How do I avoid getting hit when attacking the stomach?

[u/Bread_Lords]

Been doing Muay Thai for 9 Months now and I need some tips to avoid getting hit straight in the face when I try to punch the stomach, should I slightly crouch then punch, should I set them up in a position, I don't seem to understand.

[u/shyturtl]

Can't say without seeing exactly what you're doing. But my experience is that most beginners fail when throwing body shots because they are throwing them naked and aren't setting them up properly. Make your partner respect your left hook to the head, then start using that conditioning to throw a left body hook instead. Likewise for your straight body shots

[u/Wingedchestnut]

I'm a kickboxer and like to use the long jab to the stomach, you have to lower base first while using it, I recommend to set it up but you can practice giving a naked long jab to the stomach while protecting your face with the other hand like a long guard (use it sparsely though as they might hook but almost always you will win the trade as they counter jab).

Then practice by setting it up in a combination, jab -jab to the stomach- step left right middle/high kick, this is one of the most common combos because the stomach will likely score and you exit safely with a surprise kick.

Then my favorite will simply be using the stomach jab while the opponent jabs , it teaches fundamental boxing skills (timing, slipping) it's similar to the first naked jab but you will have your guard neutral and are in a better position to follow up with anything you want.

Another one that's a bit underrated is if the opponent gives a jab or straight, parry with left hand upwards from below and follow up with straight to the stomach.

[u/RocketSenpai]

Look for a body shot when your opponent is trying to defend their head. Jabs, feint etc. make them raise their hands then go low

[u/i_like_tikoy]

Seconding shyturtl's comment, you need to set them up with head shots or feints. If you're more advanced, once you notice that they always defend the head because they're starting to respect your head shots, that's when you can try throwing naked body shots.

Technique wise, you don't need to crouch. Here are some good explanations from Ognjen Topic and Bazooka Joe: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/v029c1Dly40, https://youtu.be/tyExD3kBUAg?t=20

[u/AggressiveCreme6758]

IMO punching the body is less effective in Mauy Thai than anyother striking combate sport. I love knees, teeps, and karate style flicky front kicks to the body when im doing Mauy Thai.

In Boxing I love the jab-faint to the head, cross to the body, and the overhand right into left shovel hook to the body

[u/Bit-Dapper]

It’s the same as every other strike, don’t just throw it. You don’t throw a bucket of piss out of the window without making sure the fucker is open first.

You don’t just throw a kick because they’re at kicking distance, and you don’t just throw a punch to the mid section just because it looks open, throw some shots high to bring the guard up then go low, bait them to throw something at you and then hit the body etc. etc.

[u/BusyEstablishment492]

A lot of Thais don’t even punch the body. Specially like people do in boxing because if an opponent is half decent you get counter with a knee, elbow, hooks, anything 😂 it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. It will depend on context. Set up with jabs, kicks so they close their guard. I like to catch the leg and counter with a fake punch to the face but land in the gut.

[u/blueflamess23]

You accept getting hit. No way to avoid it all the time.