GRECO, THAI, AND DIRTY BOXING (Forrest Griffin)

There are three primary clinching positions that are important for every mixed martial artist to learn—the Greco clinch, the Muay Thai clinch, and the dirty-boxing clinch. The Greco clinch focuses on upper-body control, which allows you to utilize attacks such as throws, body locks, and takedowns. The Muay Thai clinch focuses on head control, which allows you to off-balance your opponent and land brutal strikes with knees and elbows. The dirty-boxing clinch involves securing a collar tie with one hand to keep your opponent off balance while at the same time using your free hand to land repeated punches to his face and body. In order to be effective from the clinch, you must not only learn the basics of each of these clinching styles, but also learn how to blend them together in such a way that you can transition back and forth between them.

GRECO: DOUBLE UNDERHOOK BODY LOCK

CORRECT

To secure a body lock, I dive my arms underneath Neil’s arms, clasp my hands together in the small of his back, and then pull his hips into my body. From here, I can execute a number of effective takedowns.

   


INCORRECT


This is not a body lock. This is man love at its finest. I know, very little difference. It’s all in hand positioning. If your hands are clasped together, consider it a Greco-Roman clinch. If your hands are open, gently caressing your opponent’s back, consider it extremely gay.  

MUAY THAI CLINCH

Moving into close range, I cup my right hand around the back of Neil’s, and then cup my left hand over my right hand. To disrupt his balance, I pull his head down with my hands, and to prevent him from securing a body lock or shooting in for a takedown, I pinch my elbows together and drive them into his shoulders. From here, I can deliver power knees to his midsection.

DIRTY-BOXING CLINCH

  

To establish the dirty-boxing clinch, I wrap one hand around the back of Neil’s head and drive my elbow into his shoulder. To cause damage, I use my control to push and pull him off balance, circle around him, and repeatedly sock him in the face with my free hand.