Why & How We Use the Modified Thai Clench

Jeet Kune Do / Stand Up Fighting / Kickboxing / / 3 minutes of reading

Gain Control of the Chaos

I’ve said it before… real fights are chaos. 2 people wildly swinging fists flying everywhere. Ego and emotions all over the place. Logic thrown out the door.

You don’t want to be in that mess.

So stop it and put your opponent into a nightmare that only ends once you end it.

Enter the modified Thai clench.

Why Thai Clench?

Clenching allows you to know exactly where your opponent is. They can’t use footwork, distance, or timing. If you have ahold of their head like you do with a Thai clench then you know exactly where to put your elbow or knee.

Try it. Close your eyes and touch your hand with your opposite elbow or knee.

Another reason is that you can bury their face so they can’t see. You can keep them moving so they are constantly off-balance. An off-balance fighter can’t mount an offense nor escape from your clench.

You have access to some of your most devastating attacks such as knees to the head and body, elbows, head butts, and throws. Plus you can smash their head into walls, tables, etc.

Have you ever seen 2 guys go at it and they accidentally wind up clenching? They just grab and struggle and have absolutely no idea what to do.

Often the heavier person falls onto the smaller one and thus begins the ground fight.

Well if you own the Thai clench, especially the modified version that we do, then you will own the clench and end the fight quickly from here. No one will be able to take you down from here.

Tips for a Great Modified Thai Clench

Wrap your hands around the base of their skull or neck
Wrap your hands deep – your fingers should wrap around to the opposite side of their neck
Don’t interlace your fingers – it gets too complex
Keep your elbows tight together so they can’t escape or do a takedown on you
If you can pull their head to one side and lock their jaw above your biceps and forearm to really lock them in place
Push, pull, or spin them after each strike – if you let them stay still they can get their balance and figure a way out or start hitting you
Keep the clench – once you get it keep it until they are knocked out or knocked silly. Don’t let go and square back up because you will be right back into their chaos instead of you keeping them in your nightmare.
Multiple attackers? – spin your clenched opponent into the way of the 2nd attacker to create a temporary human shield. Smash their groin to drop them and move to the next attacker quickly.

Summary

The RAT or Rapid Assault Tactics has been battle tested in real fights and it really works… really well.

The modified Thai clench is a cornerstone of the RAT and for good reason. If you really want to survive violence the modified Thai clench is an invaluable tool… no a must-have tool in your belt.

Until next time,

Brian Copeland

Related Posts