Developing Strength in the Clinch
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10-15 minute read
Brought to you by the coaches of ALL POWERS Gym (Panicos Yusuf, Stevie Guest, Elliot Turner, Josh Burley and Jason Lau)
Clinching is a specific close-range strategy where a Muay Thai fighter is allowed to off-balance their opponent by pushing, pulling, holding, kneeing or sweeping. Under Pro-Am and Professional rulesets, elbow strikes are allowed within the clinch exchanges. Most striking sports do not incorporate this aspect into their sport practice (due to rulesets) though many Mixed Martial Arts gyms and UFC fighters have started to incorporate the aspects of clinching within their teachings. Clinching is often practiced barehanded or specific rounds/sessions with gloves worn to imitate fight environments.
Clinching demands both technical skill and physical endurance, as fighters must maintain their posture and disrupt their opponent’s balance while delivering knee and elbow strikes.
Within this guide, we will discuss two approaches in developing strength in clinching through two approaches: the pragmatic (skills practice and drills) and the dogmatic (traditional resistance training/S&C).
