In the exhilarating world of Muay Thai, where power and precision merge seamlessly, sweeps and throws are coveted techniques that can turn the tide of any battle. As fighters engage in a symphony of strikes and clinches, mastering the art of sweeps and throws becomes a vital skill for gaining the upper hand against your opponents.
What you’ll be able to do after you finish reading this article is simple; you’ll be able to begin throwing and sweeping your opponents when you’re sparring, competing, or even just practicing. You’ll also be able to control your opponent far better when in the Clinch, which is one of the most effective positions in the world of Muay Thai.
I want you to understand the importance of sweeps and throws in Muay Thai. Not only will you get points on the board when you successfully sweep your opponent to the ground, but you’ll also gain a mental edge in the fight moving forward.
You were able to sweep your opponent; how do you think he feels? Let me tell of the effect it can have on your opponents’ minds; your opponents will feel inferior to you, as you were able to throw them to the ground, whether from the Clinch or from a standing position. This is great for you.
Without further introduction, let’s dive into some of the best sweeps in one of the most aggressive and electrifying combative sports on the globe, Thai Boxing.
#1 – Foot Sweep
The first sweep is one you’ll see in many grappling-based martial arts. It’s used, for example, in Judo and BJJ, which include many throws and takedowns in their teachings. Here’s what it looks like:
The foot sweep involves using a quick and low kick to the inside or outside of the opponent’s front or rear leg. The goal is to catch their foot while it’s in motion, causing them to lose their balance and fall.
The one I encourage you to learn first is the outside foot sweep, which is the simplest one. This allows you to sweep your opponent without any preparation whatsoever. You’ll be able to start from your basic fighting stance and step forward and to the outside. Finally, you’re going to sweep (literally) your foot to the inside (from the outside to the inside.)
Simple as that.
This will allow you to kick off your sweeping game on the right foot (I’m funny, I know.) Now, let’s assume you weren’t able to successfully throw your opponent to the ground. That’s alright and you must prepare yourself for the case where something like that will happen.
The best follow-up to an unsuccessful foot sweep is to use footwork to evade the opponent’s attacks or even throw a few strikes of your own. If you’re interested in learning about basic and advanced footwork movements in Muay Thai, follow this link.
#2 – Teep (Front Kick) Sweep
The second sweep we’ll review is the Teep sweep. This is one you won’t see as often. However, I learned it in my Muay Thai journey and I can say with 100% confidence that it works. Try it out for yourself and experiment with the different ways to execute it.
The Teep is a front kick that can be modified into a sweep by aiming at the opponent’s midsection and sweeping their supporting leg. By pushing the leg with a well-timed teep and following through by sweeping their supporting leg, you can disrupt their balance and send them to the canvas.
As your Teep connects with your opponent’s body, it will cause them to shift their weight backward to absorb the force. This is the moment you capitalize on to execute the sweep.
With your opponent’s weight shifted back, you’ll notice that their supporting leg becomes light and vulnerable to the sweep. At this point, use your rear leg (opposite the leg you teeped with) to sweep their supporting leg, either by hooking your foot behind their ankle or striking their calf area.
This is an aggressive throw, so you must push through and follow up after throwing the Teep.
#3 – Dump (Body Lock Sweep)
The dump is one of the fundamental sweeps. You must learn it and understand how it works if you desire to call yourself a Muay Thai fighter. Many novice trainees think that they’ll learn to jab, cross, and maybe throw a kick or two. However, you understand that sweeps have an unbreakable bond with Muay Thai once you get swept to the ground and it hurts (you know I’m right.)
The dump is a powerful sweep used from the clinch. You’ll control your opponent’s upper body by getting a strong body lock and then taking a step back while lifting and twisting to unbalance them. This move requires good timing and technique.
You want to make sure your hand grips are right. One of your arms should wrap your opponent’s mid back and the other should wrap his arm. You want to utilize your arms by pushing and lifting the opponent while simultaneously throwing him to the side with a sweeping motion from your foot.
You also want to make sure you use your hips, as that’s a key part of making this technique smooth.
#4 – Momentum Throw
The momentum throw is a technique I’ve learned and couldn’t find what it’s called. So if you know what the name of this throw is, leave a comment by going to the end of this article and writing; I’m extremely intrigued to find its name! Anyways, for the sake of clarity, I’ve coined a new throw, the Momentum Throw.
The momentum throw is when your opponent steps forward to get into a clinching position. You want to be careful of him going for an elbow or a Knee strike, as if you try to execute this throw when he goes for a strike, you’ll get into a world of pain.
So right when he clinches you, you’re going to keep his momentum going forward by pulling him and throwing him forward and to a random side. You want to incorporate your hips and a foot-sweeping motion to ensure this momentum throw is done properly and effectively.
#5 – Hip Throw
The hip throw is one of the most effective throws in Muay Thai. It allows you to throw the opponent to the ground using your hips, which are a major part of your body. So you can utilize your hips as kind of a leverage board to throw the opponent on top of them.
This throw involves using your hip and upper body to lift your opponent and toss them over your hip, sending them crashing to the ground. It requires good timing, balance, and leverage.
You want to start, once again, in the Clinch. Then, ensure you have proper hand grips on your opponent. This will prize you with more control, and every single thing you can do for control—is critical, so make sure to do that.
Once you establish proper hand grips, which should be aimed at the upper back and body of your opponent, you want to lift the opponent using your strength and turn your lead foot to where your back is going to be facing the opponent. Finally, in one swift motion, you use your hips as a leverage board to throw the opponent on top of them to finish the sweep and gain the advantage in the fight.
#6 – Catch and Sweep
The catch and sweep is a classic Muay Thai technique used to counter an opponent’s roundhouse kick by catching their leg and then sweeping their supporting leg, causing them to lose balance and fall. Mastering this technique requires good timing, precision, and practice
Once you catch the kick, keep a firm grip on your opponent’s leg to control their movement. You can use your other hand to cover the caught leg for added control and to avoid strikes with their free leg.
Catching the kick isn’t as simple as it sounds. It requires a lot of practice and focused intention to understand how one can do that. If we’re being honest, it’s a dangerous move to go for, as your opponent just threw a roundhouse kick, which can be devastating. Thus, ensure you get the timing to be as precise as possible.
With the kick caught and controlled, it’s time to execute the sweep. Simultaneously, use your leg (the one on the same side as the hand catching the kick) to strike or hook behind your opponent’s supporting leg. This sweeping motion is usually aimed at the calf or the back of their knee.
#7 – Clinch Sweeps
The last sweep we’ll review is not a single one, but a group of sweeps you must begin practicing. The Clinch is one of the most effective and dominant positions in Muay Thai. Therefore, you must learn to use this position effectively.
One of the best ways to ensure your dominance over your opponent while being in the Clinch is to throw him to the ground. This will not only give you a physical advantage, but also a mental one, as your opponent will feel inferior to you, and rightly so.
So here are the best sweeps you can curate from the Muay Thai clinch:
- Dump (Body Lock Sweep)
- Inside Leg Sweep (Trip)
- Outside Leg Sweep (Trip)
- Double Knee Tap (Knee Block Sweep)
- Foot Sweep from Double Collar Tie
- Arm Spin Sweep
Start practicing some of these. Ensure you begin using them if you want to see more results from your clinching game and start winning more fights and competitions.
Final Words
Mastering the art of sweeps and throws in Muay Thai can elevate your skills to a new level, giving you a significant advantage in the ring. From the elegant teep sweep that disrupts your opponent’s balance to the powerful hip throw that sends them soaring over your back, each technique demands practice, precision, and determination.
So don’t expect to see noticeable results in a short period. Getting this right, especially in real-time, is going to require a lot of hard work, effort, dedication, and consistency.
You must remain consistent in your Muay Thai career to see any results whatsoever. So get over to your fighting gym and start practicing these sweeps!
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