Basics of Muay Thai Stance and Movement

Basics of Muay Thai Stance and Movement

The first and most important thing in Muay Thai is your stance. Your feet should be a little wider than shoulder-width, but the key is to feel stable and comfortable, always maintaining your balance. The rear foot is placed behind, but it's important that it’s not directly in line with the front foot – that’s a common mistake. Your hips should always be facing forward toward your opponent, no matter how you move. The rear foot stays on its toes, always ready for a quick movement or strike.

Your hips are slightly pulled back, while your shoulders lean slightly forward. Your weight is centered, and as you move, you distribute it evenly from one foot to the other. Your hands are held high near your head, with the elbows slightly away from the body – remember, this isn't boxing, so you can’t stand like a boxer. Your fists are at forehead level, and your body is always slightly tensed, ready to react.

Basic Movement in Muay Thai:

When moving forward, step first with the front foot, and then the back foot follows. Moving backward is the opposite – back foot first, then the front foot. The same applies to left and right: if you’re moving left, lead with your left foot, and the right foot follows, and vice versa. The goal is to always keep that wider stance to maintain balance and be able to strike with power at any time.

These are the basic movements, but there are many variations – pivoting, circling, and even “galloping.” However, the most important thing is to master these basic movements first, maintain balance, and keep a good stance.

I recommend practicing these movements slowly without quick steps. Once you've mastered the technique, you can start to speed up!