Wiang Kaeng Lang

Practise this kick thoroughly, kicking the air, pads, bags and in sparring to thoroughly understand how it can be used on it's own and in combination with the rest of Muay Chaiya's moves. And to be true, that is where it's real strength lies, in the way that it works as part of the Muay Chaiya system. The principle of the kick difference from most other martial arts that either flick the leg, or twist the body to gain torque, power and speed. In Wiang Kaeng, you need to invest all of your body weight into the kick, you body working as one unit, transfering the weight out through your shin into your target. Practice will ensure that you can execute this quickly in a controlled manner, and follow through with a variety of offensive and defensive techniques. Kru Lek recommends kciking the heavy bag 1000 times a day to get this move mastered. And work it at different heights, low, medium and high! Execution Start in Tha Kru left stance:

1. Start a normal Phan Mut, this time don't stop, let the arm swing and arc around the body in a natural direction (following the line of the fist and fore arm).
2. Let the head body and shoulders follow this flow, at the same time lift the right kicking leg up to the right - don't straighten the leg, keep it bent but stiff.
3. Left the body turn around leaning the upper body towards the floor until you are facing backwards, and you are looking at a point directly behind you, with your arms protecting your face in right guard.
4. Your right leg should still be bent with your shin parrallel to the floor, toes and foot curled up. The shin (usually lower part) should strike the target.
5. On impact all of the weight and momentum built up by the upper body should transfer down through the body and out through the shin.
6. As soon as this energy transfer is finished, push off the toes of the standing (left) leg and rotate the arms and head back in the same direction as they came.
7. Drop the right foot down in the Tha Kru position, so you end up in right guard.

At first practice this move slowly, and trust in the body movement, letting the arms swing all the way around in the guard. The key to power in this move is taking the shoulder over, and the key to speed is pushing off from the kicking leg toes, and whipping the head around. Remember, the kick hasn't finished until you're safely back in the guard or executing the next move.