Have you ever been asked by your coach to come up with a combo of your choice and stood there drawing a blank? Do you have a heavy bag at home but don’t know what combos to work on?  Or couldn't think of any good combos when holding pads for your partner?

Here are 3 principles to consider when creating your own combos.

1. Left to Right

A good rule to follow is to flow from one side of the body to the other (ie. left strike right strike, left strike, right strike). This also applies to strikes from different weapon groups (mixing punches and knees).

Example #2: Left jab, right cross, left uppercut, right cross

 Example #3: Right cross, left hook, right low kick

2. Striking Ranges (refer fig. 1.1 above)

In muay thai there are four major ranges - Snug (1), Close (2), Medium (3), Long (4). When combining the individual strikes from these groups, do not connect 2 strikes that are 2 or more ranges apart. For example, a strike from Range 1 (snug) can be connected with a strike from Range 2 (close) but not with a strike from Range 3 or 4 (medium and long). The reason for this is simple: if you can make contact with your elbow strike, you are too close to effectively throw a long range weapon like a pushkick! Vice versa, if you are standing afar and throwing pushkicks, and then trying to skip multiple ranges to get on the inside for the elbow strike is extremely dangerous, as a skilled opponent will likely intercept you with a more suitable weapon while you are on your way in.

There are exceptions to this rule. Feints and setups can make it less risky to skip multiple ranges. Faking a push kick (Range 4-Long) to temporarily distract your opponent while simultaneously jumping in for an elbow strike (Range 1-Close) is an example of a feint tactic. However as a beginner to intermediate practioner, you should stick with the basics during sparring. Here is a great fight between Buakaw and Mike Zambidis to illustrate why one has to be careful when skipping multiple ranges in muay thai.  Zambidis unsuccessfully attempts to "jump" into the close range from the long range with hooks only to be punished repeatedly by swing kicks.  When in close, his punches are nullified by the superior knee strikes and clinch throws.

3. Keeping it Simple

Don’t get too crazy with the length of your combo! The longer the combination, the more your technique for each individual strike will suffer. What’s more important than volume is the placement (aka accuracy and precision) of these strikes in conjunction with timing as well as choosing the most suitable strike for that specific situation. I suggest 2 to 4 hit combos (no more than 5!), and keeping it to the very basic strikes (refer to the strikes in fig. 1.1 above). 

Here is a collection of 10 basic combos by Sean Fagen.

Some of you may now be thinking, “These ideas and concepts are too technical and won’t work in a real fight.” Well my friend, you obviously don't know good muay thai. Go watch some Samart, Rodtang, or Saenchai fights.

The humble student who trains consistently over the long haul will eventually trump the talented one who lacks the work ethic. As a muay thai coach and current Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, I’ve seen countless examples where the hardworking individual reaches a higher level of success far more often than that of their mere talented counterpart.  

The secret lies in those days when you don’t feel like training, but you do it anyway. 

There are days where you will feel uninspired, discouraged, and even lost with your training.  But you are not alone.  I have been training most of my life and I can tell you this; I HAVE DAYS WHERE I FEEL THE SAME, and it happens more often to other people than you think.

The trick is not to beat yourself up about it.  Rather, forgive yourself and understand that you are not alone in your feelings.  The highs and lows are all part of the journey. 

Below is a list of equipment you will need for a muay thai class as a beginner and up to the intermediate level.  As you progress in your training, you may require additional specialized equipment for higher level sparring and competition. 

1. Boxing Gloves

A quality pair of boxing gloves go a long way in your training so don’t cheap out on this item.  I have had students try to save money on gloves only to replace them some months later.  A good pair of gloves should last you several years at 3-4 training sessions a week and will cost anywhere between $75-$200.  Velcro straps are suggested as you don’t want to waste time fiddling around with the lace-up gloves.  Leather is best but synthetic leather can be just as good if it's from a reputable brand.  I suggest having 1 pair for heavy bag and pad work (view standard size chart), and 1*16oz pair for partner drilling and sparring.    

2. Shin Pads

Shin pads are used for partner drills, sparring, and in amateur competition.  They are there to protect your shins and feet from excessive damage.  They also act to reduce damage dealt to your partners during training.  From my personal experience, you can get away with a relatively cheaper pair of shin guards since they are not used as frequently as boxing gloves. The lowest you should spend for shin guards would be around the $65 mark and no more than $130 unless you are a competitive fighter who has a taste for the really high end stuff. View standard size chart.

3. Hand Wraps

A hand wrap is a strip of fabric that wraps around your hand and wrist to protect the knuckles and bones from damage induced from punching as well as give additional support and stability to your wrists.  It is absolutely essential that you make it a habit to wear hand wraps every heavy bag and focus mitt workout as they are often overlooked by beginners.  Impact at the wrong angle on a punch can see you with a broken hand and weeks or up to months of recovery time.  You should be washing your wraps after every session so I suggest you have at least 2-3 pairs of hand wraps. 

4. Thai Shorts

Training muay thai isn’t the same without a pair of Thai shorts on!  The high cut of the shorts allow for a wider range of motion, enabling you to kick higher and with ease.  They also do a great job of "wicking" sweat to the fabric's outer surface while drying faster than your average cotton shorts.  Even if Thai shorts are not mandatory for  classes, you can show the coach that you are taking your muay training training seriously by wearing them :).

5. Mouth Guard

A mouth guard should be worn every partner drilling or sparring session to protect the jaw, tongue, and reduce head trauma from punches.  Even when you think it’s going to be a “light” training day, you never know with some partners who always seem to go a little too hard.  You also cannot prevent accidents from happening.  Another reason why you should wear your mouthguard in training is so that you can get used to breathing with a mouth guard on as this will help you easily adapt to that feeling for when you are sparring or competing and required to wear one.

6. Headgear (optional)

These may not be needed until you start sparring, but if you have the funds a headgear is a great addition to your fight kit since you will eventually need one.  For beginners and intermediate who want added protection, go for the headgear that has the padded cheek protection.  The open-face headgear is best for more serious competitors as they allow for better vision while offering a little less face protection.

Knowledge is power, and one of the best ways to acquire knowledge is from reading books. Lots of them. Most of my success in fighting and in business can be largely attributed to the many books that I have read or audio books that I have listened to. Your training does not have to end at the gym. Grab a book and do your homework to increase the rate at which you progress. Here is a list of my personal 5 best fight books that will surely help you with your muay thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu journey:

A Fighter’s Heart: One Man’s Journey Through the World of Fighting
By Sam Sheridan

A man travels around the world to learn and train with the highest level coaches and fighters in an attempt to understand why we fight and what it means to be a fighter. Many fight disciplines are covered in A Fighter’s Heart including muay thai, boxing, jiu-jitsu, MMA and many more.

Great for aspiring fighters looking for inspiration and to learn about the different types of combat systems and what they entail.
Difficulty: Easy to read. Easy to listen to as an audio book.
PREVIEW HERE

The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game
By Sam Sheridan

Sheridan continues his adventures abroad interviewing, training, and fighting alongside the best in the hurt business. Here he explores the psychology behind mental toughness and what it takes to be a world class fighter in the many different fighting arts (muay thai, boxing, jiu-jitsu, MMA, wrestling and more).

For those who want to toughen up and get that mental edge.
Difficulty: Easy to read. Easy to listen to as an audio book.
PREVIEW HERE

The Art of War
By Sun Tzu

The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise by military strategist Sun Tzu. There are 13 Chapters, each covering different military strategy and tactics. These teachings in The Art of War have been adopted by the leaders of today to better understand many areas of life including martial arts, sports, and business.

This book will help you strategize for sparring and competition as well as give you a different mindset when confronting battle.
Difficulty: Hard (requires deep thought to grasp concepts and teachings). Read instead of listen on audio book to better absorb complex topics.
PREVIEW HERE

The Book of Martial Power
By Steven J. Pearlman

The Book of Martial Power explores fundamental principles and philosophies of combat that is translatable in all the varied martial arts including muay thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It covers key concepts such as timing, footwork, angles, relaxation, distance management, economy of scale, the list goes on.

Another book that will aid with your sparring and competition.
Difficulty: Average to Hard (depends on how much analyzing you want to do)
READ SUMMARY HERE

Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee
By Shannon Lee

Lee’s daughter summarizes her father’s work including martial art concepts, principles, and philosophies in Be Water, My Friend. Shannon shows how one can overcome life challenges and self-actualize through the practice and understanding of Bruce Lee’s teachings.

A great book for all combat practitioners who appreciates the art and philosophy behind life and martial arts.
Difficulty: Average to Hard (does require some critical thought)
PREVIEW HERE
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These books all have a special place it my heart as they are greatly aided me in my fight training back in the days. 

NOTE: Keep in mind that the more complex the subject matter, the more difficult it is to follow along on audio as you may need extra time to absorb the information thoroughly. I find reading as opposed to listening better for more in-depth, complex, and philosophical topics.