Become Fighter
Entering the clinch safely: Muay Thai guide
Get to the plum behind a strike, not by walking into a knee.
Most clinches are lost before they start. A fighter who just walks forward with open arms eats a knee or an elbow. A good entry hides behind a strike so the opponent is busy when your hands arrive.
The usual doors are the jab, the cross and a teep that gets caught or checked. Throw it, step in on the same beat and get both hands to the head while their guard is still moving. Work this slowly with a partner and agree light contact.
Key points
- Enter behind a punch. The strike pulls their hands out of the way.
- Step in with the lead foot and bring the rear foot up straight away. A long gap gets you kneed.
- Keep your head tucked and your forearms up on the way in.
- Hands go over their guard to the back of the head, not around the arms.
- Pick the plum, or an underhook if they are taller and pulling away.
- If the entry is late, circle out rather than hugging and stalling.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Walking in with no strike. Always throw something first, even a light jab. Empty hands are an invitation.
- Leaning forward with the head down. Keep your head up and hips under you. Folding at the waist hands them the knee.
- Reaching around the arms. Go over the guard. Reaching around gives them an easy underhook.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Clinch fighting module of Muay Thai foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Clinch fighting
- Breaking the plum: Muay Thai guide
- Arm and body ties: Muay Thai guide
- Off-balancing and first dumps: Muay Thai guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.