Muay Thai is a powerful and versatile martial art that can be used in a variety of ways. There are many different styles of Muay Thai, each with its own advantages and disadvantages but you don’t need to follow any certain style to become successful in the Muay Thai world. In this blog post, we will explore the Muay Khao style – a style that specializes in using knees to attack and defend. If you are looking to learn a powerful new Muay Thai style, then read on for more information about Muay Khao!
What Is Muay Khao?
Muay Khao is the style of Muay Thai fighters that use knee strikes to attack their opponents and protect themselves from attacks. The term is also used interchangeably to refer to the fighter using the style of fighting. Many Muay Khao fighters also use the clinch as a part of their attack and defense strategies. With their expertise in clinches, they can deliver powerful knee strikes even inside a clinch.
Knee fighters are well known as aggressive fighters for persistently going against their opponents with a series of high and low kicks from their knees and adeptly using the cinch to score through their powerful knees. Amongst the different fighting styles, the fights between Muay Khaos and Muay Femur fighters, and Muay Tae fighters are a treat to watch, as the former needs a mid-range to close-range distance to successfully attack while the latter actively maintains a distance. However, Muay Khaos can also tactically employ mid and long-range strikes, along with a mix of punches, kicks, and elbows.
The most feared position of other fighters against a Muay Khao is a double plum or double clinch, which leaves them locked in a position that the knee fighter can relentlessly strike leaving no room for recovery for the opponent.
The Different Techniques Of Knee Attacks
As mentioned above, fighters can employ their strikes in different ranges. However, there is no one style of Muay Khao where every fighter strikes the torso damaging the opponent. Instead, there are different knee techniques that have been explored below.
Straight Knees
The straight knee is the most common knee blow in Muay Thai. It is aimed at an opponent’s sternum or abdominal muscles and can be employed in close- or mid-range. As the name implies, the knee is plunged forward in a straight line. Muay Thai trainees are taught the straight knee technique first.
For added power, this knee maneuver is performed with the back leg. Alternately, change your stance or slide your front leg to the rear to perform a straight knee. Straight knees can be flung in the clinch as a direct reflex attack (with precise timing and proximity) to a straight jap or a slide back and right into the sternum.
Diagonal Knees
Diagonal knees are close to straight knees, but they are more focused on the ribs or the side of the body. The knee is flung with a greater twist at the hips, similar to a round kick.
In contrast to the straight knee, it follows a more sideways trajectory. The knees pummel into the ribs with or without clinching. The opponent is pulled into the direction of the knee via the neck to deliver a powerful strike.
Knee-To-Thigh Strikes
This technique is most often used by clinch-knee specialists. These are knee strikes with precise but tiny movements that are powered right into the opponents’ thighs to deter the strength in their legs.
This technique rarely, if ever, ends a fight, but it does inflict pain, and the impact accumulates as the fight progresses. When in a less dominant position, it can also be used to motivate the opponent to break free from the clinch.
Supergirl Knee
This is a very potent knee attack that has recently gained popularity and is named after the budding female fighter, Supergirl Jaroonsak. Supergirl did not develop the technique, but she transformed it and made it her trademark move.
The shin is raised, held laterally, and the entire knee is pummeled into the opponent’s abdomen. When executed correctly, this mighty strike frequently knocks the wind out of an opponent. The technique works best with the clinch, where the opponent is held at a distance and trapped in the clinch.
Flying/Jumping Knee
The flying knee, referred to in Thai as “Khao Loi”, is an advance adored by fans because it is a spectacle to witness and induces significant harm. Some people distinguish between flying and jumping knees, but the majority of people (including Thai announcers) allude to knee-in-air advances as Khao Loi.
For the best impact, the jump move aims at the head. It is not a classic Muay Khao or Muay Thai maneuver and is frequently used to end the game. They can be found in MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. The acceleration and pressure of the leaping knee to the head can have disastrous consequences. It’s a stunning and violent move that’s sure to energize fans.
Muay Khao vs Other Muay Thai Styles
There are many different Muay Thai fighting styles, and Muay Khaos are fighters that make the most of their strong knees along with tactically using Muay Thai techniques like the clinch which together with the kick has resulted in many knockouts.
Muay Femur vs Muay Khao
In comparison, to Muay Femur, this style is more aggressive while the former is used by technical fighters that use their wit and high fight IQ over their strength. However, Muay Khaos master the clinch, which requires a lot of hard work but it helps them beat Muay Femurs who despite their intellectual fighting style, find themselves confused with the powerful combo of clinch and knee attacks that a knee fighter will relentlessly throw forward.
The most decorated Muay Thai fighter, Saenchai who was a technical fighting maestro, was defeated only thrice in his career, and at all times by the greatest Muay Khaos, like Petchboonchu FA Group and Singdam Kiatmuu9.
Muay Mat vs Muay Khao
Fights between these two fighters are fun to watch, with the Muay Mat fighters who are boxers known for the fatal punches, grabbing the knee kick with their hands down. This breaks the relentless approach of the knee fighters, giving them an opportunity to show off their other Muay Thai techniques or the lack thereof.
Muay Tae vs Muay Khao
Muay Tae fighters are the masters of using kicks to win fights, damaging their opponent across their upper and lower bodies without mercy. Kicks are easy to score, and also a challenging style for the fighters employing the knee-fighting style. Muay Tae fighters fight best in the long to medium range while Muay Khao fighters are at their optimum in medium to clinch range, giving them more opportunity to show off their knee techniques with full impact.
Muay Sok vs Muay Khao
Muay Sok fighters are known as elbow warriors and are quite rare to find because of the intensive hard work it requires to master in comparison to other styles of Muay Thai fighting. Compared to the many styles of Muay Thai including Muay Khao, this one is by far the most dangerous of them. Unlike Muay Khao, these fighters perform best in a close-to-clinch range. In a fight between the two, a lot of times protecting oneself from damage is more important than striking.
Notable Muay Thai Legends with the Muay Khao Fighting Style
Some of the greatest fighters in Muay Thai history that have forayed into mixed martial arts too are knee fighters. Below are the most prominent fighters using this style of fighting.
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn is an all-time legend whose career ended shortly only because no fighter in his weight class could match his caliber and exceptional Muay Thai fighting style. Known as ‘sky piercing knee’ for his great height and powerful knee strikes. The legend has more than just his physical attributes and easily won four consecutive Lumpinee Stadium championship titles.
He has etched his name in the history of the art of eight limbs by beating some of the greatest fighters ever known like Samart Payarkoon and Sagat Petchyindee to win the 1982 and 1984 Fighter of the Year awards by the Sports Writers Association of Thailand.
Petchboonchu FA Group
Petchboonchu FA Group’s lengthy list of championships overshadows almost everyone else’s. He has five Lumpinee Stadium titles in four divisions, seven Thai titles in six divisions, a Rajadamnern Stadium title, and a WMC World champion title.
Few athletes can compete with him in the clinch and his exceptional close-range ability. He could influence and incapacitate his opponents’ offense before tactfully lunging knees and elbows through the littlest shortfalls in their defense. Petchboonchu could outsmart his opponents by awakening his aggressive fighting strategy to push forward relentlessly when needed. Known as “The Deadly Knee of the Mekong”, lasting up to 5 bouts against him was a miracle. He is the only fighter to beat the technical maestro of Muay Thai, Saenchai more than once.
Sagetdao Petpayathai
Sagetdao Petpayathai is regarded as one of the best fighters of the modern era.
His excellent knee-fighting style earned him several Muay Thai world titles. His style was deemed highly complicated to confront by the large percentage of his opponents, resulting in several accolades, including the prestigious Lumpinee, Rajadamnern, MAX Muay Thai, and WBC Muay Thai world titles.
Sagetdao is a clinch-oriented Muay Khao who can switch things a little according to his opponent’s style and strategy. Saenchai PKSaenchaiMuayThaiGym, Petchboonchu FA Group, Singdam Kiatmookao, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Anuwat Kaewsamrit, and Nongbee Kiatyongyuth are some of the greatest Muay Thai fighters he has defeated. Sagetdao made the switch to MMA in 2017 to contend in the ONE Championship. Sagetdao’s MMA success has inspired other Muay Thai fighters.
Yodwicha Banchamek
This modern Muay Khao became popular as the Lumpinee Stadium 2012 winner who proceeded to defeat big names like Kongsak, Nong-O, Petchboonchu (twice), and Singdam (twice) in a single year. Despite a few losses in between, he is currently the WBC World Champion with a winning streak of over 25 fights. His pressing force forward is too much for both acclaimed local and international fighters.
Yodwicha’s knees in the clinch are lethal, but his outside-clinch knee strikes are his most powerful swords. He’ll punch his opponents, then dive forward to land a potent, sharp hit to the torso. In fear of another knee, opponents lead themselves susceptible to his favorite weapon, his powerful elbows.
Muay Khaos: Dominating Knee Attackers That Win Big!
Muay Khao fighters are feared for their powerful knee attacks. They use a combination of techniques to bring down their opponents, including straight knees, diagonal knees, and knee-to-thigh strikes. These fighters are different from other styles in that they tend to be more aggressive and rely heavily on their knees to win matches.
Some of the most famous Muay Thai legends fought with the Muay Khao style and were incredibly successful. If you’re looking to learn more about this powerful fighting style, check out some of the videos we’ve included of past fights. With all that being said, who do you think would win in a fight between two well-known Muay Khao boxers? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs
Muay Femurs are technical fighters, Muay Mats are boxers, Muay Taes are kickers, Muay Khaos are knee fighters, Muay Soks are elbow fighters, and Muay Plum are clinch specialists. There are also many more styles.
Muay Sok when aimed at the head can have dangerous consequences. Thankfully it is very hard to master because it has a unique style that is hard to find. If you do find your opponent to be a Muay Sok, be prepared to get injured and have a challenging fight.