Sylvie's Technique Vlog #22 - Guard: Palms Facing Outward (17 min) (Patreon)

This technique is something I've only been working with for less than a month, so it's truly something that I'm still learning a lot about just by experimenting with it in my training as I go. This vlog is really about things I've discovered, or am currently discovering, within that short period of time and onward. That's what these Patreon technique vlogs are all about. Not demoing things, but sharing with you things I'm working on, that I've learned from filming with legends, and which I personally find interesting. 

In my first session with Wangchannoi (linked below), which you can see in the Muay Thai Library, he really emphasized what I ended up calling "Ambient Footwork," and I have a technique vlog about that as well. Wangchannoi also emphasized the palms facing forward, but not verbally... he just comes over and actually twists my hands so that my palms face forward. I'm accustomed to them facing each other and I lack flexibility in my wrists, which makes the forward facing hands somewhat difficult for me, so my hands just go back to what they know pretty quickly. So, I credit Wangchannoi for making this technique one that I'm now becoming sensitive to and experimenting with.

Firstly, with palms facing forward you are far more ready to snuff an opponent's punches from a greater distance than if you have them facing each other. You can totally parry punches with the palms facing each other, but you kind of create what I call the 'Saloon Doors" in terms of a guard and it's very, very easy to get through it. It's just a bigger gap. With the palms facing forward, like holding focus mitts, you can reach out and snuff from a greater distance. Of course there's a tradeoff, like how a goalie coming out of his box intercept the ball has tradeoffs, but my experience thus far has been that the forward facing palms offer a much more effective guard than the "Saloon Doors" version of facing each other.

I find myself twisting my fist at the end of jabs better like this, better at slapping punches downward instead of parrying to the side, and better able to slip outside an opponent's guard for "Windshield Wiper" movement (Karuhat) or floating over and around their guard for elbows (Yodkhunpon and Karuhat). That's all good. It also has corrected my overturn of my front side, allowing my general stance to be more squared up. This isn't everyone's problem, so it's not a "solution" to everyone, either. It's just something I'm enjoying. I am still struggling to figure out how to get more power into my jab from this position (I'm not unsure how to do it, I'm just struggling to be consistent) and I do have a harder time keeping my rear hand facing forward than I do my front hand. 

This basic palms forward guard transitions easily into Long Guard, Dracula Guard, and Diamond Guard too. As with all guards, you don't just sit in one guard. You move between guards.

Just something to keep working with and keep seeing what comes out of it.

You can find how Wangchannoi teaches and uses the open palm guard here:

#94 Wangchannoi Palangchai - Deadly Step Counter Fighting (70 min) - watch it here

About Chicken Wing punches (and elbows):

Here is a 2016 technique vlog I did about using a wall to correct your form:

watch it here 

All my Technique Vlogs for Patrons

If you enjoyed this technique vlog check out my other Patron-only technique vlogs:

#21 Your Ambient Footwork (15 min) 

#20 Jang-wa, Rhythm and Timing (15 min)

#19  Training Ruup & Composure  (13 min)

#18   Closing the Door in Long Guar (11 min) 

#17  Static Block for Balance (9 min)

#16 The Diamond Guard (20 min)

#15 Mental Gym, Beginning to Advanced Visualization (19 min)

#14 Getting the Right Hand In (13 min)

#13 Rising on Techniques (6 min)

#12 Control of the Kick (6 min)

#11 Body Position First (11 min)

#10 All About How I Recover (12 min)

#9 Creating Power and Distance At Close Range (9 min)

#8 Where Are Your Feet? Foot Position (9 min)

#7 Evolving in the Long Guard (10 min)  

#6 The Power of Eye Contact (10 min) 

#5 Dieselnoi's Lowkick in the Clinch (12 min) 

#4 Air Knees in the Corner (8 min) 

#3 Acceleration at the End of Strikes (10 min)

#2 The Kem Pivot (12 min) 

#1 Dealing With Fear, How to Cut it Out (13 min)