Thai Boxing in Elgin, IL – 16 Fundamental Lessons

Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is referred to as the “Art of eight limbs” using 2 fist, 2 elbows, 2 knees, and 2 legs as weapons at ones disposal. For ease of learning our Fundamentals, our Thai Boxing program at Fusion Fitness MMA in Elgin focuses on just punches and kicks, or use of the fists and legs.

The program is divided into 16 one-hour individual classes.  These classes can be completed in any order and are intended to introduce new members to Thai Boxing techniques and build a foundation of cardiovascular fitness and strength needed for training.

While all lessons discuss fundamental offensive techniques and principles, each lesson is focused around a defensive principle to better ensure a student’s ability to build a solid foundation of defense and appropriate delivery of attacks.

Step 1: Learn the Techniques

The Fundamentals program is designed so one can start at any point in the course. As a result, students can complete the 16 lessons in any order with ease. Upon enrolling, a Fundamentals attendance card is issued on which we will track a student’s progress every step of the way.

Step 2: Develop Your Reflexes

Once the 16 Fundamentals lessons are completed twice, one qualifies to participate in the Drills For Skills (DFS) Classes. In the DFS class is where a student will sharpen their skills by putting together extended combinations, and be introduced to sparring drills in preparation for sparring in the Masters Class.

Step 3: Earn your Orange Armband

Once students complete each of the Fundamentals lessons three times, and they have completed at least 8 Drills For Skills Classes, they are eligible to test for their Orange Armband. During this test students will be evaluated on their execution of the basic Thai Boxing combinations.  If their reflexes are sharp and their performance meets Fusion’s standards, they will qualify for promotion and will be ready to transition into our advanced program, the Masters Class.

Thai Boxing – Masters Class

Beyond the Fundamentals program students will delve deeper into the techniques of Thai Boxing, adding elbow strikes, knee strikes, and clinching techniques while sharpening and broadening their punching and kicking skills to build a full Thai Boxing arsenal. Organized into a clearly defined systematic curriculum called the Masters Class, its unique structure simplifies the learning journey by organizing Thai Boxing techniques into 3 chapters (Boxing, Kicking, and Elbows/Knees/Clinching).  Each chapter is discussed for one month before moving on to the next.

In the Master Class all 5 Thai Boxing training methods are practiced with the addition of pad work and the availability of sparring, while partner drills and heavy bag training get refined and shadow boxing becomes more focused.

Pad Work

A staple of Thai Boxing training in Thailand, “pad work” or training on the pads, allows for higher intensity training that is safe for both the hitter and holder.  A full range of techniques can be practiced with moderate to full power with a pad holder that can mimic an opponent’s behavior. Learning to both hit and hold the pads is an integral part of the Masters Class.

Sparring

Once a student has graduated from the Fundamentals program they will qualify to attend sparring sessions. In these sessions, students will freely practice landing techniques they have learned in class on each other in a controlled environment while avoiding landing heavy blows and certain techniques deemed too dangerous for sparring. The focus of the sparring sessions is timing, placement, and technical proficiency of moves while maintaining control. Proper sparring equipment is required to attend sparring sessions and any students who cannot control their strikes and spar in a safe manner will not be allowed to participate.

Advancement

Progression for Masters Class students can occur once they have qualified by attending the required classes. After a student has qualified they will be evaluated on their proficiency of Thai Boxing techniques specified for advancement to the next rank.

Fusion Thai Boxing Ranking

Traditionally Thai Boxing has never had belts or a ranking system.  The only belts to be given out are during championship bouts between the best fighters.  While some of our students strive to be competitive champions someday, most simply train to better themselves as individuals.

In the old days, Thai soldiers (usually mature boys) took a piece of cloth that belong to a loved one, usually from the dress of their mother or wife’s scarf that would be blessed by a monk to cast protection. Once blessed, the Prajied or arm ban would be tied above the bicep(s) of a warrior who was entering battle as an amulet. Thai fighters still carry this tradition by wearing an arm ban(s) that is blessed before battle in the ring. Our colored Arm Ban ranking system is a way for students to track their progression while paying homage this cultural aspect of Thai Boxing.

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