4/19/2023 0 Comments Mai tai sabaki judo![]() In his books the great champion explained in detail how skillful boxers should use side-stepping as much as possible as a safe and effective way to avoid the opponent’s heavy artillery. A famous exponent of this kind of technical attitude was James “Peerless” Driscoll. This name was a clear reference to the elegant evasive tactic of a torero who evades the bull’s charge, in preparation of a deadly stab by his sword. When I was a young boxer I was taught the evasive step at a very early stage of my apprenticeship: the sidestep was called “the bullfighter’s shift” by my trainer. Likewise, many great western Boxing champions made full use of the evasive fighting strategy their Thai counterpart call Salab Fan Pla. The striking similarities with Siamese Salab Fan Pla fighting strategy need no comment. ![]() An example of Tai Sabaki is moving off the line of attack this implies the use of good timing rather than physical strength. In Japanese martial arts such as Karate, Judo or Aikido, Tai Sabaki is the term which relates to body shifting: the shift is usually employed to evade an attack in such manner that the defender ends up in an advantageous position. Many oriental martial arts consider sidestepping a fundamental defensive attitude around which a full combative strategy can be built. An important element of footwork is the coordination of hands and feet when the feet and hands work together the fighter is perfectly balanced, well protected and ready to attack or defend efficiently. Through proper evasive footwork, the Nak Muay will make an opponent miss while best positioning himself in order to deliver strong counter blows from the “outer circle”. In sidestepping, balance must be maintained (the center of gravity must be located midway between the boxer’s feet) in order to be able to attack and defend swiftly at any moment, in a fight. In all kinds of steps the boxer must train both his advancing and retreating strategies. Shin kicks can also be used to attack the legs, back or ribcage, even if a round kick delivered from such a short distance needs very powerful hips’ rotation to be effective. The counterattacks can be executed with the lead hand or with the rear hand, with the front or back knee, with the front or back elbow. By shifting out of the line of the opponent’s strike and by checking his arm, you are positioned in an ideal manner to reach the vital points located on the side of his head. All this, brings as a consequence that your actions can be performed with relative ease, compared to what would happen if the assailant were facing you. Secondly, the attacks you can execute from an angled position are more difficult to counter than those executed from a face to face position. First, only one of the latter’s legs and one arm can reach you instead of two. If your timing is good, you can end up at an angle to the opponent, thus achieving a remarkable tactical advantage over the attacker. In fact, thanks to a well-timed sidestep, you actually blend with the offensive action, depriving the attack of all its aggressive force. By avoiding your enemy’s power, moving to the outside of the line of fire, you can reach a dominant angle from where strikes, grabs and joint locks can be more easily applied. This fundamental maneuver allows you to avoid a frontal collision with any strike the opponent may throw at you. ![]() ![]() This ancestral Siamese fighting strategy teaches how to apply a swift zig-zag step that resembles the alternating (Salab, สลับ) of the teeth (Fan, ปลา) of a fish (Pla, ปลา). This strategy realistically applies what the ancient Latins suggested as the golden rule of any fight, that is “primum vivere” ,i.e. The Mother of all defensive strategies of Muay Thai, the first maneuver taught to all Muay students to keep safe during a fight is called Salab Fan Pla. In fact, the thai Art of Defence ( Sillapha Kan Rab) is a sophisticated defensive system that, once mastered, is the perfect complement to the devastating offensive maneuvers typical of this ancient combat art. However, the Siamese defensive style is to be ranked among the best in Martial Arts, too. Muay Thai’s attacking system is renowned worldwide: a thai boxer’s kicks, knee and elbow strikes are considered some of the most powerful strikes a human being can execute. Hands, feet, legs, knees, elbows and head are used to skilfully attack and defend in hundreds of effective ways. Muay Thai is the Art of fighting with the main body weapons. Salab Fan Pla: footwork, counter technique, life style ![]()
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