Do Elbows Work

[youremean]

I agree. One of my Muay Thai insturctors was at a 7-11 once and these punks came in and started messin with him. Then one of them threw a cross at him, and he up-kneed his head (pulled the cross down with both hands while kneeing upwards at the same time). He knocked the guy out. You can't say for an absolute anything regarding street fights.

[Vito]

so the bouncer knows how to grapple. maybe he wasnt trained formaly, but he threw the guy pretty well apparently. the MT guy just wasnt as good a fighter, at least during that incident.

[47MartialMan]

Have you considered that the bouncer was simply better and would have won even had the MT guy tried a different tactic?

 

Yes, I am not "ruling out" a elbow strike as a method-completely. Sorry for the mis-communication.

[47MartialMan]

47MM, your account is a single example. We have no way of knowing what the skills were on either side. Also, since this occurred in a bar, I'm going to assume that the MT guy was drinking and the bouncer was not. In my opinion, this isn't a good example of why you couldn't use an elbow on a larger, evenly skilled opponent.

 

You are right. But from I had observed, the MT guy wasn;t drinking, he was picking up a gorlfriend. Another guy and him got into. The bouncer went in to break it up. The other guy left, the MT guy. I guess. wanted to "test" his ability.

[47MartialMan]

My elbow is always going to be better than my fist. You are less likely to injure yourself with an elbow strike. If you hit wrong with your fist you can break the fingers, break the wrist, dislocate the fingers etc. If you hit wrong with the elbow it will still have some affect. We also practice close quarter elbowing, literally a couple of inches from the target. If you use your hips properly you can still generate loads of power!

 

Yes, I agree, to a point- some females has a difficult time in clenching a fist, esp, if their "nails" are elongated. But there are a "special" ways, to clench that typeof fist. And there are "special ways" for a female to punch.

 

Besides, a female should not go "toe-to-toe" in a "fist fight" with a larger male. She should get "help"-anything or anyone.

[47MartialMan]

Hey maybe he can elbow the guys knees

 

Seriously though, one can use elbow techniques on the body of the opponent if the fight has become very close range. It all depends on the situation.

 

KFM

 

Yes, but has anyone REALLY paid attention to one of my "opening remarks"

 

Elbows to larger opponents whom have some level of skill or ability are probably not the best choice.

 

I did not state that elbows are not effective at ALL.

[Master Jules]

Theyve always worked for me.

[Drunken Monkey]

Elbows to larger opponents whom have some level of skill or ability are probably not the best choice

 

but this can be said for anything.

 

we are talking general case here.

 

by submitting a specific example, you have changed the parameters of the discussion.

 

simple answer from me.

 

yes elbows work.

 

and

 

how you get them to work depends on how good you/other is and what your intention is.

[47MartialMan]

But the author of the thread had asked:

 

How effective are elbows (such as those in MT) in street fights? Especially the spinning back elbow, would it work in real life?

 

So I guess it depends on the situation and the opponents.

[JerryLove]

Yes, I agree, to a point- some females has a difficult time in clenching a fist, esp, if their "nails" are elongated. But there are a "special" ways, to clench that typeof fist. And there are "special ways" for a female to punch.

 

Open hands are also suprisingly effective once you learn how to hit with them. I tend to teach them first as they are more flexable and it's very hard to break your palm or wrist hitting someone that way.

How effective are elbows (such as those in MT) in street fights? Especially the spinning back elbow, would it work in real life?

 

So I guess it depends on the situation and the opponents.

To address both the original comment and your response:

 

I find elbows to be a generally good tool. I find spinning anything to generaly be a poor tactic unless you are very skilled at using it combatively (I know many a bagua person who can use turning away very well).

 

Of-course, the effacy of any technique will depend on the person using it, the person it's being used on, the position of the moon, sheer luck, etc. I can only speak in generalities.