Insane Kick Power...
and The Perfect Stylistic Combination
Today's video is so mind-blowingly impressive that I'm honestly having a hard time figuring out where to start.
The first time I saw Buakaw Banchamek kick someone, I thought to myself, "How is that other guy still alive?"
He strikes with a shin that's heavier than a bat, and hard as bone... ripping it with speed and power like I've never seen... into the squishiest parts of his opponent's bodies.
As they weaken, the frequency of ludicrously powerful, well randomized kicks intensifies.
Body. Body. Body. Leg. Body. Low Shin. Head. Body.
It doesn't even matter if the guy defends it. Buakaw kicks down trees to amuse his friends. He doesn't care if he kicks your forearms.
But your forearms will most likely care.
A wise, crying, Native American man once said, "A dog only has a mouth."
YOU KNOW IT'S ONLY ATTACK. He's going to try biting your probably-disgusting human flesh.
Despite this obvious predicability, it still sucks terribly to fight a dog.
THAT is the feeling that I have about Buakaw's kicks... but he is far from a one trick pony.
When an opponent tries to counter his kicks, he'll slip 5 punches in a row...
He's like a third-world version of Floyd Mayweather, with better English reading comprehension. It's some of the best Head Movement in Muay Thai... other than Lerdsilla.
He knocks people out cold with sneaky and brutal hooks. Muay Thai guys usually have pitiful hooks. His are the antithesis of pitiful. He is The Unpitiful.
Buakaw has combined the elements of Muay Thai and Boxing perfectly.
Some thoughts on this striking style hybrid:
Boxing is obviously an incomplete style. If you're only training to defend punches, you get your legs kicked out from underneath you.
Boxers can't even fight at the same distance from their opponent when kicks are introduced. Suddenly, a their 'entries' need to get a foot bigger in order to hit people.
They end up befuddled... which is not a word that I use lightly.
Muay Thai is similarly an incomplete style.
These guys are TERRIBLE punchers in most cases.
Thai fighters mostly stand there and try to chop each other down like trees, instead of relying on the sweet movement science that elaborately positions a fighter to sneak in an undefended shot.
They also have a HORRIBLE defensive tendency to just cover their heads. So, a good boxer can light up the body, and work some great combinations that usually end up sneaking in some big shots.
Boxing is a great way to 'mess up' a Muay Thai fighter.
And Muay Thai is a great way to mess up a boxer.
TO HAVE THE PERFECT FIGHTING STYLE, YOU MUST HAVE BOTH.
As you progress, you can add the ridiculous kick power, the blazing sweeps, and a game that becomes your own. I think that Buakaw might be my 'favorite' fighter, when it comes to molding a realistically attainable, but diabolical stand up fighting style.
(But alas... to truly be the best fighter, you need to hit the ground as well 😉
If you haven't already watched this video... you can do so now.
Have a fantastic weekend!
-Trav
P.S. I'm still working on the 'fundraiser' results announcement. It's a tough video to make, because I am balancing the delivery of a powerful message with the announcement of a 'good deed' that we did... I don't want to make it seem like I'm trying to just draw attention to myself.
I also don't want to convolute the message by promoting my Knife Defense Mastery course... but the story is is about a damn knife attack, and we raised funds by selling my Knife Defense course, so I'm sure I will have a million questions about it.
In essence, I'm trying to deliver a motivational message without making it seem self-promoting... and it's a tough line to balance.
It shall come out soon. (All said and done, we may have raised close to $5,000 for the little guy. I haven't checked the PO Box yet, or counted. But... this is my guestimate!
Again, have a fantastic weekend.