The Muay Thai Clinch Is More Than What You Think It Is

Muay Thai is undeniably one of the most prolific martial arts of today’s time. As a core discipline in one of the mainstream media’s biggest spectacles, its community has grown in strength and number across the globe. And yet, there is one thing that remains misunderstood by many: the Muay Thai Clinch.

A common misguided notion about the clinch is that it’s nothing more than two fighters trying to stall in the middle of a match. It isn’t hard to see why. In boxing, for example, boxers tend to “hug it out” at times. The referee would then come to break them up and restart the action. 

Honestly, the stalling by clinching thing is true in some cases. (Only in some, because it depends on the fighters involved. There is still a lot you can do while all clinched up.) However, the Muay Thai clinch isn’t a position where you’ll find much rest.

So… what is the Muay Thai clinch, how do you do it, and when is a good time to do it? We’ll cover everything you need to know about it in this article.