Muay Thai Clinch Explained (Beginners Guide)

One of the most distinct and crucial aspects of Muay Thai is the clinch. Mastering the clinch can be a game-changer, offering a strategic advantage and an effective way to dominate opponents. 

This article explores the fundamentals, techniques, and strategic applications of the Muay Thai clinch.

What is the Muay Thai Clinch?

The Muay Thai clinch involves gripping the opponent, typically around the neck or torso, to control their movements and open opportunities for knee strikes, elbows, and throws. Unlike other combat sports where clinching is a method to stall the action, in Muay Thai, the clinch is an offensive weapon.

Clinch Positions in Muay Thai

The clinch in Muay Thai allows fighters to control their opponents, deliver devastating strikes, and score points. Understanding the various clinch positions is essential for mastering this technique. 

Each of the following positions offers distinct advantages and tactical opportunities. 

Double Collar Tie (Plum)

The Double Collar Tie, commonly known as the “Plum,” is perhaps the most recognized clinch position in Muay Thai. This position provides excellent control over the opponent’s head and posture, making it a dominant offensive tool.

To execute the Double Collar Tie: 

• Start by placing both hands around the back of your opponent’s neck.
•  Overlap your fingers to ensure a secure grip. 
• Press your forearms against their collarbone, maintaining close contact to limit their movement. 

This position allows you to pull their head down, breaking their posture and making them more open to knee strikes.

Strategically, the Plum position offers several advantages. You can deliver powerful knee strikes to the body, ribs, and head and cause big damage. Also, you can manipulate their balance and create opportunities for throws and sweeps. 

Additionally, the Double Collar Tie serves as an excellent platform to transition into other clinch positions or to set up elbow strikes.

Single Collar Tie

The Single Collar Tie is a versatile position that provides control over one side of the opponent’s upper body. This position offers opportunities for strikes and transitions, which is why you can see fighters going for it in just about every fight.

To achieve the Single Collar Tie:

• Grip the back of the opponent’s neck with one hand while controlling their arm or shoulder with the other. 
• Use your forearm to press against their collarbone or jawline, maintaining leverage by keeping their head close to your shoulder. 
• This position allows you to deliver knee strikes and elbows with your free hand, exploiting openings in their defense.

In addition to offensive strikes, the Single Collar Tie offers better angle control. You can pivot and reposition more easily to keep the opponent off balance. 

From there, you can also transition to other clinch positions, such as the Double Collar Tie or Inside Clinch.

Double Underhook Position

The Double Underhook Position is a powerful clinch position where you control the opponent’s upper body by positioning your arms under their armpits and clasping your hands behind their back.

To achieve the Double Underhook Position, slide both arms under the opponent’s armpits and lock your hands behind their back. Keep your elbows tight to your body to maintain a strong grip. Use your head to press against their chest or face, controlling their posture and limiting their movement.

This position provides excellent control, allowing you to manipulate the opponent’s upper body and set up throws or takedowns. With a strong grip and using your body weight, you can off-balance the opponent and make them vulnerable to knee strikes and sweeps.

The Double Underhook Position is particularly effective for neutralizing an opponent’s offense and creating opportunities for dominant attacks.

Cross Lock Position

The Cross Lock Position is a less common but highly effective clinch technique that involves crossing your arms around the opponent’s neck and one of their arms.

To execute the Cross Lock Position, cross one arm over the opponent’s neck and the other under their arm, locking your hands together. Apply pressure by squeezing your arms and pulling the opponent’s head and arm towards your body.

This position disrupts their posture and limits their ability to counter.

The Cross Lock Position offers several strategic advantages. By controlling the opponent’s head and arm, you can deliver powerful knee strikes to the body and head. Additionally, this position allows for quick transitions to other clinch positions or throws, keeping the opponent off balance. Use the Cross Lock Position to dominate the clinch exchange and create opportunities for effective strikes and takedowns.

Over-Under Clinch

The Over-Under Clinch, also known as the “50/50” clinch, involves one arm over and one arm under the opponent’s arms, creating a neutral but controlled position.

To execute the Over-Under Clinch:

• Position one arm over the opponent’s arm while the other goes under their opposite arm.
• Secure a grip on their back or side, maintaining close contact.
• Keep a solid base and use your hips to control the opponent’s movements.
• This position neutralizes the opponent’s offense while maintaining control over their movements.

The Over-Under Clinch is excellent for setting up throws and sweeps by shifting the opponent’s weight. Use this position to transition to more dominant clinch positions or break and reset the clinch.

Knee and Elbow Strikes from the Clinch

Here are some of the most used knee and elbow strikes from different clinch positions.

Straight Knee (Khao Trong)

From the clinch, pull the opponent’s head or body down slightly to create an opening. Drive your knee straight up into their midsection or ribs, ensuring you use the point of your knee for maximum impact. Target the midsection, ribs, or solar plexus.

This specific strike carries a lot of force and can do a lot of damage when placed right.

Diagonal Knee (Khao Chiang)

Twist your hips and drive your knee diagonally into the opponent’s ribs or thigh. Pull their head or body towards the opposite direction to maximize impact.

Horizontal Knee (Khao Tat)

The horizontal knee is delivered horizontally, often targeting the opponent’s midsection or lower body. It is useful for breaking the opponent’s posture and creating openings for follow-up strikes.

Horizontal Elbow (Sok Tad)

The horizontal elbow is a powerful strike delivered horizontally to the opponent’s head or neck. It can cause cuts and knockouts, making it a highly effective strike in close-quarters combat.

Uppercut Elbow (Sok Ngad)

The uppercut elbow is delivered in an upward motion, targeting the opponent’s chin or jaw. From the clinch, drive your elbow upwards into the opponent’s chin or jaw. Use your free hand to control their head or guard against counterattacks. When timed well, the uppercut elbow can cause knockouts and severe disorientation. 

Spinning Elbow (Sok Klap)

The spinning elbow is a dynamic and powerful strike, often delivered with a spinning motion to generate maximum force. To execute this move, disengage slight from the clinch. Then, spin your body, and drive your elbow into the opponent’s head or body as you complete the spin.

Why Muay Thai Clinch Is So Effective?

The clinch offers several strategic advantages in a fight. Understanding these can help fighters utilize the clinch effectively.

Damage

The clinch creates opportunities for powerful knee strikes and elbows, which can inflict significant damage. To maximize offensive potential, aim for the opponent’s midsection, thighs, and head. Use close-range elbows to target the head and face.

Defensive Control

Using the clinch defensively can neutralize an opponent’s offense. By controlling their movements and preventing them from striking, fighters can buy time to recover or set up counterattacks.

Scoring Points

In Muay Thai, judges score based on effective aggression, control, and clean strikes. The clinch allows fighters to demonstrate dominance and control, which can influence judges’ decisions.

Wearing Down the Opponent

The clinch can tire out the opponent by forcing them to wrestle for control and defend against strikes. Though it may look easy, it’s not. Thai clinch is exhausting. Over time, this can sap their energy and make them more vulnerable to attacks.

How To Improve Muay Thai Clinch Skills?

Mastering the clinch requires dedicated training and practice. Repetition is key. Regularly drill the basic and advanced clinch moves with a training partner to build muscle memory and improve execution. Also, pay close attention to:

• Strength and Conditioning — Building strength, particularly in the upper body and core, enhances clinch performance. Exercises like pull-ups, deadlifts, and core workouts improve the necessary physical attributes.
• Flexibility — Flexibility in the shoulders, hips, and legs aids in executing clinch techniques effectively. Regular stretching and yoga can help maintain and improve flexibility.
• Foot Positioning — Proper foot positioning enhances balance and control in the clinch. Place your feet inside your opponent’s stance to destabilize them. Use your hips to push or pull the opponent off balance.
• Arm control — Controlling the opponent’s arms is crucial for limiting their offensive capabilities and creating striking opportunities. Grasp the opponent’s wrists to control their hand movements. Hold the biceps to limit the opponent’s arm movement and create openings for knee strikes.