Page 304 - Muay Thai Training Exercises

3. Counter Techniques
Counter techniques are always a combination of defense
and attacking techniques. Either you prevent the success
of your opponent’s technique by using a quicker
technique, or you use a defense technique before
continuing with a swift counter. Your opponent will need
to be hit e ectively to stop the subsequent technique.
Always try to counter after a defense; otherwise your
opponent can continue to attack with new techniques.
Generally speaking, counter techniques are more
successful when they require fewer steps to implement.
Some trainers teach techniques with many steps, and
although the use of these techniques is theoretically
possible, in a real ght they are very rare. A ghter won’t
wait until you’ve nished your counter technique but will
try to interrupt it as quickly as possible.
Counter techniques have to be practiced again and
again to perfect the timing for competition. You will
gradually be able to carry out the techniques faster, with
more power, and with better timing until you succeed in
using them instinctively in a fight. It doesn’t make sense to
train in a large number of counter techniques for short
periods; if you do not perfect the techniques in training,
you won’t be able to deliver them in ght. Professional
athletes train in counter techniques in each training
session and improve their skills in this way. Once you find
out who your next opponent will be, your trainer will
start training you in counters speci cally adapted to your
opponent’s conduct in a fight.