I agree that jiu-jitsu is the top art for groundfighting and fills in modern Muay Thai’s shortcomings. (It should be noted, however, that non-ring Muay Thai –Muay Chaiya and Muay Boran– have very developed groundfighting systems, as they were developed for life and death struggle on the battlefield.) But I don’t agree that most fights go to the ground. If you can blast a heavy bag with a proper “teep,” while keeping technique and weight distribution (ie not getting pushed back) you’re going to knock people right off their feet. Elbows and knees against other Thai boxers are fight-enders, let alone against an untrained idiot.

I would stress Muay Thai over Jiu Jitsu if only one had to be chosen because of its efficacy against multiple attackers and because it seems more practical to stay standing whenever possible in a streetfight. I’m not sure I’d like to be trying to get an armbar or choke while the guy’s friends are smashing me over the head with beer bottles.

Muay Thai isn’t all power and speed. It’s finesse, solid movement, balance, timing, accuracy. You can have all the power and speed in the world, but if you have sloppy feet, none of that will do you a damn bit o’ good. I’ve seen guys come into my camp like that. They lay into the bag real fast and strong, leave their face open the whole time, let their leg fall wherever it falls and get set up for another one. My trainer gets disgusted. He says, “if your legs ain’t right, nothing’s right.”

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