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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Any martial art that focuses on strikes will typically include a mixture of live sparring, shadow striking, and heavy bag training. What does Muay Thai training consist of? As you might have already imagined, it’s a fast paced martial art that will build up your endurance and help you better utilize all “weapons” on your… Read more »
Northwest Fighting Arts, a Portland Martial Arts studio, offers a variety of classes to increase overall health, strength, confidence, and capabilities in each of our students. Whether you are focused on getting physically fit, learning to defend yourself from an attacker, or creating a sense of peace between mind and body, our Portland Martial Arts… Read more »
Muay Thai is a martial art that places a lot of emphasis on close-range striking. Instructors focus on areas such as elbow strikes, knee strikes, as well as various strikes from the clinch position. What does Muay Thai teach that can help you both inside and outside of the ring? Aside from increasing your health… Read more »