Is it true that Muay Thai must be trained with clinching?
99% of Muay Thai camps, including those in Thailand train with clinching. Why? Because this is part of the techniques fighters use in ring fights. When you learn how to clinch, it can be used to pull an opponent for a knee, hug to look busy in front of the crowd and judges, or avoid a direct hit from your opponent by staying close. These are all ring strategies applied in modern day Muay Thai fights. While we can teach clinching to our students, the goal of defending one’s self on the streets are not the same as in the ring. If you engage in a clinch, you will most likely end up grappling afterwards. It’s also a way to drain the energy out of your opponent. On the streets, unless you plan to follow up with ground fighting, it’s adviseable to focus on striking range. There are differences between clinching and grabbing, with the latter usually applied as a follow-up in Muay Thai.
