A good seminar moves fast, so I take my notes in Muay Thai shorthand. The coach shows a combination, you drill it once, and the next one is already up.
If you try to write every strike out in full, you fall behind and miss the next drill.
I use it when I take notes at a seminar. I also use it when I plan the combinations I’m going to teach in a private or group class.
Here is the whole key, so you can read my notes or build your own.
In this post:
Left or Lead, Right or Rear
Two letters do most of the work:
- L = Left or Lead
- R = Right or Rear
For a right-handed fighter in Orthodox Stance, the Lead side is the left arm and leg. For a left-handed fighter in Southpaw Stance, the Lead side is the right arm and leg.
That is why one letter can mean both of those words. In Orthodox Stance, Left and Lead are the same side.
The Shorthand Key
Punches (Mat /หมัด)
- J = Jab
- C = Cross
- LH = Left Hook or Lead Hook
- LU = Left Uppercut or Lead Uppercut
- RU = Right Uppercut or Rear Uppercut
- ROH = Right Overhand or Rear Overhand
- BJ = Body Jab
- BC = Body Cross
Elbows (Sok /ศอก)
- LE = Lead Elbow or Left Elbow
- RE = Rear Elbow or Right Elbow
Kicks (Teh /เตะ)
- LK = Lead Round Kick or Left Round Kick, also called a Switch Kick
- RK = Rear Round Kick or Right Round Kick
- LFJ = Lead Foot Jab or Left Foot Jab, also called a Lead Teep (Teep /ถีบ)
- RFJ = Rear Foot Jab or Right Foot Jab, also called a Rear Teep
Knees (Khao /เข่า)
- L Knee = Left Knee or Lead Knee
- R Knee = Right Knee or Rear Knee
Leg Shields: Read the Clock
Leg Shields are the place where my notes get the most exact. I use a clock to show which way the shin points.
Picture a clock on the floor, with 12 o’clock straight ahead at your opponent. For a fighter in Orthodox Stance:
- Lead Leg Shield = Left Leg Shield facing 10:30, turned out to the side
- Lead Cross Leg Shield = Left Leg Shield facing 1:30, turned across your body
Both blocks use the same leg. The clock tells you which way to turn it.
Spinning Strikes Get Written Out
I don’t use any shorthand at all when I write down spinning strikes. I write out the whole thing, like “Left Spinning Back Kick” or “Right Spinning Back Kick.”
Spinning moves often change your feet around. Lead and Rear stop meaning much when you turn all the way around.
So for these, I use Left and Right and spell it all out. That way, I don’t have to guess what the note meant later on.
Inside and Outside
I also write “inside” and “outside” in my notes. These terms help me remember exactly where a technique is performed and which side of my opponent’s arm or leg I’m working with.
For example, when defending against a punch, you can parry on the inside or outside of your opponent’s punching arm. These are two different defenses, so I make sure my notes identify which one I’m using.
The same idea applies to sweeps. When writing down a foot sweep, I specify whether I’m sweeping the inside or outside of my opponent’s foot or leg.
The key is to be specific. Simply writing “parry” or “sweep” doesn’t give me enough information to remember exactly how the technique was performed.
Inward vs. Outward
Another important distinction I make in my notes is whether a movement goes inward or outward. These terms describe the direction your arm travels in relation to your body’s centerline.
- Inward: Your arm moves toward or across your body’s centerline.
For example, a standard inward parry redirects an incoming punch as your hand moves toward your centerline.
- Outward: Your arm moves away from your body’s centerline. A traditional outward block from Karate is a good example. Your arm travels outward to redirect the incoming attack away from your body.
Inside and outside describe where you make contact. Inward and outward describe the direction of your movement.
These distinctions matter because two techniques can look similar but work very differently. By writing down both the position and the direction of the movement, I can return to my notes months or even years later and understand exactly what I was practicing.
Understanding the Symbols in My Notes
I use two symbols to make my drills easier to read and follow. Here’s what each one means.
- = (Equals Sign): Separates your opponent’s attack from your response. What comes before the equals sign is the attack your opponent throws. What comes after it is how you defend or counter that attack.
- + (Plus Sign): Means two or more movements are performed simultaneously, rather than one after another.
Example
Opponent Throws a Jab = Rear Parry + Lead Jab + Slip to the Outside of the Punch
What this means: When your opponent throws a Jab, you simultaneously parry the punch with your Rear Hand, counter with your Lead Jab, and slip your head to the outside of the incoming punch. (Sometimes called a Split Entry.)
All three movements happen together as one coordinated action.
Understanding the Term “Feed”
Just as I use the equals sign (=) to show how to respond to an opponent’s attack, I also use the term “feed” to identify who initiates the action in a training drill.
For example, I might write, “He feeds a Jab” or “He feeds a Round Kick.” This simply means that your training partner throws that particular strike so you can practice defending or countering it.
I also use this terminology when teaching, especially during One-Step Sparring drills.
Sometimes, a student will ask, “Who goes first?” The problem with that question is that both partners are performing a technique. One person throws the attack, while the other practices the defense or counterattack. In that sense, both people are “going.”
Instead, I use the terms “I feed” or “You feed” to make the roles clear.
For example, if I say, “I feed the Jab,” then my partner knows he is working on parrying the Jab. There is no confusion about who initiates the attack or who responds.
This simple distinction makes communication more precise, keeps drills organized, and helps both training partners understand their roles.
Naming the Target
Sometimes, the target of a strike is just as important as the technique itself. When that happens, I specify exactly where the strike is supposed to land.
For example, RK means Rear Round Kick. However, a Rear Round Kick to the head is a very different technique from a Rear Round Kick to the thigh. The target changes the height, angle, and execution of the kick.
To make this clear, I simply add the target after the abbreviation.
- RK to the Head: Rear Round Kick to the head.
- RK to the Thigh: Rear Round Kick to the thigh.
I don’t need to specify the target every time. However, when the target changes how a technique is performed or is important to understanding the combination, I make sure to include it.
The goal of my shorthand is to save time without leaving out details that matter.
Muay Thai Shorthand, Put Together
Here is a combination in my shorthand:
J, C, LH, RK
Read it out loud, and it becomes Jab, Cross, Lead Hook, Rear Round Kick. Four strikes fit on one short line, and that is the whole point. You can keep up with any seminar, and a lesson plan fits on one small card.
Start Your Own Notes
Shorthand is just a habit that you build, not a secret code. Borrow mine or make up your own, and keep it the same every time.
When you know what each letter means, the Muay Thai and Boxing combinations in my posts are easy to follow. Try reading the drills in Jonathan Haggerty’s Muay Thai drills, or 5 Basic Kickboxing Combinations.
If you want private kickboxing lessons in Portland, Oregon, I’ll teach you the combinations behind the letters.
If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area, reach out to me when you’re ready. Use the contact form on TrainWithSean.com.
