KHAN 4 KNEEING
Defending Knee
The use of the knee, as well as the use of the elbow, in Muaythai is a unique art by which anyone seeing the fight will immediately identify it as Thai boxing. Practicing the use of the knees in a fight involves some difficulties and though it is not hard to learn is hard to execute properly and effectively. With successful practice it can be a great weapon for close-range engagement. The animation presents the art of knee work in a variety of forms, which can be divided in two categories, namely, hand-free/arm-free knee use and knee use with the aid of the hand or arm. Knee use has to be practiced in pairs. Hence, the student should thoroughly learn the theory before practical application in order to prevent any possible injury or accident. Each item of knee work is precisely described step-by-step, with animated illustrations and useful tips to ensure clear understanding and visualization.
1. Khao Trong


it can also be used as a shield for preventing the opponent’s attack. Knee striking can be done by putting the weight onto the back foot and transfer to the front leg and thrusting the knee straight upwards. Putting the weight to the back foot will help to transfer more weight to the front leg’s knee. Make sure to harden the muscles around the abdomen, bend the knee and push the body out is a good knee striking posture.

2. Khao Chiang


If the opponent dodges to the right then you should strike with the left knee, but if the opponent dodges to the left then the boxer should strike with the right knee. You should always keep your chin in, keep your guards up to protect the face and the stomach at all times. Diagonal knee strike is best to do when the opponent is approaching in and you should try to step back, sway, clinch, hold, swing, or yank then you can launch the diagonal knee strike at the stomach or chest of the opponent. This strike will stop the opponent’s approach and give you an advantage.

3. Khao Khong
The turning of the hip will put the weight to the knee to create a strong impact since your includes your weight from the middle part of your body into the impact zone.
4. Khao Tad
Striking from the left to the right, or from the right to the left with the knee, leg and the foot paralleled to the ground. The target of horizontal knee strike is to the upper body, stomach, and rib area of the opponent. By twisting or hardening your abdominal will create firmer impact to the strike.
5. Khao Nhep
to strike the knee diagonally toward the target such as the ribs or the back. By twisting the body and using the driving force to hit the target, it will increase the attacking force for the kneeing technique.
6. Khao Noy
Khao Noy is called “Khao Lai Mod” or “Khao Jok Jak” and is used to distract the opponent when approaching or clinching which would cause discomfort to the upper thigh, the bottom or the abdomen, also, to drop off the opponent tactics and strength. Whilst intertwining involves the neck, chest and cross clinching, boxers are supposed to use the sharp part of the kneecap to hit these body parts as stated above.
7. Khao La
8. Khao Hone
This is the strike that uses the hands or arms to hold the neck or the shoulder or head of the opponent and striking upwards. The force of holding the opponent’s head down and striking upwards with your knees at the same time can cause serious injuries to your opponent, especially hitting the face or the chest.
9. Khao Kod
With your body weight, strike down with your knees and using the knees to press down onto the target. A tall boxer will have an advantage doing this strike. When striking and pressing down, it will create a strong impact to the target, but when doing this make sure to hold your position and stance, it will help to protect yourself right after.
10. Khao Yon
11. Khao Yor
This strike uses your hands to push the body of your opponent down in order to lift your knee to strike. The momentum of the lift will be greater with this strike causing a powerful hit. For example, pressing your hands at the knees of your opponent and jump to launch the knee strike or you can start by pressing down on the lap or the upper groin of your opponent.
12. Khao Yeap
13. Khao Kuu
The strike that uses both knees to hit the chin and chest of your opponent and is considered to be a dangerous strike as well. Because the weight of the approaching opponent is combined with the momentum of the impact of both knees could cause serious injuries to the opponent to the lungs or the ribs. Therefore this move is only used for demonstrations by a well-trained boxer.
14. Khao Loi

The front leg is kept straight and then bent when striking or approaching the targets. The left and the right arms should always be covering the chin closely to protect you if the opponent happens to counter attacks. Look for the chance to use the flying knee strike when the opponent loses balance, not aware of it, or if your very skilled at it, you can use it to fight back when the opponent approaches you with a miss hit.

15. Gan Duay Khan
Defending with arms means to protect the weak points of the body with arms like using elbow to protect the chest, but however, after using this blocking technique, boxers should be in a ready position to strike back at once.
16. Jaap Thum
There are many tactics to take down the opponent, but according to the boxing rule, boxers are not allowed to cross the opponent’s leg. Therefore, boxers can use the “Bang Kho Jab” tactic and push or throw the opponent down without using too much strength.
17. Gan Duay Khao
Gan duay Khao means to cover up all the weak parts by kneeing. However, most blocking tactics usually get a lot of massive impacts from the opponent’s attacks, therefore, boxers must use stronger body parts to defend their body than the parts that the opponent uses to attack, for example, using knee to block the attack from the chest and the ribs. However, as boxers are blocking, also, they must be ready to make a counter-strike.
18. Plak Hai Seay Lhak
First, boxers use “Bang Koh Jhab” strategy which means to block the attack from the opponent, then grab and trap the opponent’s body parts like arms or legs. After using “Bang Koh Jhab” tactic, boxers must take the opponent down by pushing with full strength on both upper arms. After blocking, boxers must be in a ready position to strike back at once.