Un-readability Pt. I - Straight Punches

One of the most important principles to giving our attacks and combinations the greatest chance possible to land on our target is simply to execute them without showing what we’re about to do. In all situations but especially at the highest levels of combat or competition, even a split-second of a “tell” can be picked up on and be the difference between landing our attack, or having our attack parried, blocked or dodged, and even countered.

Because this principle is crucial to our entire game in Muay Thai, it’s important to keep it in mind while we’re working. During a full-length training session or workout, we throw lots of repetitions of our techniques and combinations, and one of the easiest parts to lose focus on and let slip is the very beginning of throwing — not letting our attack become readable. As our muscle memory builds and we begin to focus on making our attacks harder and faster and keeping our form and balance correct, we can fall into a rhythm on the bag or on the pads and stop paying proper attention to that first part of our attack.

Being un-readable can be just as important as being fast or generating a lot of power, because someone fast who has a tell when they’re about to throw gives their opponent a chance to foil and counter their attacks. Meanwhile, someone who has un-readable attacks which don’t show themselves developing can have a lot of success landing attacks without needing to be blindingly fast.