Thad Mala: "The Flower That Shatters Jaws"

A versatile Muay Chaiya technique for defense, counterattacks, striking, and seamless combo transitions.

The term Thad Mala translates to "placing a flower behind the ear," a name that belies the technique's devastating power. Simple in execution, it involves a motion akin to combing fingers through hair. The move begins with an upward sweep of the hand on the same side as the ear, starting with the finger tips at the of the forehead and continues to go up. With these motion, it naturally raise the elbow. The hand then continues its path backward until it rests at the nape, with the folded arm firmly shielding the temple.

In modern Muay Thai, where boxing gloves are worn, performing the full motion of Thad Mala is impractical. Fighters typically raise the elbow with the fist near or slightly covering the temple, using the move primarily as a strike either by luring the opponent in then raising it up or by approaching the opponent with the elbow leading. In contrast, Muay Chaiya retains the technique’s multifaceted applications, making it a cornerstone of its repertoire.

Practical Uses of Thad Mala

Defensive Shield:

Perform the sweeping motion (similar to the action of "combing the hair") all the way to the back of the head, lightly grab the nape. With the arm folded firmly but not too tight against the temple, this position provides excellent coverage for the temple, chin, and neck. Thad Mala is block that's quite effective against heavy punches like hooks and haymakers.

Countering Attacks:

The elbow’s strength and durability surpasses that of knuckles, wrists, and forearms. When used with precision and timing, Thad Mala allows practitioners to deflect incoming strikes by directly targeting them with the elbow. With this strategy in mind, constantly performing Thad Mala will eventually wear down the ability of the opponent to strike as well as decrease the opponent's capability of the opponent to deal great damage. Further, performing such feats will demoralize the opponent in making careless attacks.

Close-Range Strike:

In a close-quartered scenario where your back is against the wall and there is no where to run or in a scenario where you advance to attack by stepping into the inner gate (inside guard) of the opponent, Thad Mala when performed, delivers an upward elbow strike that functions similarly to how an uppercut does. Its power and the angle of attack make it a highly effective offensive tool. The chin is usually the target and instant knock out can be expected.

Combo Transitions:

Practitioner will try to bait the opponent into attacking, when the opponent commits into attacking, the practitioner performs Thad Mala either to redirect the attack causing the opponent to loose balance, then following up with the finishing blow to end the fight.

Or practitioner can use it to absorb the incoming attack, then 1) transition quickly by carrying on with throws to the ground following up with more attacks, 2) immobilization of the opponent for negotiation (to de-escalate the situation), 3) escalate the immobilization game into a submission (then re-negotiate to de-escalate the situation) or 4) breaking of limbs, if necessary.

Thad Mala demonstrates the elegance and functionality of Muay Chaiya, blending simplicity with strategic depth. Whether used for defense, offense, or setting up traps or combos, it remains one of the signature component of this traditional martial art.

Through the insights of Lamp Sakkapoom, co-author of the Muay Chaiya Manuscript, delve into the ancient practices of Muay Boran and Muay Chaiya, uncovering approaches that transcend the boundaries of Muay Thai.

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Muay Chaiya Manuscript, Amazon Kindle:

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