| Muay Thai kickboxing is also known as simply | | | | foot jabs, are designed to be thrown quickly and |
| Muay Thai. It is a martial art that is practiced | | | | to be short, powerful bursts designed to throw an |
| throughout the world, but originated in Southeast | | | | opponent off balance. |
| Asia. Muay Thai is also known as the "art of eight | | | | The Teh is an angle kick, which is help by most |
| limbs" because it uses hands, elbows, shins, and | | | | martial artists to be the most powerful kick in |
| knees to strike opponents. Originally, Muay Thai | | | | any martial art. The angle kick uses the rotation |
| incorporated the use of the head, but as the | | | | of the entire body to create power. It's similar to |
| martial art has developed, the use of the head | | | | a roundhouse kick in karate, but it doesn't have |
| has declined. | | | | the extension of the leg from the knee. Most |
| Muay Thai kickboxing has become very popular in | | | | Muay Thai kick boxers combine this move with a |
| the United States since the mid 1990's when | | | | counter-rotation of the upper body to increase |
| mixed martial arts hit the scene, particularly in the | | | | the power. |
| Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. With the | | | | In order to block the Teh kick, a fighter will use |
| popularity of the UFC, the Ultimate Fight | | | | his shin. This shin is the strongest part of the leg |
| Championship, mixed martial artists became | | | | for a Muay Thai kick boxer and a well trained |
| convinced of the importance of learning and | | | | fighter will use it to block instead of his foot or his |
| mastering MTB. Being competent in Muay Thai | | | | ankle. Both the foot and the ankle have more |
| gave a mixed martial artist a distinct advantage | | | | moving parts and are more elaborate, and more |
| over someone who wasn't. | | | | prone to breakage or damage. Other fighting |
| Muay Thai kickboxing is a full body contact sport | | | | kicks are used by Muay Thai kick boxers such as |
| that is different from other striking sports in that | | | | an axe kick or a spinning back kick. |
| it utilizes the entire body in the striking | | | | Training in MTB is intense. Since it is a full body |
| movements. The fighter rotates from the hip, | | | | contact sport, conditioning is an important factor |
| using the rotation to create power in his strike, | | | | in the success of a fighter. A highly conditioned |
| using his hands, elbows, shins, or knees. | | | | kick boxer will outlast and be more successful |
| There are two primary kicks in MTB, the Teh and | | | | than a kick boxer who is not in good shape. MTB |
| the Teep. The Teep is a foot jab. It is mainly | | | | is an integral part of mixed martial arts and so |
| used as a defensive technique to gain distance | | | | when doing mixed martial arts training, it's |
| between a fighter and his opponent. The Teep is | | | | important to become an accomplished kick boxer. |
| also used to ward off attacks and to try to get | | | | Learning MTB takes dedication and perseverance. |
| an opponent off balance. These Teep kicks, or | | | | |