The Thai Clinch

mma portland

The Thai Clinch falls directly between grappling and fighting. Some fighters refer to it as “Standup” while others refer to it as “Grappling”. Whatever the proper label may be, knowing that you should understand the MMA strategies behind clinching. Since this position is very common in MMA, learning them can only make you a better-rounded fighter. Basic Thai Clinch… Read more »

Maximize the Boxing Aspect of Kickboxing

Boxing gym in Portland

What is the one area of kickboxing that many practitioners ignore? They have a tendency to ignore really focusing on the boxing aspect. This assessment does not just refer to those taking kickboxing up as a hobby. It also refers to amateurs and pros. Seriously, if you want to be a solid kickboxer then you… Read more »

Training at NWFA

MMA in Portland

Being a member at and training at NWFA offers more than attending two classes each week. During my first consult with Coach Russell (a short check-in about goals, how class is going, etc.) he mentioned that there are semi-private sessions I could attend with Chad as part of my membership. I signed up to attend… Read more »

Muay Thai Blog

muay thai kickboxing portland

I sort of ate my own words after my last Muay Thai class. There actually are some techniques that take some time to learn.For example, there is a move that involves kicking Thai Pads your partner is holding, one knee at a time. It sounds and looks pretty simple; but for me, this was one of… Read more »

Will Muay Thai Build Muscle?

Traditional Muay Thai

Your muscles are very important in allowing you to perform everyday activities more effectively. They can also help you succeed in combat fighting. Will Muay Thai build muscle? In short, it can, but don’t expect to gain too much muscle mass without supplementing your training sessions with heavy strength-training. What Muay Thai will definitely help… Read more »

Where Does Muay Thai Come From?

Traditional Muay Thai

Muay Thai, or as it is sometimes called, “Thai Boxing” is a specialized martial art that was developed in Thailand. Where does Muay Thai come from in regards to its cultural roots? While it was refined and cultured in Thailand hundreds of years ago, some believe that it can be traced back to China, although… Read more »

What is the Wai Kru?

Traditional Muay Thai

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to be a spectator for a Muay Thai match, you’ve probably seen fighters perform a unique ritual dance. What is the Wai Kru? Although it might seem strange, or even boring to some, this dance carries a lot of symbolic meaning to the practitioners of the sport. What’s the… Read more »