One of the most dangerous blows is a strong elbow strike. It can be successfully used both in a sports match and in street collisions. Accurate elbow contact in the jaw usually results in knockout. Learning this technique is not as easy as it seems, as you need to invest in body weight. Many months of hard training will take place before you manage to use this formidable weapon in a timely manner. However, a well-aimed elbow strike can save you life on the street, help protect yourself and your loved ones.
Tactics
Unlike fists, elbow strikes do not require thorough preparation of the striking surface. The bone is ideal for these purposes, it is not easy to break, and a small area of contact will only increase the destructive effect of the impact. But not everything is so simple, to perform this technique you need to get very close to the enemy. If in a sports match this is justified, then a fight may begin on the street, which is extremely undesirable when fighting with several opponents. Even if the aggressor approached you alone, this does not mean that there are no friends nearby who will come to the aid at the right time.
But often melee can not be avoided, and then the elbows show themselves in all their frightening magnificence. Remember that you should not swing your elbows from a long or short range, hoping for a successful hit. A blow is best done with a clinch, sometimes even with an opponent’s head grab.
Types of elbow strikes
This insidious blow is able to reach the goal along a wide variety of trajectories. The simplest and most destructive is a side elbow, which is applied like a hook in a box, but it can go not strictly from the side, but also from different angles. Also, a chopping blow from top to bottom is very popular with fighters, which often leads to cuts. A direct strike may be useful, but it is inferior in strength to other options. But the elbow from below can bring a good result, up to a knockout.
Elbow punches also include many more complex, but equally effective variations. For example, Thai fighters often use a kick from a U-turn. Such a blow can go both from the side and from the bottom, sometimes even into the body.
Elbow Equipment
For this technique to bring results, you need to invest in body weight. Consider the technique on the example of a side impact. To do this, start the kick with the push of the same foot. Based on the ground, it rotates outward on the toe, so that the body takes a natural position when turning. The impulse is transmitted to the thigh, which also turns around and transfers power to the body. When the body turns, the elbow rises and draws a straight line in the air - this is a blow. It is important that it is applied with the whole body, and not at the expense of the muscles of the hand.
In this case, it is necessary to press the forearm to the biceps, which will give the arm more tension, thereby increasing the power of the blow. The second hand at this time should cover his head from a counter strike or counterattack. The situation in the final phase must be stable, you cannot fail, as this makes you vulnerable to retaliatory actions.
Kicks from the bottom and top
The lateral elbow strike is very strong, it can easily knock an opponent to the ground, but it is not easy to apply, since the forearms blocking the head will interfere. A completely different thing is a chopping blow from above, or a cunning uppercut. They penetrate between the hands, having a much greater chance of success than other elbow punches. A chopping blow from above is best applied after a small substep with the front foot. The technique here is similar to a side impact, but the elbow moves upward so that your fingers point to the ground and your palm looks out. This technique can break your nose or leave a cut, but is unlikely to lead to a knockout.
An elbow from the bottom up can be very unexpected and effective. The technique of applying it is similar to previous strokes, but here the palm makes a movement back along the head, as if straightening the hair. This technique is very hard to notice, so it has a great chance of success. A strong and timely elbow from below can bring the enemy into an unconscious state.
Exotic Blows
There are also some elbow options that are very rarely used. They can surprise even a trained opponent. One of them is a blow from above with the shoulder side of the elbow. The hand rises overhead, as if preparing to throw a stone, after which it goes forward and down. This technical action also looks very spectacular in a jump, causing enormous damage to the enemy. However, most often this blow is used during a clinch fuss, when the distance does not allow you to do anything else.
Another interesting elbow to the head comes from a U-turn. In this case, the front leg makes a small step towards the far one, that is, to the right, if the left leg is in front. Then the case is turned so that the right elbow is in the place where the left hand was. The blow is applied by the shoulder part of the elbow, like the previous one. It is most often used to meet an aggressive opponent, as the attacking action is too noticeable.
Sport
Elbows have gained widespread popularity in mixed martial arts, where athletes often get stuck in a clinch. During the fight, short strokes and elbow pushes can be very effective. They inflict dissection and may cause the opponent to lose a favorable position. You can often see how a well-launched elbow sends the athlete to a knockout. However, such strikes turned out to be the most effective on the ground when there is a fierce struggle and there is no way to hit with a fist. In the struggle on the floor, the elbows confidently crush the usual punches.
An elbow in boxing is prohibited, but it is highly regarded in Muay Thai, where many fighters masterfully own their elbows. It was from there that this technique came to the West, where traditionally they prefer the classic boxing technique. However, elbow, knees, and the Thai clinch conquer more and more athletes with their monstrous strength and feline grace.
Self defense
Even in a modern, relatively safe society, one can meet aggression from another person. They do not always want to rob you, often the only goal of a bully is to beat your victim. Therefore, everyone should know how to behave in a similar situation. In self-defense, an elbow can stop an adversary who is tearing into close combat. It can simply be inserted between you to avoid a fight, or deliver a powerful blow towards.
An elbow is a striking surface that does not need to be tempered by thousands of strokes on a heavy bag. It is very durable, which allows you to inflict numerous blows without harming your health. The habit of putting elbows towards the attacker can break his arm. If the aggressor's fist hits the elbow with force, then a fracture cannot be avoided.
How to make elbow punches
First, the right technique is placed in the air, in front of a mirror. After the movement is firmly fixed and begins to turn out correctly, you can go to the heavy bag. On it there is an opportunity to feel the moment of impact, to feel the correct surface with which it should be applied. Working through the air and on the bags allows you to consolidate the skill and hone the technique, but hardly after that you can get your elbow in the face of the offender.
For successful application of these strikes, many hours of practice on the legs and in pairs are needed. Otherwise, the distance of this technical action will remain unclear. And without a sense of distance and competent tactics, even an ideal technique will be useless. Of course, you should not look for fights to test your skills. Remember that the best fight is the one that did not take place.