What is a Foot Specialist (Muai Tae)?

Background

The term “foot specialist” is not a qualification per se, but primarily an attribute attributed to someone who has proven to be particularly adept at using foot techniques.

In earlier times, such terms were mainly used to advertise combat pairings to the betting public. At that time, the focus of the bettors was less on points, victory or defeat, but on whether and how, for example, a foot specialist would prevail against a fist specialist.

Bets were accordingly placed for or against the success of certain foot techniques for which the foot specialist was known. In the event of success, the fighters were rewarded with bonuses by the bettors.

Because the discipline MUAI is no longer taught as a combat sport but as a “stand-up fight without rules”, the term foot specialist nowadays has rather an academic value. Nevertheless, the curriculum of this discipline provides for some minimum theoretical requirements which would justify such a naming.

Minimum theoretical requirements

In order to call someone a Muai foot specialist, the following minimum requirements should be met:

1. The fighter should have qualified as a MUAI-Warrior (at least white belt).
2. The fighter should be able to safely perform the 200 basic techniques of the MUAI.
3. The fighter should be able to execute the 39 foot variants in the offensive, neutral and defensive stance.
4. The fighter should be able to vary the 39 foot variants into five attack types each.
5. The fighter should be able to combine the 39 foot variants at will with pre-teaching techniques, basic techniques and technical variants.
6. The fighter should have developed at least nine foot variants of his own in the ascending, parallel and falling direction.
7. The fighter should have at least three applications against Faust for each of the 39 foot variants.
8. The fighter should have at least three applications against foot in each of the 39 foot variants.
9. The fighter should have at least three elbow-to-elbow applications for each of the 39 foot variants.
10. The fighter should have at least three knee-jerk applications for each of the 39 foot variants.
11. The fighter should be able to use mainly to exclusively foot variants as counter-techniques against an opponent who uses fist, foot, elbow and knee.
12. The fighter should be able to use at least 13 of the 39 foot variants upon prior notice. This presupposes the ability to fully control the fight.