How many types of punches are in muay thai?

If we have to consider the traditional art of Muay Thai, there isn’t such a variety on the punching; the Muay Thai was more focused on clinching technique, kicks, knees, and elbow.

As everybody knows the evolution is a continues growth, and for many involved fields, also the martial arts.

Thanks to the evolution of the Muay thai on the eastern country and the spread in all over the world, the Muay thai as adopted and inserted more punch.

Before to continue take a look at is muay thai a brutal combat sport 

The number of types of punch in Muay Thai is 8

And they are:

1. The Jab
2. Swing
3. Hook
4. Uppercut
5. Overhead punch
6. straight punch
7. backfirst
8. superman punch

The Jab

The Jab is an excellent punch to throw when you are moving towards your opponent. 

It is usually the first punch that fighters release during a fight. It will help you gauge the distance between you and your opponent. It may also show you how quick and flexible your opponent is by the way he dodges your jabs.

The Jab is considered the quickest punch, and it can be used for disturbing on the face of your opponents, as well as done consistent damage to your opponent.

The usual target of the Jab is the centre of the face.

Here are the steps to throw the Jab in Muay Thai

• Step 1: Get in your stance.
• Step 2: Twist your wrist to the front and extend your hand into a straight line.
• Step 3: As you extend your other hand to punch, pull your other hand closer to your face. This is to protect your face from your opponent’s counter-attack.

 When you want to do the Jab with your other hand, you can either remain in your stance or place your other foot forward and repeat the steps. 

The Swing 

The Swing is one of the curve punch used in Muay Thai. There is a lot of similarity between the Swing and the hook punches. However, for Muay Thai enthusiasts, the Swing is different from the hook.

The Swing is a curve jab. It is launched when the opponent is far from you. The common target of this punch is the jaw, chin and the side of the nose.

As it is usually used on long-distance, is not the perfect punch when you see that your opponents it is getting close to you.

The swing punch is not considered the best punch for knockout your opponent, due to its lack of power, but anyway can be viewed as a good punch to make your opponent nervous.

Here are the steps to throw the Swing in Muay Thai

• Get in your stance.
• Raise your elbow a little higher than your shoulder.
• Extend your hand.
• Keep your other hand closer to your face for protection.
• Twist your hips as you throw the punch. If you want it to be more powerful, you can also twist your knee.

 Hook

The hook, on the other hand, is launched when he is closer to you. 

 The hook is more effective in knocking an opponent out. The typical target of these punches is the jaw, chin and the side of the nose.

The hook is the perfect punch for attacking the side of your opponent’s body or head.

Thanks to the methodology of how the hook is thrown, it is considered one of the most powerful punch, and the most used.

If you are a beginner this particular punch is considered more difficult from others punches, but if you follow the following step careful, and you will train it accordingly, you will not have any problem to master it in a short period.

Here are the steps to throw the hook in Muay Thai

• Step 1: Get in your stance.
• Step 2: Raise your elbow and level it to your shoulder. Extend your hand to punch at a shorter distance. You can use your other hand to clinch your opponent to pull him closer. You may also use it to push your opponent a little to allow you to throw the punch.
• Step 3: Twist your hips as you throw the punch. If you want it to be more powerful, you can also twist your knee.

When you do these punches with your other hand, you can either remain in your stance or place your other foot forward and repeat the steps.   

The Uppercut

The uppercut is another hard punch. If executed carefully, it can inflict a lot of pain and can knock down the opponent. The usual target of this punch is the lower chin and the solar plexus. 

The uppercut is usually used in combination with others punch, for the main reason to hide it, from the opponent’s eye.

If the fighter properly hides the uppercut, the unexpected punch can cause severe damage to the opponent.

Consideration must be taken when the fighter lands the uppercut, especially on the execution, considering that the use of the legs, is the primary source of power.

For this reason here is the step for a perfect uppercut.

Here are the steps to throw the Uppercut in Muay Thai

• Step 1: Shift into the narrow/fighting stance.
• Step 2: Lower your dominant knee and bend your other knee. Lower your hips. Make sure that your weight is on your hips and not on your knees. This will make it easier for you to follow a kick.
• Step 3: As you lower your body, twist your wrist towards you and lower it slightly above your waist.
• Step 4: Arch your back a little as you throw the punch vertically.

If you want to do the uppercut punch with your other hand, just place your back leg forward and repeat the steps.

The Overhead Punch

The Overhead punch is known as a vertical hook punch. You may do it when there is a significant difference in height between you and your opponent.

 If he is taller than you, the best way to hit his face is through an overhead punch. 

It is also usually thrown when you are about to fall or about to slip. It is also an excellent punch to throw when you are trying to escape your opponent’s attempt for a clinch.

Its common target is the forehead or the upper centre of the face.

Others application on Thai box, of the overhead punch, is, after a left kick, using the return of power, in the way that you will load more power just before you throw the punch.

Attention must be taken from this punch because sometimes can happen that the not accuracy of this punch, can lead to loss of balance, and give to your opponents an open side.

Here are the steps to throw the Overhead punch in Muay Thai

• Step 1: Widen your stance. This is to make your body lower than your opponent. You may not have to do it if there is already a difference in height between the two of you.
• Step 2: Bend your knees slightly. Your rear foot can either be flat or tiptoed.
• Step 3: Pull your dominant/rear hand to the side. Your wrist should be facing to the front.
• Step 4: Raise your punch above your head and drop your fist on your opponent’s head. Remember to hit your opponent with your knuckles and not with the edge or heel of your hand.

When you want to do the punch with your other hand, you can either remain in your stance or place your other foot forward, change your stance and repeat the steps.  

The Straight Punch (Cross)

The straight punch is also known as the cross punch. It is often interchanged with a jab, but the two punches are different. When executing a straight punch, your body is bent lower, your hips are swung, and your hand is extended longer. 

This punch is prone to a counter-attack. When executing this punch, you should also execute a block with your other hand.

Here are the steps to throw the Straight punch in Muay Thai

• Step 1: Shift into your fighting stance.
• Step 2: Lower your rear knee and bend the other.
• Step 3: Twist your hips to follow your rear side.
• Step 4: Swing your hips forward as you throw your punch.
• As you throw your punch, you may become shorter in height than your opponent, this will make you an easy target for a knee strike or an uppercut. Thus, you need to execute a block as you throw your punch.

• Step 5: In other punches, as you throw a punch, you pull the other hand closer to your face to block the counter to your face. In the cross punch, you extend your hand far from your face and form a 45-degree angle. This is an effective block for a possible knee strike or uppercut.

If you want to do the straight punch with your other hand, just place your back leg forward and repeat the steps.

The Backfist

The back fist is usually a punch of last recourse or momentum punch. Many fighters plan to use it for attacks, but it only happens because of the momentum. 

 For example, your opponent tried to hold you. In order to resist his clinch, you turn your back at him. The only way you can throw a punch is through your back fist.

Another scenario is when your opponent dodged your cross or hook punch. Instead of returning to your stance, you swing your hand back and try to hit your opponent using your back fist.

When you throw a back fist, like any other punches, make sure that you hit your opponent with your knuckles and not the back of your hand. 

Here is how you can effectively execute a back fist as a primary attack:

• Step 1: Get into your stance.
• Step 2: Push your fist above the opposite shoulder. Twist your wrist towards you.
• Step 3: Lower your other hand, just above your hip.
• Step 4: Swing your backhand toward your opponent and hit him with your knuckles.

You can do the back fist punches without focusing on your form. You only have to remember to strike your opponent with your knuckles.

Superman Punch

The superman punch is a particular punch, is not the most used punch, due to his specific execution, that makes the movement expectable if not done properly.

The superman punch is not so powerful as the others punch that we saw before but can be the best option to surprise your opponent.

Here are the steps to throw the Superman punch in Muay thai

• Step 1 : bringing the rear leg forward to feign a kick
• Step 2: snapping the leg back while throwing a cross.

As a result, you may probably land a discrete punch, and with some luck, you had surprise your opponent.

This is the end of the 8 punches used on Muay Thai.

If until now you are not satisfied with the punches of Muay Thai, no problem I will give you some short tips on how to trow a powerful punch and some exercise to make this punches that we saw before more efficient.

Tips on How to Throw a Powerful Punch

1.  Always swing your shoulders for more power.
2.  If the opponent is far from you, swing your hips and/or place your rear foot before your front foot.
3.  Always hit your opponent with your two main knuckles. These are the knuckles of your index and middle fingers.

Exercises For punches on Muay Thai

Try these exercises using the back to improve your punches.

1.  Do 20 powerful jabs with each of your hands.
2.  Do 50 counts of fast alternate jabs with your hands. You do not have to add a lot of power. This is only to practice your form.
3.  Do 2 rounds each of 10 powerful swing and hook punches. You have to change your stances for each round.
4.  Do 2 rounds 20 counts of alternate Swing and hook punches. Do the left hook – right Swing for the first round. Do the right hook-left Swing for the second round. You do not have to change stances and do not have to put in a lot of power. Instead, you have to keep in mind your form.
5.  Do 20 powerful uppercut with each of your hands.
6.  Do 40 fast alternate uppercuts. Again, mind your form when doing the punches. Or, you may do 2 rounds of 20 alternate uppercuts with different stances.
7.  Do 2 rounds of 20 powerful straight punches with each of your hands.
8.  Do 20 powerful back fist with each of your hands. You may not do it with any stance. You can just stand with your leg spread normally. You can also stand with your back on the punching bag and throw your back fists to the bag.
9.  Find a partner. Let him weary boxing mitts. Do 20 counts of all the punches alternately while he is moving around. This will help with your footwork as you punch.

 Conclusion

We arrive at the end of this article, where we saw the different types of punches used on Muay Thai and their execution.

My advice for you that is at the beginning of the Muay Thai is to start practising the basic punches, and as soon as you get more confident with it, pass to the others more particular as the superman punch and the back first.

I tell to you this for the simple reason of the efficiency and power that the basic punch has, and also because you have to start from the basic as for everything and then proceed on the more complicate one.

I hope that this article was helpful for you and that the execution as the exercise show can be a useful resource to improve your punches on Muay Thai.

if you are interested you can read : 7 REASONS Why Choose to Learn Muay Thai