but threw it to the belly pad for safety, followed by cross-hook-cross.
• Lead Kick: As you slip, slap/check their jabbing arm at the elbow, spinning them away from you. Now from there deliver the lead kick to the ribs, no step, simply use the spring rotation of the check. It is even more important to keep your rear heel elevated to allow the pivot.
• Hop Rear Kick: Again use the slap/check, if they step away use a small hop to deliver the kick to the leg with your rear leg. It is important to note that if they are in motion Matee recommends delivering the kick to just above the knee while if they are stationary to hit the mid-thigh.
• Side clinch: Enter as if throwing the elbow, but roll the hand up to (a) either grab the neck and push on the trapped arm or (b) clinch the hands together. Step back and knee, then pivot out to knee again.
• Body clinch: Lower your level and clinch at the waist, place your leg behind their near leg, bump it and throw them over this leg.

In order to apply this concept we drilled:

• Jab slip practice: Slip the jab laterally, straight back and medially but pretend you are sparring so that the jabs come in a broken rhythm.
• Jab-cross slip practice: As above but now slipping the jab and cross.
• Jab slip counter practice: As the first drill, but now try to apply the slip counters.
• 4-strike clinching: They throw any four alternating punches and you slip them all, return two strikes to their gloves.

Lastly we worked on some clinch counters:

• Side clinch escape: Your opponent has you side clinched. Drop your weight by bending your knees and post on their hip with your lateral hand. Lean laterally and lift your medial (formerly trapped) arm up and back (think backstroke) to escape.
• Face push clinch defense counter: You have the plum position and your opponent is pushing on your face. Look to your strong side and snap your opponent toward you (down if they are taller) as you lift the elbow on this side. Pummel your head to their triceps.
• Side clinch forearm insertion counter: Your opponent defends the slide clinch by placing a forearm in your neck, rotate your shoulder (catch their elbow between your pectorals and deltoid) and pass their frame, step behind them.

Of course Matee stressed relaxing, but also pointed out that anticipation and nervousness did not make things better. He points out not forcing your counters but having them as options depending on the rhythm of the fight.

Matee "Dragon Leg" Jedeepitak Muay Thai Seminar

Today I had the opportunity to attend a seminar by Matee Jedeepitak, a Lumpinee Champion for 6 years (something like 14 years longer than me j/k).  He is humble and humorous, apologizing when in his excitement to teach he slips into Thai.  His legs are massive, his calves are nearly spheroid from bouncing on the balls of his feet for decades.  His grace as he demonstrates footwork and technique is like watching fine art but I have the distinct impression that getting within range of his eight limbs would be akin to stepping into a man-sized blender.  Thanks to Ian Ransburg and Top Level Gym for hosting the seminar.

Warm-Up

“Footwork” consisted of being high on the balls of the feet and gently bouncing from foot to foot while keeping your hips over the feet.  We then did alternating lead jab cross, by shifting the weight forward with the new lead, going through the “footwork” steps for two beats.  Next was kicking, one side repeatedly bringing the knee and leg straight up to throw rapid kicks.  No hip rotation for this warm-up.  We then did same side knee kick then transitioning to the opposite side.

Catch Lead Elbow

Use your rear hand to catch and hook their jab, curling the wrist to grip their glove at their wrist.  Rotate the shoulders, pulling their jab hand and throw the lead elbow, bring the hand to the opposite side of your head, acting as a defensive shield should the elbow miss.

Catch Catch Lead Elbow

Catch the jab with your rear hand, catch the cross with your rear hand, simultaneously step 45° on the ball of the foot and rotate on your lead foot, letting their momentum pull them by while you throw your lead elbow.  The elbow is horizontal if your opponent is your height, downward diagonal if shorter, and upward diagonal if taller.

Slip Outside Clinch Drop Step Knee

Slip to the outside of your opponent’s jab, the contralateral hand on their elbow.  Step forward with your rear foot while your free hand grabs their neck on the far side.  Push their arm to cinch the grip, drop step your new rear foot and pivot 90°.  Slouch and keep the knees bent, keep your shoulders horizontal, your goal is to make your opponent support your weight.  Throw the rear knee.

Fake Jab Clinch

Throw the jab, provoking your opponent’s catch, now fake the jab and step to catch their neck on the outside.  Drop step and pivot 90°, pulling them forward, push against the side of their head with your free hand, throw the rear knee.

Catch Catch Cross Clinch Clear Drop Step Knee

Catch jab, catch cross, reach your rear hand (that caught their jab) and grab your opponent’s neck on the opposite side.  Sweep their hand clear with your lead hand and drop step for the rear knee.

We subsequently did a variation of this where we just tapped our opponent’s hands to clear them and then used a forearm that might accidentally be an elbow to the face to secure a cross clinch grip, not cheating but certainly not sporstmanlike.  From here we cleared the arm to then drop step pivot them to the rear knee.

Defense From the Above

Bring your swept hand thumb up and grab their neck, use your free hand to cup their elbow and rotate upward, setting up your own clinch (cupping the far neck and putting pressure with your other hand on their arm), either step back and knee, or grip palm-to-palm and do the same.

Underhook Kick Catch Pass

Your opponent throws a Thai kick to the body, they will hit your arm and you catch their kick by reaching across your body with your contralateral hand, hook their distal leg with your glove by curling the wrist.  Drop step your lead leg as you pull their leg across your body, drawing them to you.  Grab their neck with your free hand.  Now knee to the near butt cheek as you lift their leg and pull them backward for a throw.

If they throw their kick low, use the underhook catch to pull the soft part of the shin into your elbow.

Overhook Kick Catch Pass

Step with their kick and cinch a tight overhook kick catch.  Drop step your lead leg and pull them toward you as you pull their kick to the opposite side by letting it slip to the hand that caught it and passing it to the curled wrist grip on the opposite side.  From here you can either clinch if you are close enough, punch, or knee.

Freestyle Rounds with Single Element

We finished with a freestyle round where the holder called various combinations.  During each round we highlighted one of the techniques learned above, and in order to integrate the technique into our arsenals, it was set-up without a verbal cue.  We did catch lead elbow, jab trap forearm “elbow” knee, and out choice of catching the kick to clinch.  After each round we did 30 seconds of punches, knees, and kicks. After both sides had done their rounds we did 30 seconds of push-ups, crunches, push-ups, and seated cross toe touches.

Conclusions

Matee wasn’t trying to provide us with answers, combat sports are too chaotic, too uncertain to be definite, instead he was giving us options.  Options that are dependent on our body type and our opponent.  He repeats the advice that every champion I have ever trained with has told me: play, don’t force it.  A personal aside, I need to to keep my torso upright when I kick.