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  • Foot Position:
    Begin in your Muay Thai stance (either orthodox or southpaw). In the orthodox stance, your left foot is forward, and in the southpaw stance, your right foot is forward. Ensure your feet are shoulder-width apart, balanced on the balls of your feet, and ready for movement.
  • Knees and Hips:
    Keep your knees slightly bent to maintain mobility. Your hips should be aligned with your body’s center of gravity to allow for fluid turns without losing balance.
  • Hands/Guard Position:
    Your lead hand should be near your chin to protect your face, while the rear hand should stay close to your jaw for added defense. Elbows should remain tucked to protect your ribs, and your head should be slightly off-center, making it harder for your opponent to land a clean strike.

  • Positioning and Intent:
    The turn right is used to quickly change angles, evade strikes, or reposition yourself to gain a better attacking angle. This can be effective to avoid an opponentโ€™s direct strike or to quickly reposition yourself to land a counterstrike.
  • Timing:
    The turn is effective when you need to quickly alter your position, either to avoid an attack or to take advantage of a better attacking angle. It should be done when your opponent is committed to a strike or you feel an opportunity for repositioning.

  • Step 1 โ€“ Engage Your Lead Leg (Pivoting):
    To start the turn, pivot on the ball of your lead foot (the left foot in an orthodox stance). The pivot should come from the toes, not the heel, to ensure better control of the movement.
    • For an orthodox fighter, you will initiate the turn by pushing off with the left foot (lead foot) and pivoting on it.
    • For a southpaw fighter, the same movement occurs, but it is reversed, starting with the right foot.
  • Step 2 โ€“ Turn the Hips and Shoulders:
    As you pivot on your lead foot, allow your hips and shoulders to follow the movement, rotating with the pivot. This ensures a smooth, controlled turn. The movement should come from the lower body first, followed by your torso and head.The direction of the turn is clockwise for orthodox fighters and counterclockwise for southpaws. This rotation changes the angle of your attack and position relative to your opponent.
  • Step 3 โ€“ Reposition the Feet:
    As you complete the turn, your rear foot (which was originally behind) should follow the pivoting lead foot. The rear foot moves around to realign with the lead foot, ensuring you maintain a balanced stance.
    • For an orthodox fighter, the right foot will follow the left foot, ensuring that your stance is now shoulder-width apart and you are facing a new angle.

  • Step 1 โ€“ Keep Feet Close and Balanced:
    As you execute the turn, keep your feet shoulder-width apart to maintain balance. Your weight should stay balanced over your legs to allow for quick follow-up movements after the turn.
  • Step 2 โ€“ Smooth, Fluid Motion:
    The turn should be quick and fluid, without hesitation. The goal is to change angles in a way that keeps you in control of the fight. A fast turn allows you to avoid an opponent’s strikes and potentially position yourself for a counterattack.
  • Step 3 โ€“ Adjust for Distance:
    After turning, your new angle might change the distance between you and your opponent. Be ready to close the distance for a strike, or to retreat if you need to reset your position or avoid a counterstrike.

  • Step 1 โ€“ Maintain Guard:
    As you turn, keep your guard up. Protect your head and body by ensuring your hands stay high. This prevents your opponent from capitalizing on your turn by landing a clean punch or kick.
  • Step 2 โ€“ Head Movement:
    Use slight head movement as you turn to make yourself a harder target to hit. This can involve slight slips or ducking, combined with your turn, to avoid strikes.
  • Step 3 โ€“ Keep Elbows Tight:
    During the turn, ensure that your elbows remain tucked in to protect your body. This will prevent openings for body shots or strikes to the ribs.

  • Step 1 โ€“ Angle for Strikes:
    Once you have turned, you can use the new angle to throw effective strikes. For example, you can follow the turn with a left hook, right cross, elbow, or kick from a new and advantageous position.
  • Step 2 โ€“ Counterattack:
    The turn right can create an opportunity to counterattack. As you turn, your opponent might become overcommitted or off-balance. You can then strike with a quick elbow or a knee to take advantage of the opening.
  • Step 3 โ€“ Press the Attack:
    If the turn creates an opening, immediately press the attack. This could involve following up with a left kick, a knee strike, or closing the distance for a clinch.

  • Step 1 โ€“ Return to Guard:
    After completing the turn, make sure you return to your defensive guard immediately. Your hands should be high, and you should be ready for your opponentโ€™s counteractions.
  • Step 2 โ€“ Reassess the Position:
    Once you’ve turned, take a moment to reassess your position. Are you now in a better position to attack? Do you need to adjust your distance? This reassessment will help guide your next move.
  • Step 3 โ€“ Look for Opportunities:
    After the turn, you might have a new angle to strike or may need to reposition to avoid your opponentโ€™s counter. Be mindful of the openings created by the turn, either to launch an attack or reset for the next move.

  • Over-committing to the Turn:
    Be cautious not to over-rotate, which can throw you off balance and make you vulnerable to counterattacks. The turn should be sharp and controlled, not exaggerated.
  • Dropping Your Guard:
    Never drop your guard when turning. Keep your hands in position to defend against incoming strikes. Allowing your hands to drop during the turn makes you an easy target for a clean shot.
  • Too Wide or Narrow Stance:
    Ensure that your stance remains shoulder-width apart after the turn. A stance that is too wide may slow down your movement, while a narrow stance may leave you unbalanced.

  • Use the Turn to Set Up Strikes:
    At an advanced level, the turn right can be used to set up strikes. By pivoting quickly and changing angles, you can bait your opponent into a strike, then counter immediately with a hook or elbow.
  • Angle Creation:
    After the turn, youโ€™ll have a better angle for striking. This allows you to use elbows, hooks, or roundhouse kicks that are harder to defend against when delivered from the side or behind your opponent.
  • Turn Right and Enter the Clinch:
    After executing the turn, you can close the distance and immediately enter into the clinch. The clinch is a great place to land knee strikes and control your opponentโ€™s posture for throws or sweeps.

The turn right in Muay Thai is an essential movement that helps change angles, evade attacks, and create new opportunities for striking or clinching. Mastering this movement ensures that you remain unpredictable, controlling both offensive and defensive aspects of the fight. Whether used to evade, counter, or press an attack, the turn right is a crucial tool for controlling the flow of a Muay Thai fight.