Become Fighter
Knees from the clinch: Muay Thai guide
Pull the head and drive the knee to the body. Pads and light control only.
Once the plum is set, the knee is what makes it dangerous. You pull the head down and drive the knee up into the body, with the hips behind it.
Practise on a partner holding a pad against the body, or at feather-light contact to the side. Never aim at the head, face or groin. Agree the signal to stop before you start.
Key points
- Set the plum first. The knee comes from a held clinch.
- Pull the head down as the knee rises. Both actions happen together.
- Drive the hips forward into the knee.
- Alternate legs and keep stepping.
- Target the body with a pad. Never the face or groin.
- Stay light on a live partner.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Kicking the knee out instead of up. Drive up and in. The knee is a lift with the hips, not a kick.
- Pulling the head without moving the feet. Keep stepping. A stuck clinch is easy to break.
- Aiming at the head or groin. The body only, and only with a pad or very light contact.
- Hitting hard on a live partner. Keep it light. The pad is where power belongs.
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 Elbows and the clinch module of Muay Thai foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Elbows and the clinch
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.