Muay Thai Kickboxing in Wareham Massachusetts: The Thai Knee

In this video, Muay Thai / Mixed Martial Arts trainer and BJJ Black Belt Stephen Whittier ("The MMA Performance Professor") of Nexus Martial Arts & Fitness in Wareham, Massachusetts demonstrates the proper mechanics of the Muay Thai knee ("kao").

Whittier is a Kru (instructor) in Muay Thai under Mark DellaGrotte of the world-renown Sityondtong Muay Thai academy, and the senior Muay Thai trainer in Southern Massachusetts.

To begin, Kru Whittier explains the basic mechanics of the Thai knee, and why it is imperative to:

• Step onto the ball of your supporting foot and keep your toes pointed forward

• Keep your supporting leg straight

• Rotate your hips forward as much as possible while keeping them relaxed

• Keep your chin down even as your shoulders go back so that you can maintain proper balance

• Drive your knee forward from the hips, not upward

• Keep your hands up and just "pump" them slightly toward the side of your attacking knee

He explains that the rigid, flat-footed knees often seen in traditional styles are too restricted and the applications contrived; a proper, effective knee will be driven forward from the hip, and is intended to maximize the length of the hip and thigh through maximum hip rotation.

With its superior mechanics, a good Muay Thai knee will allow the fighter to attack from a greater distance, with more power and less effort.

Kru Whittier then shows several applications for landing the knee. First, he demonstrates how to cover and opponents hands with your own to defend against punches as you "walk" in with the knee. This has the added benefit of pulling your opponent into your knee by virtue of his reflexive tendency to tighten his arms so that they are not knocked down out of their guard.

He also demonstrates the bullfighter-style "pass" of the attacker's arms if he attempts to push you away or drive into you with arms extended. As this occurs, Kru Whittier parries the arm (for example, right arm parrying left arm) and steps at an angle to the side while reaching with the opposite side hand to grab behind his opponent's neck. From here, he drives in a knee with his back leg after using a "stutter/switch" motion to generate power.

In all cases, it is crucial to practice proper technique and mechanics, and train to stay relaxed throughout the movement so as not to waste energy, shorten the technique or hold your power back.