Step into the vibrant world of Muay Thai, where discipline meets ferocity, and artistry blends seamlessly with athleticism. Whether you’re a novice eager to embark on your martial arts journey or an enthusiast seeking to refine your skills, mastering the fundamental combinations is a vital step toward becoming a formidable practitioner.
I know what you’re thinking. What is this guy talking about? Well, let me explain precisely what I’m talking about.
Combining offensive techniques in Muay Thai is one of the most important skills to have if you want to skyrocket your fighting skills and become a tough challenger. Can you imagine throwing only a single punch or a kick at a time? I think this would make Muay Thai dull and vapid.
That’s why combinations are (1) more entertaining to watch and (2) offer countless opportunities to attack and defend yourself. Indeed, without them, Muay Thai and all martial arts for that matter, would become colorless and monotonous.
Now that you know how important combinations are in Muay Thai, aka Thai Boxing, aka The Art of Eight Limbs, it’s time we dive into the first beginner-friendly combination in Muay Thai.
#1 – Jab-Cross-Low Kick
The first combination we’ll review is the Jab–Cross–Low Kick. This is definitely one of my favorites since it allows you to cause tons of damage and do so quickly. You also won’t be too vulnerable after throwing it, whether you hit or miss.
Here’s how to perform this combination properly:
- Step 1: Throw a quick Jab (lead hand) followed by a powerful Cross (rear hand).
- Step 2: Immediately follow up with a Low Kick using the rear leg.
As you can see in the demonstration above, the Muay Thai disciple doesn’t step forward. Therefore, he’s not risking himself too greatly with this combination. There’s always a risk, of course, so don’t think that you’ll be 100% safe all the time.
The last point I want to review with this point is that you’ll be able to cause tons of damage if you hit all three hits. Not only will your opponent get confused, as you hit a fierce Jab and a Cross, but you also finished it up with one of the best Muay Thai kicks, the Low Kick.
#2 – Jab-Cross-Hook
The second combination we’ll cover is the Jab-Cross-Hook. This is one of the classiest combinations in Muay Thai and in many other striking-based martial arts, such as Boxing and Kickboxing.
The Jab-Cross-Hook holds tons of strength and power because it’s a smooth combination. When you execute it on a good enough level, you’ll notice your body and arms are in perfect synergy with each other.
Here’s how to perform the Jab-Cross-Hook, aka 1-2-3:
- Step 1: Start with a Jab from your lead hand.
- Step 2: Follow up with a Cross from your rear hand.
- Step 3: Finish with a Hook from your lead hand, targeting the opponent’s head or body.
This is one of the best combinations in the world of striking-based martial arts. It’s a must-know both for beginners and advanced trainees. So keep practicing until it feels smooth and natural to execute.
#3 – Cross-Hook-Low Kick
The Cross-Hook-Low Kick is one of the combinations you’ll be able to execute and cause significant damage with. While it might be more difficult to land, especially than the previous combinations, when you do land it, your opponent will be left feared and in great pain.
Here’s how to perform this fierce combination:
- Step 1: Begin with a Cross from your rear hand.
- Step 2: Follow up with a Hook from your lead hand.
- Step 3: Conclude with a Low Kick using your rear leg.
So you first want to start with a Cross. This might be odd for some people, but it’s a fantastic move to go for if you want to surprise your opponent. Typical Muay Thai fighters who don’t think outside the box have never started a combination with the Cross. Usually, the Jab is considered a starting strike for combinations.
Once you throw a Cross, you want to follow up with a lead-hand Hook. Essentially, if you throw a Cross with your right hand, like most trainees, you follow it up with a left Hook. The opposite applies to left-handed folks.
Lastly, once you make contact with your left Hook, you want to throw a right Low Kick. To learn more about how to throw an extremely powerful and excruciating Low Kick, follow this link.
#4 – Jab-Cross-Teep
The next combination we’ll break down is the Jab-Cross-Teep. If you have never heard of the Teep, it’s a widely popular kick you want to familiarize yourself with. What it does is forces the opponent off his balance and allow you to either defend or follow up with a combination. Overall, it’s one of the best kicks in Muay Thai.
- Step 1: Start with a quick Jab (lead hand) followed by a powerful Cross (rear hand).
- Step 2: Immediately push off your rear leg, extending your lead leg for a Teep, or Push Kick, aimed at your opponent’s midsection.
First, you start by throwing a Jab and follow it up with a Cross. The Jab and Cross are also called the 1-2, which is the most popular combination in striking-based martial arts.
Then, you want to finish the combination with a Teep off your rear leg. It’s going to be much easier to finish with a rear Teep than a lead one. If you want to learn more about the Teep and how to perform it flawlessly, follow this link.
I’m using this combination as a filler. Of course, it can cause a lot of damage, but not as much as other combinations, like the previous one we reviewed. What I mean when I say filler combination is that you can use it and not end up vulnerable. However, the fact is that it’s unlikely to be the knockout combination.
#5 – Jab-Cross-Elbow
The following combination we’ll review is the Jab-Cross-Elbow. This is a fantastic combination to transition into more powerful techniques, such as Roundhouse Kicks, Hooks, and Uppercuts.
Here’s how to execute this combination properly:
- Step 1: Execute a Jab from your lead hand.
- Step 2: Follow up with a Cross from your rear hand.
- Step 3: Transition into a close-range Elbow Strike using either the lead or rear elbow.
As you can see, this combination allows you to enter in close to your opponent and hit him from close quarters. As you understand, this puts you in a more vulnerable position. However, it also opens you up to more opportunities to continue attacking.
You first throw a 1-2 but instead of stopping there, you follow it up with a Straight Elbow. Elbows can cause tons of damage and allow you the upper hand in a fight. I want you to watch the following video and see how smooth the combination can be.
However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of any combination relies on several factors, including timing, speed, accuracy, and the ability to adapt to your opponent’s movements. So make sure to practice the combination enough times until you’re comfortable with it.
Building proper muscle memory is critical when practicing combinations. If your muscle memory is solid, you’ll be able to throw the combination smoothly and effectively.
#6 – Cross-Hook-Cross
The Cross-Hook-Cross combination in Muay Thai is a powerful sequence of strikes that involves throwing a Cross (rear hand), followed by a Hook (lead hand), and then finishing with another Cross (rear hand). Here’s a breakdown of the combination:
- Step 1: Begin with a powerful Cross from your rear hand.
- Step 2: Follow up with a Hook from your lead hand.
- Step 3: Finish with another Cross from your rear hand.
By incorporating punches from both hands, you generate power from different angles, increasing the overall impact of the combination. The Straight Cross punches utilize the power of your rear hand, while the Hook adds a devastating blow from your lead hand.
You’ll be able to open another angle through the Hook, which makes this combination more powerful. Your opponents won’t know where your strikes came from when you throw the sequence properly.
Likewise, most of your opponents will think you’ll start the combination with a Jab. However, you can surprise and confuse them by starting with a Cross and finishing with the same punch. Add a Hook in the middle while opening a different angle (by leaning to the left) and you’ll make the combination so much better.
#7 – Low Kick-Teep (Push Kick)
The last combination we’ll review only utilizes kicking. Kicks are one of the most powerful ways you can utilize to cause tons of damage in Muay Thai. If you alchemize kicks together, you’ll be able to cause much more damage while diversifying your options.
Here’s how to perform one of the most important and influential kicking combinations in Muay Thai, the Low Kick–Teep.
- Step 1: Start with a Low Kick using your rear leg to target your opponent’s leg.
- Step 2: Quickly transition into a Teep, or Push Kick, with your lead leg, aiming for your opponent’s midsection.
Learning the Low Kick-Teep combination in Muay Thai can be highly beneficial. It combines a Low Kick, targeting your opponent’s leg, followed by a Teep (Push Kick) aimed at the midsection.
Learning and mastering the Low Kick-Teep combination will enhance your overall arsenal in Muay Thai, providing you with a well-rounded approach to both offense and defense. Knowing to combine kicks to create better combinations will make you a much better Muay Thai fighter, who knows how to diversify his fighting techniques and cause tons of damage.
Final Words
As we draw the curtains on our exploration of the best Muay Thai combinations for beginners, we hope you feel inspired and empowered to step onto the training mat with newfound confidence. Remember, mastering these fundamental sequences is not an overnight endeavor but a continuous process of growth and refinement.
Many trainees ask me whether they can learn solely from watching or reading. My answer is the same all the time. There’s no REAL learning without getting into the gym and practicing what you had just learned. This is the only way real progression will ensue.
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