Elbows in MMA Practice: Even though elbows are frequently utilised in mixed martial arts (MMA), it might be unexpected that they aren’t employed more frequently.
The elbow is a very powerful weapon in hand-to-hand fighting since it is one of the toughest portions of the body. In Muay Thai, where elbow blows are one of the most important weapons in a fighter’s arsenal, no sport places more emphasis on their potency than this one. Everybody agrees that elbow strikes are a crucial part of Nak Muay (Thai boxing), regardless of the fighter’s style.
It is not surprising that many of the elbow-striking techniques of Muay Thai are used in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), even though not as many as we would want. This is because MMA is a sport that has strongly borrowed from the “Art of Eight Limbs.” This does not lessen the force of elbow strikes against a boxer in a cage. There’s really no weapon as good in close quarters fighting as the elbow.
It is therefore essential to the skill set of every mixed martial artist. Because elbows can be thrown from a variety of angles, including the feet and the floor, adding these potent blows to your play might give it the extra depth you’ve been seeking. In this article, you will get to know how to use elbows in your MMA practice, but first let us understand various elbow strikes types on detail:
Various Elbow Strike Types
How should we begin? When it comes to elbow strikes, you will have a plethora of options, but the distance must be on your side. In addition to being simple for an opponent to handle, elbow throws from an unrealistic range are also prone to telegraph.
In mixed martial arts, there are five primary positions from which to throw different elbows. The following are the postures where you are most likely to be able to deliver powerful elbows:
- On the feet
- In the clinch
- On top
The “12-6” rule is the only exemption in mixed martial arts. Always remember that no combatant is allowed to hit downward with an elbow. Remarkably, the sole official loss in the career of former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was a DQ for using the 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill in 2009.
We’ll look at some of the most successful strikes below:
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The feet’s elbows
Once you are within range of your opponent and have closed the gap, you may unleash a variety of elbows on the feet.
The horizontal elbow strike is the most common elbow strike that beginners are likely to learn. Although this blow is among the simplest to throw, the technique required to master it can be challenging. Fighters must, in essence, raise their elbows so that their forearms are facing the opposition. Next, the elbow is forced over the target as the hips and shoulder are twisted to produce force.
The upward elbow, which is thrown from south to north, is another easy yet extremely effective elbow blow to practise on your feet. The strike slices up your centre line and generates force from the feet up. Landing on your opponent’s chin, nose, or middle of the face is the goal.
The reverse-up elbow is another really useful manoeuvre in an MMA setting. You set it up with a jab and then a cross, so it might be quite challenging for your opponent to assess. With forward pressure, Elbow threw on the lead side, almost crouching down. Chopping your opponent’s elbow upward and into their chin is the aim.
Clinch with elbows
The clinch is the only place where elbow strikes will feel more at home.
You may keep the inside clinch position and execute a great strike with the 45-degree walk-in upward elbow. When your opponent tries to land a knee or sweep your legs, you should throw the shot, aiming for their nose or chin. This shot may end the night if you timing it to catch your opponent off-balance.
Another fantastic option from this menu is the upward elbow strike from the clinch. Holding the inside position makes it function very well, as does the double-collar tie. Once more, you want to attack high, just as your opponent is losing their balance.
Top Ground Elbows
Since 12-6s are prohibited, it is important to note that caution is advised when throwing elbows when on top. Having said that, elbows can be terrible blows from a dominating stance once you have practised them. Horizontal elbow drops may do a great deal of harm when you are on top of your opponent, especially when you are in the stance-up position.
Remember that these shots may tear your opponent to pieces if you can avoid 12-6 elbows. You can get them to give up their back even if you don’t manage to knock them out or induce a halt.
While in guard, elbow blows to the torso that are diagonal are also quite powerful. Just make sure your elbow is firmly embedded in your shoulder and compact. You can be vulnerable to criticism and perhaps counter-submissions if you act carelessly.
As you can see, there are several instances in a battle where elbows may be really helpful.
Elbows may be used freely in mixed martial arts (MMA) as long as they are not thrown in a 12-6 pattern. The relevant methods will almost automatically become second nature with sufficient drills and repetition.
This is how to use elbows in your MMA practice. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
