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IMBA Muay Pram: how to defend the neck Clinch. (Chap Ko)

The neck Clinch is an extremely powerful hold, that puts a fighter in a dominant position from where he can execute a lot of very dangerous attacks. Since it is always possible that your opponent manages to establish a neck Clinch on you, it is mandatory that you have in your arsenal a series of efficient counters that you can execute when you are grabbed. Muay Pram experts over the centuries have developed many highly effective strategies and maneuvers that can enable you to defend the neck Clinch and retaliate with hard strikes and throws. A Muay Pram grappler is a very aggressive type of fighter: his main fighting strategy of is to close the distance, get hold of the opponent and start to unleash powerful close range attacks. However, even such an aggressive combatant may find himself on the receiving end of his opponents’ attacks, Chap Ko Ti Kao blows included (neck grabs and knee strikes). Therefore, a good Nak Muay Pram must know how to use effective defensive tactics against the opponent’s holds (and strikes) while at the same time paving the way to his own counter blows or throws. A good defense is the premise for a devastating counter-attack.
A good fighter must possess several techniques designed to cope with the initial phase of the attack: in this case the first strategy is to block, stop hit or redirect the opponent’s attempts to establish the hold before it is locked. The golden rule for a good defense is that the sooner you apply a counter-technique the better: once an experienced Muay Pram grappler has locked his hands and arms around your neck and the lock has been tightened, a barrage of strikes or a powerful throw is going to follow immediately after. As a consequence, your chances to escape decrease very quickly. Therefore, train seriously to defend the neck clinch, quickly and efficiently.

Defense against double neck hold and straight knee.

As soon as you feel the opponent is securing a dominant neck hold, quickly slip one hand inside the gap between his arms. Keep your neck muscles contracted and slide your lead foot slightly forward. You have to act promptly before the opponent tightens his hold. Put the outside hand on the opponent’s crook of elbow and pull downward. At the same time press your rear foot on the ground, turn your hips forward and jerk down the opponent’s trapped elbow weakening his neck hold. Swing your inside arm upward, toward the opponent’s face. Keep your arm bent and aim the tip of the elbow at the throat or chin of the opponent.
After the elbow strike, step diagonally forward with your back leg and pivot around the opponent. As you spin around, use your forward arm to hit the opponent’s nape with a hammer punch or forearm downward smash. Hook the opponent’s neck and pull him forward to off-balance him. You will end in a perfect position to unleash one or more devastating knee strikes with the rear leg to the opponent’s face. When the knee connects with the face of the opponent, the facial bones (nose, eye sockets, cheek bones) may easily be fractured. If the chin or jawbone is hit, a quick knock out is very often the dramatic result.
To perform this counter technique properly, it is imperative that the elbow strike, the spin and the knee strikes are executed smoothly and continuously without pausing after each blow. Otherwise, an experienced opponent may find a gap in your offense and retaliate accordingly.

For more information: IMBA Muay Pram Textbook