HOW TO PERFORM A MUAY THAI ELBOW

muay thai elbows

HOW TO PERFORM A MUAY THAI ELBOW

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MUAY THAI

Muay Thai is an oriental martial art which is also popularly known as Thai Boxing owing to its country of origin. Its roots go back deep into the twelfth century when the first Thai army was started in Siam. With the constant fear of war looming over their heads, young fighters practiced the art form for various reasons: self-defense, exercise and discipline. In Buddhist temples, its knowledge was passed down from one generation to another.

USE OF BODY IN MUAY THAI

Muay Thai is commonly also stated as

“The Art of Eight Limbs”

, as it incorporates eight points of contact of the body. The hands become the sword and dagger; the shins and forearms are used as a strong armor against the opponent’s blows, and the

elbow is designed to hit the opponent like a heavy mace or hammer;

the legs and knees become the axe and staff. The whole body works together as one formidable unit. The knees and elbows are continuously searching and testing for an opening while grappling and trying to keel over the opponent to the ground for victory.

MUAY THAI ELBOWS

Muay Thai fighters are trained to use all limbs in a fight and elbows play a major role as it can impart a lot of hurt to the opponent.
Elbow is put to use in various positions-horizontal, diagonally upwards, diagonally downwards, an uppercut, downward, backward spinning and flying.

Muay Thai’s offence techniques

are focussed on utilising four parts of the body – elbows, knees, fists and the legs.

Muay Thai Elbow Strikes

are the most crucial in Muay Thai. The fighters can perfect numerous elegant and effective elbow strikes which makes their Muay Thai techniques better and work wonders for their form.

ELBOW TECHNIQUES IN MUAY THAI-

The anatomical structure and design of the elbow makes it very hard and hence it is used to deliver maximum hurt to the opponent’s head.
The nine types of elbow drills are-

  1. Sok Ti (Striking Elbow or Elbow Slash)
  2. Sok Tad or Sok Tat (Perpendicular or Horizontal Elbow)
  3. Sok Ngat (Uppercut Elbow)
  4. Sok Phung (Forward Elbow Thrust)
  5. Sok Klap (Spinning Elbow)
  6. Sok Sap (Elbow Chop)
  7. Sok Ku or Sok Klap Khu (Double Elbows or Double Elbow Chop)
  8. Sok Wiang Klap (Reverse Horizontal Elbow)
  9. Kradot Sok (Mid-Air Elbow Strike).

Mostly directed towards the temple or the jaw, it can easily win you the title.
When thrown from the side, it is strategically used as a finishing move. Powerfully thrown with the bony prominence of ulna, it cuts open the opponents’ skin above the eyebrow so that he bleeds. Bleeding impairs the vision and hampers the opponent’s performance.

BIOMECHANICS OF THE MUAY THAI ELBOW STRIKE-

The triad of explosive Hip Drive, Core Stability and a fully mobile shoulder will help the power generated at the hip level to travel upwards through core and thrown with maximum impact through the relaxed shoulder.
The effortless transfer of momentum from hip to the opponent’s face is the key to keel over the opponent. ​Elbows are also used as a defense technique against spring knees, side body knees, body kicks and punches.
Training Muay Thai Elbow Combos with freestanding Reflex bags from Champs MMA w, it also strengthens core muscles and helps in achieving the perfect biomechanics for elbow strike. Click on home cobra reflex bag to buy.
Click on muay thai to learn more about Muay Thai.

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