About the Class
Muay Thai sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinching techniques. Other than variations of punches as seen in western boxing (e.g. jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts), kicks, elbows and knee strikes are used in Muay Thai. Clinching, sweeps and throws are also used strategically in modern Muay Thai to make it an all-rounded combat art. Due to the 8-point contact, the sport has proven to be one of the most effective stand-up striking art and practised by many mixed martial artists.
Your Instructor
Thor Shaffer
Owner and head instructor, Thor Shaffer, holds a 4th degree black belt in Goju Ryu Karate and a 1st degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has been grappling professionally for over 30 years, earning 3 state championship titles in wrestling and being named an all-american wrestler twice in his youth. As an adult, he has fought professionally in multiple disciplines, including Muay Thai, Shootfighting, and MMA. He is a 3x UAEJJF Jiu-Jitsu national champion and in 2018 was ranked #1 in North America and #5 in the world by the UAEJJF. He is also a multi-time IBJJF international champion. Professor Shaffer started Emerald Coast Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2016, and has grown it into the local areas premiere academy, teaching bully proofing for young kids, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing.