1. Stance (Muay Thai Guard/Ready Position)
- Foot Position:
Begin in your Muay Thai stance, keeping your feet shoulder-width apart. If you are orthodox, your left foot should be forward; if you are southpaw, your right foot should be forward. Your weight should be distributed onto the balls of your feet, allowing for quick adjustments and mobility. - Knees and Hips:
Maintain a slightly bent knee to stay flexible and balanced. Your hips should be relaxed and aligned with your center of gravity for effective movement. - Hands/Guard:
Your lead hand should stay near your face to guard your chin and jaw. The rear hand should also remain up by your face to protect your head and body, with elbows tucked in to safeguard your ribs. Slightly angle your head for added defense.
2. Setting Up the Parry Long Knee Outside (Preparation)
- Positioning the Hands:
The rear hand (right hand for orthodox) should be ready to intercept and parry the incoming knee. In preparation, your hand will be slightly angled outwards to guide the knee to the outside, away from your body. - Footwork:
Prepare to pivot or adjust your foot positioning as you parry. Be ready to move with the strike to maintain balance and prevent being too static. Position yourself for an effective parry with proper body alignment.
3. Executing the Parry Long Knee Outside (The Defense and Attack)
- Step 1 – Timing the Parry:
As your opponent throws their long knee, time your parry so that your rear hand meets the knee. You want to redirect the strike outside, deflecting it away from your body and ensuring that it misses its target. - Step 2 – Contact with the Forearm or Hand:
The forearm or the edge of your hand will make contact with the incoming knee. The goal is to use the forearm to deflect the knee outward, not to block it head-on. The contact should be quick and fluid. - Step 3 – Redirecting the Knee:
After contact, use your forearm to guide the knee to the outside, away from your centerline. The motion should be smooth and controlled, not overly forceful, to avoid overextending yourself. - Step 4 – Follow-Up with a Counterattack:
After successfully deflecting the knee to the outside, quickly look for an opening to counterattack. The opponent will likely be off-balance or in an exposed position, so capitalize on it with strikes like a jab, cross, hook, or even an elbow.
4. Footwork During the Parry Long Knee Outside
- Pivoting:
While executing the parry, use a pivot on your rear foot to maintain your balance and create a proper angle for the deflection. The pivot helps you redirect the force of the knee and gives you better positioning for follow-up strikes. - Weight Transfer:
As you parry the knee, transfer your weight slightly from your lead foot to your rear foot. This helps you remain balanced and stable while also preparing you for an effective counterstrike or further movement. - Step or Slide:
Depending on your opponent’s positioning, you may need to step or slide your lead foot back or to the side after performing the parry. This helps you maintain distance or change your angle to avoid being hit by a follow-up attack.
5. Defensive Considerations During the Parry Long Knee Outside
- Guard Position:
After executing the parry, always return your rear hand to its protective position by your chin. Never leave your guard down, as this makes you vulnerable to counterattacks like hooks, uppercuts, or other strikes. - Head Movement:
After the parry, use head movement to evade any follow-up attacks. A slight slip or duck can help you avoid being hit while you reset and prepare for a counterattack. - Elbow Position:
Maintain your elbows tucked in during the parry to protect your ribs and keep your defense tight. A flared elbow leaves you vulnerable to body strikes or counters. Tucking the elbow helps you create a compact defense while executing the parry.
6. Counterattacking After the Parry Long Knee Outside
- Immediate Counterstrike:
After successfully deflecting the knee, immediately look for an opening to strike back. You can throw a jab, cross, or hook while the opponent is recovering from the parry. Exploiting their momentary imbalance is key. - Low Kick:
A well-timed low kick can be an effective counterattack after the parry. If your opponent is leaning forward due to their knee strike, their lead leg might be vulnerable. A swift low kick can destabilize them and create opportunities for more attacks. - Elbow:
If the knee was deflected to the outside, your opponent may be slightly off-balance, which creates the perfect opportunity for a sharp elbow strike. Use your momentum after the parry to drive a rear elbow toward their head or body.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overextending the Parry:
Avoid reaching too far with your hand during the parry. Overextending can leave you off-balance or make it more difficult to recover quickly. Keep your movements controlled and within your natural range. - Dropping the Rear Hand:
A common mistake is dropping the rear hand after performing the parry. This leaves your chin and face vulnerable to incoming strikes. Always return your rear hand to the guard position immediately after the parry. - Not Following Through:
A parry is just one part of your defense. If you don’t follow up with a counterattack, the defense may not be as effective. Be ready to strike immediately after the parry to take advantage of the opening created by your opponent’s missed knee. - Not Using Proper Footwork:
After executing the parry, don’t stay stationary. Use footwork to adjust your position, either to advance, retreat, or change angles. Staying mobile and dynamic helps you stay out of range of follow-up attacks and places you in a better position to counter.
8. Advanced Concepts for Parry Long Knee Outside
- Feinting the Parry:
At an advanced level, the parry can be used as a feint to bait your opponent into attacking. By pretending to parry, you can set up a counterstrike or draw out an attack, creating openings for other techniques. - Angling the Parry:
Instead of simply performing a straight parry, you can angle your body slightly to redirect the knee more effectively. This not only makes you a harder target but also opens up additional angles for counterattacks, such as hooks or elbows. - Setting Up for the Clinch:
The parry can also serve as a setup for the clinch. After deflecting the knee to the outside, you can immediately close the distance and enter the clinch. From there, you can land knee strikes, control your opponent, or set up a throw.
Conclusion
The Parry Long Knee Outside is an essential defensive tool in Muay Thai that helps you deflect incoming knee strikes while protecting your body and creating opportunities for counterattacks. By focusing on timing, proper hand positioning, footwork, and follow-up strikes, you can neutralize your opponent’s offense and maintain control of the fight. Avoid common mistakes such as overextending your parry, dropping your guard, and failing to counterattack. Advanced techniques like feinting, angling, and transitioning into the clinch will further enhance the effectiveness of this defensive technique.