Tweet
Use of the 'Elbow strike', on the street
Hi all,
I thought I would contribute some thoughts about the all important use of the 'Elbow Strike' especially in view of how popular the discussion of various kicks is, and no doubt largely due to the ever increasing popularity of MT and the Filipino and Malaysian fighting systems.
Needless to say to all on the forum, the versatile and powerful elbow has been around for a very long time in all martial arts, but I feel has not been used to it’s full potential.
In the Kempo Goshin Jutsu system, the elbow is used in many unusual and extremely devastating ways. In fact I would say the system carries (arguably of course!) the biggest array of elbow techniques known in the martial arts. Kempo Goshin Jutsu is a modern and progressive combat system; its roots are in the old Jujutsu of the Japanese Samurai and is solely an art of self-protection.
It has no sporting elements whatsoever (I may have mentioned this fact in another thread). Although the system keeps the traditional values and disciplines of the ancient Jujutsu, it recognizes that times change and so do the threats of violence, so technique must be modified to suit the needs of our urban environment.
The system contains a vast syllabus of strikes, throws, takedowns, locks, chokes, breaks etc. and the elbow is one of its favorite weapons. Most street fights go very quickly into grappling range or if you are attacked by surprise it will already be close up action. This is where the Kempo elbow strikes come into their own.
They are used in an accurate and flowing fashion, using linear and circular motion. They will come in from all angles and hit practically anywhere on the body, some totally unexpected and they can combine into bone breaking throws or locks. The elbows are literally the body’s battering rams, they are naturally hard and toughened areas and by honing them on the heavy bag or Makiwara they will become lethal weapons!
If anybody is in doubt as to how effective the blows can be, you only have to observe some of the recent nasty injuries inflicted in pro football by loose flailing elbows. These incidents showed footballers inflicting damage with the elbows. They were not trained martial artists who knew how to strike with proper power, focus accuracy and speed, that should tell just how dangerous and effective the strike can be.
Lets look at the different ways the elbow can be used in a serious self-defense situation. As mentioned earlier, the beauty of the elbow is that it can travel at every conceivable angle to strike your attacker.
The upward rising elbow at close range can be an unexpected and powerful shot, the target area is the end of the chin. It can cause your attacker anything from chipped teeth and bitten tongue, to neck whiplash or an instant knockout.
It can also be used as a strike to the sternum bone for a set-up to a throw or lock. A surprise move with this blow is either when you are on the floor or in a deep crouch. You bring the blow up in the same rising fashion to slam between opponent’s legs up into the testicles for a lovely finishing move.
The downward elbow can smash into the back of the skull and the cervical vertebrae of the neck or between the shoulder blades into the thoracic vertebrae of the spine, emptying the lungs of air. Also it can strike the kidneys, all these target areas can be exposed when an opponent is pulled and bent over double, usually after a groin shot to set him up. The downward elbow can also smash into the face, throat or sternum when you lever your attacker slightly backwards. Grabbing the back of an attacker’s hair, then driving an elbow into the sternum followed by an inner or outer leg reap is a great combination.
The downward elbow can also be used to great effect on the arms if grabbed by the lapels. You can smash the point of the elbow right into the top of the bicep, splitting the muscle to paralyze the arm instantly breaking the grip. It can also strike the triceps muscle on the back of the arm where it inserts into the elbow joint, again to paralyze the arm or to dislocate the elbow joint. It’s a great technique to disarm against a weapon.
The horizontal elbow is next up. It can whip in to strike temples, jaw or neck from the front, also sternum or solar plexus. If you change the angle slightly it can cut in a downward arc across the temple to chin or the other way from the jaw hinge to nose.
These blows again from close quarter grabbing attacks are extremely effective and hard to stop; they batter their way through. For a rear attack, the base of the skull and the kidneys are prime targets for the horizontal elbow.
Side elbow will come in from any angle. From the front with the lead arm it can piston out into sternum, solar plexus or throat. Or kneeling or crouched, into bladder and groin area. From the sides it can attack the temples, floating ribs or kidneys, coming over or under opponents guard.
Back elbows work to great effect when held or grabbed from the rear. The straight back elbow can be jabbed back from the hip aiming for sternum, solar plexus or groin. Rapid fire them to break hold for a follow up.
Back hooking elbow can strike the head if grabbed under the arms or into the floating ribs if grabbed around the neck. To execute, pivot from the hips firing the elbows in a hooking fashion. If attacker moves his head away from one hooking elbow, follow immediately with one from the other arm.
Also in the Kempo Goshin Jutsu system are some sophisticated and unusual elbow strikes. The upward vertical elbow is a beautiful unseen shot. One way to execute it is if you are grabbed from behind, you drive the straight back elbow into the solar plexus then immediately drop the elbow into a claw hand to the testicles (again, a favorite of gay boy crazyjoe380, lol). As opponent lurches forward, rip up on the groin, bringing the elbow in a vertical plane straight up under the chin, it is a great surprise knockout combination.
Spinning elbows are used to excellent effect and in many ways. Done correctly with proper footwork, timing and accuracy, they are devastating. Spinning into a front target offers you the sternum, solar plexus or face, sending the opponent backwards or forwards into a sweep, choke or neck lock. Spinning to the rear striking spine or kidneys sets up a multitude of Kempo Goshin Jutsu takedowns or strangles.
Spinning elbows can be very fast and carry a great deal of power from the body pivoting. One of the overlooked target areas for elbow strikes is the legs. In my system we exploit this fact often and painfully. Many leg take downs can be used from striking downward into the front of the thigh, deadening the muscle and setting them up for a crippling lock and throw. Blasting the inside or outside of the knee joints whilst crouched or kneeling will upend any opponent no matter how big.
Trapping opponent’s ankle and smashing front of knee with a horizontal elbow will send him crashing to the floor. Ducking a punch and driving a side elbow into the outside of the outer thigh brings a whole new dimension to the term ‘dead leg’. There are many unusual throws and take downs incorporating the elbow. Against kicks, trapping the leg and smashing the elbows into thigh, knee joint os nerve points between calf muscle and shinbone can take the fight out of the best kickers. Combine it with a Kempo sweep or throw and the fight is over.
When the fight goes to the floor, dropping onto your opponent with an elbow certainly gives you the advantage. Downward blows to the sternum, solar plexus or ribs can give you the upper hand. Driving elbows again into the nerve points on the legs can break holds and render your opponent helpless in a floor grapple as can the muscle attacks to the arms, sandwiching the arm between your elbow strike and the floor.
The point and side of the elbow can affect deadly chokes and strangles on the floor when pressed deeply into the carotid arteries or the trachea. Also grinding the elbow into the temples or sternum bone, will also gain a release in a wrestling situation. If you train the elbow it can be used from any position or angle. Standing, kneeling or prone on the floor. If you have a large six-foot punch bag you can train and sharpen all the mentioned elbow strikes developing proper accuracy, power and focus. Work to use them in quick blasting combinations right up close to the bag as if it was an opponent.
As mentioned the Kempo Goshin Jutsu system uses them in conjunction with many throws, chokes and breaks in a flowing and continuous fashion, too numerous to mention in one post.
So if you are practicing martial arts do not over look this strike. As most trouble will start close up or in a crowded place (i.e. club, bar) you will be glad you have this natural and versatile weapon to give your assailant the point.
If this has been discussed in a previous thread then I apologize, I did do a search but haven’t really come across an in depth thread about the elbow. Just looking to share some thoughts.
What do you think guys???
I thought I would contribute some thoughts about the all important use of the 'Elbow Strike' especially in view of how popular the discussion of various kicks is, and no doubt largely due to the ever increasing popularity of MT and the Filipino and Malaysian fighting systems.
Needless to say to all on the forum, the versatile and powerful elbow has been around for a very long time in all martial arts, but I feel has not been used to it’s full potential.
In the Kempo Goshin Jutsu system, the elbow is used in many unusual and extremely devastating ways. In fact I would say the system carries (arguably of course!) the biggest array of elbow techniques known in the martial arts. Kempo Goshin Jutsu is a modern and progressive combat system; its roots are in the old Jujutsu of the Japanese Samurai and is solely an art of self-protection.
It has no sporting elements whatsoever (I may have mentioned this fact in another thread). Although the system keeps the traditional values and disciplines of the ancient Jujutsu, it recognizes that times change and so do the threats of violence, so technique must be modified to suit the needs of our urban environment.
The system contains a vast syllabus of strikes, throws, takedowns, locks, chokes, breaks etc. and the elbow is one of its favorite weapons. Most street fights go very quickly into grappling range or if you are attacked by surprise it will already be close up action. This is where the Kempo elbow strikes come into their own.
They are used in an accurate and flowing fashion, using linear and circular motion. They will come in from all angles and hit practically anywhere on the body, some totally unexpected and they can combine into bone breaking throws or locks. The elbows are literally the body’s battering rams, they are naturally hard and toughened areas and by honing them on the heavy bag or Makiwara they will become lethal weapons!
If anybody is in doubt as to how effective the blows can be, you only have to observe some of the recent nasty injuries inflicted in pro football by loose flailing elbows. These incidents showed footballers inflicting damage with the elbows. They were not trained martial artists who knew how to strike with proper power, focus accuracy and speed, that should tell just how dangerous and effective the strike can be.
Lets look at the different ways the elbow can be used in a serious self-defense situation. As mentioned earlier, the beauty of the elbow is that it can travel at every conceivable angle to strike your attacker.
The upward rising elbow at close range can be an unexpected and powerful shot, the target area is the end of the chin. It can cause your attacker anything from chipped teeth and bitten tongue, to neck whiplash or an instant knockout.
It can also be used as a strike to the sternum bone for a set-up to a throw or lock. A surprise move with this blow is either when you are on the floor or in a deep crouch. You bring the blow up in the same rising fashion to slam between opponent’s legs up into the testicles for a lovely finishing move.
The downward elbow can smash into the back of the skull and the cervical vertebrae of the neck or between the shoulder blades into the thoracic vertebrae of the spine, emptying the lungs of air. Also it can strike the kidneys, all these target areas can be exposed when an opponent is pulled and bent over double, usually after a groin shot to set him up. The downward elbow can also smash into the face, throat or sternum when you lever your attacker slightly backwards. Grabbing the back of an attacker’s hair, then driving an elbow into the sternum followed by an inner or outer leg reap is a great combination.
The downward elbow can also be used to great effect on the arms if grabbed by the lapels. You can smash the point of the elbow right into the top of the bicep, splitting the muscle to paralyze the arm instantly breaking the grip. It can also strike the triceps muscle on the back of the arm where it inserts into the elbow joint, again to paralyze the arm or to dislocate the elbow joint. It’s a great technique to disarm against a weapon.
The horizontal elbow is next up. It can whip in to strike temples, jaw or neck from the front, also sternum or solar plexus. If you change the angle slightly it can cut in a downward arc across the temple to chin or the other way from the jaw hinge to nose.
These blows again from close quarter grabbing attacks are extremely effective and hard to stop; they batter their way through. For a rear attack, the base of the skull and the kidneys are prime targets for the horizontal elbow.
Side elbow will come in from any angle. From the front with the lead arm it can piston out into sternum, solar plexus or throat. Or kneeling or crouched, into bladder and groin area. From the sides it can attack the temples, floating ribs or kidneys, coming over or under opponents guard.
Back elbows work to great effect when held or grabbed from the rear. The straight back elbow can be jabbed back from the hip aiming for sternum, solar plexus or groin. Rapid fire them to break hold for a follow up.
Back hooking elbow can strike the head if grabbed under the arms or into the floating ribs if grabbed around the neck. To execute, pivot from the hips firing the elbows in a hooking fashion. If attacker moves his head away from one hooking elbow, follow immediately with one from the other arm.
Also in the Kempo Goshin Jutsu system are some sophisticated and unusual elbow strikes. The upward vertical elbow is a beautiful unseen shot. One way to execute it is if you are grabbed from behind, you drive the straight back elbow into the solar plexus then immediately drop the elbow into a claw hand to the testicles (again, a favorite of gay boy crazyjoe380, lol). As opponent lurches forward, rip up on the groin, bringing the elbow in a vertical plane straight up under the chin, it is a great surprise knockout combination.
Spinning elbows are used to excellent effect and in many ways. Done correctly with proper footwork, timing and accuracy, they are devastating. Spinning into a front target offers you the sternum, solar plexus or face, sending the opponent backwards or forwards into a sweep, choke or neck lock. Spinning to the rear striking spine or kidneys sets up a multitude of Kempo Goshin Jutsu takedowns or strangles.
Spinning elbows can be very fast and carry a great deal of power from the body pivoting. One of the overlooked target areas for elbow strikes is the legs. In my system we exploit this fact often and painfully. Many leg take downs can be used from striking downward into the front of the thigh, deadening the muscle and setting them up for a crippling lock and throw. Blasting the inside or outside of the knee joints whilst crouched or kneeling will upend any opponent no matter how big.
Trapping opponent’s ankle and smashing front of knee with a horizontal elbow will send him crashing to the floor. Ducking a punch and driving a side elbow into the outside of the outer thigh brings a whole new dimension to the term ‘dead leg’. There are many unusual throws and take downs incorporating the elbow. Against kicks, trapping the leg and smashing the elbows into thigh, knee joint os nerve points between calf muscle and shinbone can take the fight out of the best kickers. Combine it with a Kempo sweep or throw and the fight is over.
When the fight goes to the floor, dropping onto your opponent with an elbow certainly gives you the advantage. Downward blows to the sternum, solar plexus or ribs can give you the upper hand. Driving elbows again into the nerve points on the legs can break holds and render your opponent helpless in a floor grapple as can the muscle attacks to the arms, sandwiching the arm between your elbow strike and the floor.
The point and side of the elbow can affect deadly chokes and strangles on the floor when pressed deeply into the carotid arteries or the trachea. Also grinding the elbow into the temples or sternum bone, will also gain a release in a wrestling situation. If you train the elbow it can be used from any position or angle. Standing, kneeling or prone on the floor. If you have a large six-foot punch bag you can train and sharpen all the mentioned elbow strikes developing proper accuracy, power and focus. Work to use them in quick blasting combinations right up close to the bag as if it was an opponent.
As mentioned the Kempo Goshin Jutsu system uses them in conjunction with many throws, chokes and breaks in a flowing and continuous fashion, too numerous to mention in one post.
So if you are practicing martial arts do not over look this strike. As most trouble will start close up or in a crowded place (i.e. club, bar) you will be glad you have this natural and versatile weapon to give your assailant the point.
If this has been discussed in a previous thread then I apologize, I did do a search but haven’t really come across an in depth thread about the elbow. Just looking to share some thoughts.
What do you think guys???
Comment