Martial Arts Review of: Master Sken Instructional DVD ‘Dynamic Muay Thai’ By: Tony Terranova (Martial Arts Writer): Date: 8th of July 2006

Master Sken is considered to be one of the most experienced exponents of Muay Thai. He has received the approval of many martial arts publications and establishments. If you get the opportunity to meet him you will find that he possesses a visible integrity and willingness to help, something which he shares with his students and fellow peers.

The intention of this article is to share with the reader a review of his latest instructional DVD ‘Dynamic Muay Thai’ now available from his website; www.mastersken.com. With the advent of modern technology there are now thousands of instructional DVD’s for martial artists to choose from to supplement their training. The content, instruction and production can however range from being poor to brilliant which can make it difficult to find good material.

A detailed discussion of the content of this DVD would take an entire book (let alone a short article) therefore I have only provided a brief summary of the contents. I hope that this article will help fellow martial artists save time and money in the search for good instruction as purchasing this DVD is a wise choice. My training in the martial arts began in the early eighties and I have reviewed several hundred instructional DVD’s and would rank this one amongst my favourites.

During the past ten years, the popularity of Muay Thai has increased as it has shown itself to be an effective art in many events such as: Vale Tudo and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). It is widely accepted that a combination of the grappling arts, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and / or wrestling, when combined with a striking art such as kick boxing or Muay Thai can be very effective in these contests.

Since the days of the gladiators, spectators have enjoyed the thrill of combative contests. This is still true today as a growing number of people are paying to see the modern day combat contests of MMA (mixed martial arts events). If the fighters are to stand a chance of winning MMA tournaments they need to posses the most effective moves each art has to offer. Muay Thai has proven to be one of the most effective that a fighter from any combat system can readily integrate into their existing art.

This DVD provides an arsenal of techniques and combinations that can be used in these contests and for reality based combat. For the purposes of neutrality no reference is made in this article on the Thai terminology used by Master Sken as the viewer can learn these in their correct pronunciation from the DVD. This intention of this article is to illustrate the usefulness of these instructions by Master Sken to all martial artists.

The MMA contests have shown that combat can basically be divided into three phases (which are explained in the later part of this article). Each phase is defined by the amount of body contact and the level of control that each fighter has over the other. This DVD demonstrates and combines many techniques that can be used in the first and second phases of combat.



The first phase of combat is when neither fighter has any body contact or grip on the other and the fighters are free to move. They move to avoid being hit; to set up strikes; and to position themselves to shoot and take their opponent down to the ground. There are no constraints on their movements. This has been referred to as the free movement phase, which allows freedom of movement to both fighters.

For this first phase of combat Master Sken provides a dynamic illustration of the offensive Muay Thai techniques used to punch and kick that incorporate the use of; hands; elbows; legs and knees.

Punching

His demonstrations of the straight punch (often called the straight cross) are integrated into a variety of combinations making this one of the many effective tools in the Thai system. He uses a variety of set punching moves which utilize jabs, hooks, uppercuts, feints and footwork to set up the straight punch.

He also demonstrates other specific moves to set up different punches such as the hook and the jab as counter strikes with lateral body movements. He maintains the use of an effective guard while punching by keeping his hands high and close to the face providing protection against potential counter attacks.

The DVD also shows these combinations in slow motion making it easier to study his body kinetics (movement). He uses efficient footwork and the transfer of his body weight through the hips, shoulders, arm, elbow joint, and hand to deliver focused punches that at the moment of impact. He also demonstrates how to move away from an opponent after a punch is delivered re-establishing the correct distance and control to deliver another technique.

Kicking

In the many combinations used on the DVD he integrates and executes the low kick with classical Thai circular movements of the entire body to strike the opponent's leg with the upper part of the shin and uses the Thai high roundhouse kick with efficiency generating explosive power by rotating the hip. Master Sken’s head high kicks are impressive however his demonstration of the low kick, elbow and knee techniques establishes that they are potentially the most damaging moves in the Thai system.

He also demonstrates other specific moves to set up the kicks which are used offensively and as counter attacks by maneuvering with lateral movements to a new position from which he can deliver the next blow. When demonstrating the Front kick he raises the knee upward to a defensive stance in readiness for the strike with the hip locked. He demonstrates the front kick for both offensive (striking) and defensive (pushing the opponent away) purposes.


Elbows

The Muay Thai elbow strike is a weapon of mass destruction capable of breaking bones and knocking out opponents in a heart beat. He demonstrates the elbow for attacking which is integrated into a variety of set moves and delivered from a compact stance. He uses similar combinations for the elbows as used with the punches and kicks to set up the final blow which illustrates that the elbow can be most effective when set-up with either a jab, a hook and / or combined with a spinning movement.

He also provides techniques for using the elbows for defensive purposes creating a fence against potential attacks. When demonstrating these techniques his body movement and positioning shows us that Thai fighters continually move into striking range with their hands high and their forearms held close together to shield them against potential attacks to the body and the head.

Knees

His illustration on knee techniques with combinations proves that knees are an effective weapon for attacks to the body whilst also providing protection against kicks by using the front of the leg as a shield. He demonstrates the speed that can be developed when attacking with the knees from all angles which are designed to wear down and finish an opponent. In the clinches, many examples are shown of how to combine body feints and pulling (snatching) to expose an opponent’s side for a circular knee strike.

In the demonstrations the foot and toes of the striking leg are pointing to the ground as the body weight shifts downwards to drive up and outwards with the knee. The demonstrations show that an effective knee strike starts by stepping forward and rising up onto the ball of the supporting foot. Within the combinations you can see he leans back slightly just at the end of the technique to extend the impact and to protect against potential counter attacks.

Combinations

It is evident from the DVD that Muay Thai fighters utilize the entire body and rely on using numerous combinations of punches, elbows, kicks and elbows to beat an opponent. The DVD shows that these combinations are designed to create openings for attacks and provides many examples (with and without pad drills) which the martial artist can practice and adapt to suit their own style of fighting.

Each combination uses moves that are synergistic to each other using correct body movements illustrating how fluid and dynamic this art can be. This DVD serves to demonstrate that Muay Thai can enhance a striker’s ability and / or provide the grappler with an equalising element that they can use against strikers. The art is economical and stripped of non-essential moves and drills making it a popular choice for MMA events and real life self protection.


The need to conserve energy in contests such as the UFC is also important if a fighter wants to win. Correct body movements conserve energy whilst delivering maximum impact. This is one of the hardest things to learn. If you take the time to study Master Sken’s body movement in the DVD you will see how to accomplish this by using efficient body kinetics for each move. He is economical with every technique and yet very powerful. The result is he uses minimum energy to deliver maximum impact. He also makes reference to the fact that the mind and body must be connected in combat.

The second phase of combat is referred to as the clinch which is where the two fighters have a controlling grip on each other in a standing position that restrains movement. The moment the two fighters get a grip on each other, the tempo of the fight changes as the movement of one fighter may be constrained by the other and they are no longer free to move. They must now take into account each others movement, grip, and body position so that they can decide the best way to move and which strategy to use.

The DVD demonstrates Muay Thai’s stand-up grappling methods used to bind the opponent for offensive and defensive purposes, (the clinch). Defensively, the concept of "of a fence" is used, in which the shoulders, arms and legs are used to shield a fighter making it difficult for an opponent to successfully deliver their techniques.

The clinch, leg sweeps and takedowns

Illustrations are given of how to grip the neck and force the head down with body controlling techniques. These use the opponents own strength to disrupt and spin them around to a vulnerable and unbalanced position from which a strike and / or takedown can be executed. Demonstrations are given with the opponent’s neck being restrained using the jumping knee technique to strike the head.

Parrying of punches is also used as the initial leading to more complex techniques that ultimately pin the opponent to the floor. There is a variety of takedowns and arm pins that are very similar to some of the moves in Jiu Jitsu which serve to confirm the ease with which this art can be integrated with other systems. The pins are also practical and useful techniques which can be used to neutralize an opponent for reality based combat.

There are many single and double leg sweep techniques used which are also combined with lateral movements breaking the attackers line of attack. The body movement is majestic in that it is continuous and fluid right up to the point of the finishing blow.

The third phase of combat occurs when a fight goes to the ground. This phase happens in most MMA, Vale Tudo contests and in some real combat situations. It usually follows the clinch phase. This phase is referred to as ground combat. The DVD does not concentrate on the ground game as it focuses on finishing the opponent once they have been put on the ground. In a street confrontation the worst place to be is on the floor, therefore there is merit to using the finish techniques demonstrated on the DVD.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Master Sken and his students on providing the martial arts community with a valuable, instructional and inspirational DVD.