Online Boxing Lessons Article

The Most Lethal Elbow In Muay Thai Is The Downwards Elbow Because It Splits Skin So Often

The Muay Thai downwards elbow is designed to cut like most elbows are but seems to do it more often than other types of elbows. The reason is because of it's action and where it lands. It comes forwards and downwards at angles from 45 degrees to completely vertical.

The body movement resembles somewhat of an overhand right or maybe a straight right type of action. First move the body in to your opponeent by stepping forward. Rotate the hips and torso and snap the shoulder. Keep the hand close to the eyebrow as possible until the last minute then turn it into the direction of the elbow strike and keep it close to your chest.

The elbow comes down and you make contact with the tip to the fleshy bits of the face like the eyebrows and cheekbone.

The reason the downward elbow is so lethal is because of the way most people hold their guard. When covering up against attacks the two hands are kept up high on the eyebrows and the elbows are brought close together in defence. This leaves a small gap in between the two arms for the elbow to sneak through.

An experienced Thai boxer can also set up this opening with other punch or knee strikes which will open up this gap wider and then throw the downward elbow.