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After we've seen the 15 "Mae Mai" or major techniques of Muay Thai now we shall study the 15 "Luk Mai" or minor techniques. Luk Mai also varies from camp to camp but many are common. Compared to the Mae Mai they are more multi-dimensional & thus appears more spectacular. Some of them are very dangerous & banned in the Ring, some are not used, others are still often seen used by fighters today. Let us now take a look.

1. Elephant thrusting its tusks 大象戳牙 - Parry an opponent's left hook, at the same time swaying to the inside to deliver a left uppercut to his jaw.

2. Foot touches face 迎面一脚 - As opponent advances to attack, immediately deliver a high push kick to his face.

3. Giant steals the girl 巨人拐女 - Step to the outside to avoid opponent's punch, then swiftly move in to grab him & deliver a hip throw. Banned in the Ring for some time, but now used again due to influence from Chinese Sanshou's various throws.

4. Rama draws the bowstring 天神拉弓 - As opponent jumps up to throw a double elbow smash to your head, swiftly move in to block his elbows with the forearm, then deliver a left uppercut to his chin.

5. Tiger crosses the stream 猛虎涉川 - As opponent delivers a high push kick to your face (foot touches face), side step to the left & counter with a low push kick to the thigh or knee joint of his supporting leg to make him fall.

6. Deer looks back 鹿后望 - As opponent moves forward to attack, immediately turn & deliver a reverse push kick (back thrust) to his body or face. Seldom used by Muaythai fighters, but American kickboxers of old times like to use it.

7. Hiran overturns the earth 喜然卷土 - Side-step to block an opponent's round kick with both arms, then turn forward to throw a reverse elbow to his face. Some fighters use this technique in the Ring to an instant KO effect.

8. Serpent sneaks to the ocean 龙度大海 - When opponent delivers a round kick to your head, duck & counter with a low push kick to the thigh or knee joint of his supporting leg to make him fall. Similar to "tiger crosses stream".

9. Hanuman presents the ring 猴神献环 - Duck to avoid opponent's punch, then get up with a double uppecut to his jaw. Similar to "lifting mount sumeru", but more classical.

10. Vietnamese cast fishing net 小阮撒网 - Step to the outside to parry opponent's push kick, then counter with your own front kick to the thigh or knee joint of his attacking leg.

11. Taye supports the pillar 塔耶撑柱 - Duck & parry opponent's high round kick, then counter with a low push kick to the thigh or knee joint of his supporting leg.

12. Swan with broken wings 天鹅断翼 - Block opponent's right hook & throw an elbow strike to his upper arm or collar bone. This should cripple his attacking arm.

13. Threading the flower garland 串花环 - As opponent throws a hook to your head, block & immediately step forward to drive the tip of your elbow into his solar plexus. Sometimes used in the clinch, this is like the center gate elbow strike of Bajiquan.

14. Monk sweeps the floor 和尚扫地 - As opponent swings a round kick at your body or head, immediately counter (ducking optional) with a low kick to his supporting leg to make him fall. This requires superb timing. Some Muaythai fighters, as well as Karate fighters can use this technique very well.

15. Slicing the cucumber 切黄瓜 - Also known as "Paht Malah" in Thai. Block an opponent's hook punch, then step forward to throw a rising elbow to his jaw. Often seen in the Ring, used during the clinch. It can do some serious damage, but it seldom causes a KO.

Some other Luk Mai: Sakra drops his thunderbolt 帝释落杵 - As opponent moves in to grab you, swiftly step on his knee & shoulder to throw an elbow smash to the top of his skull. Can be used without stepping as well, but you will need to jump quite high. Though this is a demonstration technique, it will kill an opponent if sucessfully performed.

Some other Luk Mai: Stairway to heaven 一步登天 - As the opponent moves forward to attack, quickly step onto his knee & deliver a knee thrust to his jaw. Sometimes it is delivered with both knees, sometimes used without stepping, resulting in a flying knee. Can be seen in the Ring in earlier times, but now hardly used, turning it into another demonstration technique. Causes instant KO if accurate.

Some people believe that since Sanda fighters, kickboxers & grapplers have beaten Muaythai on some occasions, its efficiency as the ultimate striking art is no longer there. However, Muaythai has such an adaptable essense that once it gets used to these different styles, it can eventually overcome them & reign supreme again. In all the mixed martial arts events like PRIDE, UFC & VALE TUDO etc, whenever fighters are not on the ground, we can never miss the shadow of Muaythai, in the form of low kicks, clinches & knees. And in the world of stand-up fighting today, we don't even have to mention it. Just think, which K1 champion hasn't trained in Muaythai before? There is no denying that Muaythai is one of the best fighting arts ever invented by Man. A world heritage no less.

*Anyone interested in learning Muay Thai through the above instructional VCD (in english) please email me here. Titled <Noble Art of Muay Thai>, its about an hour long. On sale for just $8.00.

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