“If you cannot move, you cannot fight”. Ancient words of wisdom that hold true for practically any martial art or contact sport. Before delving into the Muay Thai Footwork, it might be a good idea to get warmed up with some slow running and jumping jacks or skipping. For a thorough read on warm up and stretching, refer the eighth blog post in this series.  

Basic Footwork

Nuances like position, angle and distance between your feet can be a game changer in maintaining good defence, all the while helping you spot your opponent’s vulnerable points for attack. To put it quite simply if you control your feet, you control the fight!

Here are some basic movements you can practise. 

• Sliding forward and backward – forward is for attack and backward to change direction and counterattack. Ensure there’s minimal contact with the ground yet not completely disconnected from it.
• Walk forward and backward – ideal when using the larger limbs to attack or defend. Feet will disconnect from the ground.
• Hop forward and backward – low level jump from the ground while anticipating an incoming blow or spotting an opportunity to attack.
• Slide 45 degrees forward and backward – move diagonally out of the opponent’s centre line and counter his attack.
• Slide across and change – move diagonally inside, cutting the opponent’s centre line.
• Walk across – step across the opponent’s centre line.
• Walk side and side – move sideways with a sliding motion.

Special Moves

Apart from these, there are four slightly more advanced movements in the Muay Thai Footwork.  

• Ma Yong – trot like a horse to deceive your opponent and conceal the actual attack weapon.
• Plen Liam (change sides) – switch sides from the fighting stance.
• Turn and turn opposite – change direction during counterattacks.
• Half-moon curve – step in a half-moon curve angle to avoid incoming attacks.

You can now appreciate why they say footwork is at the heart of Muay Thai. It bears direct relation to the outcome of any fight. So, keep practising and yours too will be perfect in time. Read our next blog post to know more about the weapons of Muay Thai.