FUSION THAI BOXING FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM
The Fusion Thai Boxing Fundamentals program is our beginner program for adults, introducing students to the techniques that will lay the foundation of their Fusion Thai Boxing journey. The program is structured into 9 one-hour classes of fundamental attacks, defense, and footwork for Muay Thai and beyond. You can start the program at any time and participate in any class without previous experience and, since safety is our number one concern, there is no competitive sparring in this program. Upon successful completion of the Fusion Thai Boxing Fundamentals program, you will earn your Yellow Arm Band which will qualify you for advancement into the Master Class program.
While these lessons discuss fundamental offensive techniques and principles, each lesson also incorporates defense to better ensure a student’s ability to build a solid defensive foundation and understand proper delivery of attacks.
“While hitting is the basis of all boxing, skill in defensive tactics makes it possible for the boxer to attack at the proper time. Defense then is the keynote of attack and should be developed before attack.” (Haislet, Boxing, 1940, p. 48)
STEPS IN COMPLETING THE THAI BOXING FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM
Step 1: Learn the Techniques
The Fundamentals program is designed so one can start at any point in the course. As a result, students can complete the 9 lessons in any order with ease. Upon enrolling, a Fundamentals attendance card is issued on which we will track a student’s progress every step of the way.
Step 2: Develop Your Reflexes
Once a student has completed each fundamentals lesson twice, they will qualify to attend the Reflex & Response (R&R) classes. The R&R class is where students learn to integrate their fundamental techniques together. The primary objective of R&R class is to prepare a student for Thai Pad hitting and holding, introduce them to sparring objective and mindset, and help prepare them for their advancement evaluation to the Master Class.
Step 3: Earn your Yellow Armband
Once students complete each of the fundamental lessons three times, and complete their R&R Classes, they are eligible to test for their Yellow Arm Band. During this test students will be evaluated on their execution of the basic Thai Boxing fundamentals. If their reflexes are sharp and their performance meets Fusion’s standards, they will qualify for promotion, and will be ready to transition into the advanced portion of the program, the Master Class.
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FUSION THAI BOXING – MASTERS CLASS
Beyond the Fundamentals program students will delve deeper into Thai Boxing, by sharpening and broadening their punching and kicking skills, and adding elbow strikes, knee strikes, and clinching techniques to build a full Thai Boxing arsenal. Organized into a clearly defined systematic curriculum called the Master Class, its unique structure simplifies the learning journey by organizing Thai Boxing techniques into weekly chapters of focus. To optimize your learning in the Master Class, it is important that you utilize a blend of pad classes, drill classes, R&R/freestyle classes and sparring sessions
In the Master Class all 5 Thai Boxing training methods are practiced with the addition of pad work and the availability of sparring, while partner drills and heavy bag training get refined and shadow boxing becomes increasingly focused.
Pad Work
Introduced in the R&R class, and a staple of Thai Boxing training in Thailand, “pad work” or training on striking pads, allows for higher intensity training that is safe for both the hitter and holder. A full range of techniques can be practiced with moderate to full power with a pad holder that can mimic an opponent’s behavior. Learning to both hit and hold the pads is an integral part of the Master Class.
Sparring
Once a student has graduated from the Fundamentals program, they will qualify to attend sparring sessions. This is where you will have a chance to test your skills against a variety of training partners in a safe environment. In these sessions, focused sparring exercises and free sparring of techniques students have learned in class are practiced on each other in a controlled environment while avoiding landing heavy blows and certain techniques deemed too dangerous for sparring. Students ranking will determine the types of techniques they are allowed to execute in sparring.
Having just graduated the fundamentals program, students who hold the rank of Yellow Arm Band are to spar only applying punches and kicks. Orange and Green ranks can apply knee strikes and clinching, and Blue and above can add elbow strikes with appropriate safety equipment. When sparring with students more novice than you, it is only appropriate to spar to their level. The focus of the sparring sessions is timing, placement, and technical proficiency of moves while maintaining control. Proper sparring equipment is required to attend sparring sessions and any students who cannot control their strikes and spar in a safe manner will not be allowed to participate.
Advancement
Progression for Master Class students can occur once they have qualified by attending the required classes. After a student has qualified, they will be evaluated on their proficiency of Thai Boxing techniques specified for advancement to the next rank.
Thai Boxing – Masters Class
Traditionally Thai Boxing has never had belts or a ranking system. The only belts to be given out are during championship bouts between the best fighters. While some of our students strive to be competitive champions someday, most simply train to better themselves as individuals.
In the old days, Thai soldiers (usually mature boys) took a piece of cloth that belong to a loved one, usually from the dress of their mother or wife’s scarf that would be blessed by a monk to cast protection. Once blessed, the Prajied or arm ban would be tied above the bicep(s) of a warrior who was entering battle as an amulet. Thai fighters still carry this tradition by wearing an arm ban(s) that is blessed before battle in the ring. Our colored Arm Ban ranking system is a way for students to track their progression while paying homage this cultural aspect of Thai Boxing.
