It’s not enough to know how and when to attack your enemy; a good defence can often end up being the game-changer. It can nullify whatever attacks your opponent throws at you, while giving you sufficient breathing room to decide on your next move. 

By combining a robust defence system with balance and calculated timing, a fighter can always maintain the upper hand in battle. In Muay Thai, defence is divided into a system of 6 moves or blocks.  

Pong - Pud - Pid - Perd - Lo Lo - Lop Lik  

In the first defence – ‘Pong’, contract your body while receiving the attacker’s blow, thereby avoiding the brunt of the impact. Both the upper and lower body are usually involved in this move. 

The next defence – ‘Pud’ involves sweeping away an incoming attack or swatting it before mounting a counterattack of your own. When combined with the right footwork and timing, the Pud can serve as an effective counter against most weapons of Muay Thai.  

It is said that a wise warrior constantly observes his enemy, reading the moves, looking for patterns that he can exploit whenever an opportune moment presents itself in the fight. Follow that strategy and practise these blocks regularly to strengthen your defence! In the next post, we’ll continue with blocks, learning the Pid and Perd.