Muay Thai walk/foot tap

[timberland]

Trying to learn more about the forward walk and lead foot tap. Is it an intimidation tactic? Where is the weight and how does it transfer? I love kickboxing and think this movement looks cool as hell.

 

[Joebro31]

Shogun used that against machida in their first fight.

 

[TheSadist]

It's just to keep their foot/leg light so they can check leg kicks easier.

 

[East 1999]

Shogun used that against machida in their first fight.

Did he, aye?

It's just to keep their foot/leg light so they can check leg kicks easier.

This.

 

[GustavHolst**]

this movement looks cool as hell.

I think you're getting into Muay Thai for the wrong reason.

 

[Harukaze]

Several reasons for it: helps you maintain a fighter's rhythm (common in a lot of striking arts, actually, although often expressed differently), encourages a step-drag-step-drag gait to maintain base of support, keeps you on the balls of your feet to facilitate mobility (while discouraging flat-footing, which makes you a sitting duck), keeps you light on your lead leg for the teep and checking kicks, facilitates weight shift if you're going to throw the rear leg roundhouse. You don't do it because it's cool, you do it because it feels natural and is functional. Different fighters keep different rhythms, typically, and the the rear leg can tap too, often more subtly.

 

[timberland]

I thought it was more of an intimidation thing, thank you

 

[Harukaze]

I thought it was more of an intimidation thing, thank you

Nooooo, we all know that showboating/extraneous movement gets you nowhere in a combat sport situation haha!
For sure, you're welcome!

 

[shinkyoku]

Trying to learn more about the forward walk and lead foot tap. Is it an intimidation tactic? Where is the weight and how does it transfer? I love kickboxing and think this movement looks cool as hell.

Do you mean this?

Basically it is a defensive move where the front leg is ready to either check or teep -or move backward quickly (lift the back foot and push away with the forward).
you are ready to defend, but the trade-off is that you are not very mobile forward and are limited to slow and steady advancing.
Basically the same as the "cat stance" in karate -although there it has been formalized until not many understand its purpose anymore.

 

[CosItsFun]

There's nothing wrong what so ever with learning something because it's cool. Some people like to experiment and have fun with there martial arts.

 

[Harukaze]

There's nothing wrong what so ever with learning something because it's cool. Some people like to experiment and have fun with there martial arts.

Could cost OP a fight if he does something without knowing the reason why. Then again, he did post a thread to ask, he learned, and it's all gravy! :icon_lol:

 

[FokaiMuayThai]

Defensive-minded fighters who like to use kicks (especially lead teep) tend to employ the light 'bobbing' of the lead leg. (alot of thai camps use this, along with the rhythmic "thai walk" to wait and counter)

It's also an all-purpose check, you can check outside, cross-check, leg shield against knees etc.

Agressive fighters tend to be on their front leg more with the rear leg raised (this is what most of the coaches taught when i visited sitmonchai, various "kickboxing" schools teach this as well)

Standard MT stance tends to be a 50/50 weight distribution

Most fighters don't stick with one way of standing and will switch depending on the situation. All fighters need a general understanding though.

Decent video on the stances, though i'm sure there are better ones:

 

[Da Speeit]

Lol "intimidation tactic"

 

[aries]

I thought it was more of an intimidation thing, thank you

I know you have caught some stick for saying that but in a way it is. It's like 'Come at me bro!' You walk down your opponent with your shield up, inviting a kick with the threat of smashing their shin to pieces if they dare.

BTW the Thai Walk most often refers to the marching style that MT fighters will use raising alternate legs as they walk forward.

 

[fluffball]

It's not dissimilar to how people in the 70s and 80s thought of karate forms. If you don't know what the hell you're looking at, it can be intimidating.

On the other hand, I would not want to get in to a barfight with someone assuming that stance. Not that I want to get in to any barfight.