Muay Thai is called the Art of Eight Limbs, and two of those eight limbs are your elbows.
The elbow is one of the shortest, sharpest weapons in Muay Thai. Muay Thai elbows work at close range, where punches and kicks don’t have room. A good elbow can end a round in one shot.
This is post 3 in my series on THAI FIGHT’s “Muay Thai Tutorial” videos. Each video is about two minutes long and spoken in Thai. I’ll walk you through what is taught, in plain English.
New to the series? Start with post 1, Muay Thai Stance and the Wai Khru, then post 2, Muay Thai Punches and How to Defend Them.
Every elbow here comes with its own defense, so you learn the strike and then how to stop it. Click any timestamp, and the video in the post jumps to that moment.
In this post:
The Five Muay Thai Elbows
- Horizontal Elbow (Sok Tat /ศอกตัด)
- Diagonal Elbow (Sok Chiang /ศอกเฉียง)
- Uppercut Elbow (Sok Ngat /ศอกงัด)
- Spinning Elbow (Sok Klap /ศอกกลับ)
- Spear Elbow (Sok Phung /ศอกพุ่ง)
One Word You’ll Hear
- Elbow, Sok (ศอก): the strike itself. Thai fighters hit with the point and the edge of the elbow.
The trainer in these videos fights from Orthodox Stance. If you are left-handed, just switch every left strike to a right strike, and vice versa.
Who Is Teaching?
The trainer featured in the five elbow videos introduces himself as Kitti Sor.Jor.Danrayong, a Thai Muay Thai fighter known for his effective use of elbow techniques. Kitti has competed extensively for THAI FIGHT, one of Thailand’s major Muay Thai fight promotions, and won the THAI FIGHT 70 kg Kard Chuek King’s Cup Championship in both 2019 and 2021.
In these instructional videos, he demonstrates several traditional Muay Thai elbow techniques for THAI FIGHT.
He keeps every lesson short and repeats one rule in almost every video: don’t let your other hand drop as you throw elbows.
Part 1: The Horizontal Elbow, Sok Tat (ศอกตัด)
Watch it at 0:12
The Horizontal Elbow cuts straight across, like a blade. The target is the side of your opponent’s head.
- Raise your Rear Elbow up high
- Turn your Rear Shoulder through
- Pivot your Rear Foot forward
- Lead Hand stays up in your guard
(Tip: the twist of your shoulder and foot is what gives the elbow its swing. Don’t just wave your arm.)
Aim to land the point of your elbow on your opponent’s chin.
He says the Lead Hand must never drop. When you throw an elbow, your opponent can throw one back at the same moment.
Defense: Stopping the Horizontal Elbow
Watch it at 0:41
To defend against the elbow, use the Long Guard. Raise your Lead Arm as the elbow comes toward you. Block the strike with your forearm, then push forward slightly to stop its power.
Raise both arms above your head and cross your forearms to make an X. Your forearms take the hit instead of your head.
Part 2: The Diagonal Elbow, Sok Chiang (ศอกเฉียง)
Watch it at 0:34
The Diagonal Elbow comes down at an angle, about 45 degrees. You may also hear it called a Slashing Elbow. The target is your opponent’s face.
- Raise your Rear Elbow
- Drop your Rear Shoulder down at about 45 degrees
- Pivot your Rear Foot
- The hand of the striking arm should fit into the armpit to make the elbow more compact
- Lead Hand stays up
(As you watch the fight footage, you can see how sharp elbows can be. A well-placed elbow can easily cut an opponent when it lands.)
Once again, the most important point is your Lead guard. Keep it up so your opponent can’t counter.
Defense: Stopping the Diagonal Elbow
Watch it at 0:40
He calls this one easy. Set your guard and raise your Lead Arm. (Similar to a Karate Outward Block)
Block with your Lead forearm, whether your opponent throws an elbow with their Lead or Rear arm.
As they move in, push your forearm forward slightly to stop the strike. Keep your arm bent at about 90 degrees to make your defense strong.
Part 3: The Uppercut Elbow, Sok Ngat (ศอกงัด)
Watch it at 0:34
The Uppercut Elbow comes straight up from underneath. The target is the tip of your opponent’s chin.
- Keep your guard high
- Turn your Rear Shoulder just a little
- Flick the elbow up until your fingertips reach your shoulder
- Make sure your palm is facing in an inward fashion
- Drive your hips up into it for more power
(Tip: this elbow works best when you are already close. Step in and send your elbow through their high guard.)
He says to twist only a little. A small turn keeps the elbow tight and fast.
Defense: Stopping the Uppercut Elbow
Watch it at 0:39
Set your guard. As the elbow rises, press the fingertips of your Lead Hand down on top of it. Keep your hand at the same height as their elbow.
At the same time, take a small step back. Stay on the ball of your Rear Foot so you can move again quickly.
Keep your other hand up to protect your head.
Once you block the elbow, you are in a good position to counter with a Cross.
For this defense, always use your Lead Arm to block, whether your opponent throws a left or right elbow.
Part 4: The Spinning Elbow, Sok Klap (ศอกกลับ)
Watch it at 0:15
The Spinning Elbow is an effective way to deceive your opponent with a powerful blow.
Kitti Sor.Jor.Danrayong shows how the Spinning Elbow can be a great way to counter your opponent’s strikes.
He explains that the best time to use it is when your opponent misses a punch or kick. As their strike passes by you, they leave themselves open for a counterattack. Your target is their face.
Step your Lead Foot forward and across your body.
Then spin and swing your Rear Elbow back toward your opponent’s face.
After throwing the Spinning Elbow, quickly reverse your spin, or “rewind,” to return to your original fighting stance.
Defense: Stopping the Spinning Elbow
Watch it at 0:38
He shows two ways to stop it.
- Block it. Raise your forearm as your opponent turns. Reach it forward a little to meet the elbow early. (Again, similar to a Karate Outward Block)
- Lean back. Step and slide back so that your head is out of range. Let the elbow miss, then come back with an elbow of your own.
Part 5: The Spear Elbow, Sok Phung (ศอกพุ่ง)
Watch it at 0:33
The Spear Elbow shoots straight forward, with the point of your elbow leading the way. It can break through your opponent’s guard and hit the face.
One target is the area just above the eyes, where the skin is thin and can easily be cut.
- Step your Lead Foot forward
- Drive your Rear Elbow straight ahead
- No upward flick, no swing
(Tip: think of it like a short, sharp jab with the point of your elbow.)
Keep both hands up the whole time. The hand that isn’t throwing the elbow stays home to guard your face.
For a Spear Elbow in a real fight, see how Johnny Walker used one to start his knockout of Mick Parkin at UFC 332.
Defense: Stopping the Spear Elbow
Watch it at 0:38
Use your forearm to push your opponent’s elbow to one side as you step at a 45-degree angle. I like to call this a Triangle Step. It helps move you out of the way.
At the same time, turn your Rear Foot so your body angles away from the strike.
Practice moving in both directions:
- Step Left: Step 45 degrees to your left and use your left forearm to block inward.
- Step Right: Step 45 degrees to your right and use your right forearm to block inward. This will also put you in a Southpaw Stance.
Common Elbow Mistakes I See
These are the mistakes I see most often when new students start throwing elbows.
- Dropping the other hand. This is the one Kitti Sor.Jor.Danrayong warns about in almost every video. At elbow range, your opponent is close enough to hit you right back.
- Swinging the arm only. Power comes from your shoulder, hips and feet turning together. A lazy arm makes a weak elbow.
- Throwing from too far away. Elbows are a close-range tool. If you have to reach, throw a punch instead.
- Staying after the strike. Snap the elbow, then get back to your stance. Hanging there leaves you open.
- Forgetting the defense. Drill each block as often as you drill the strike. Keep your other hand up to protect your head as you throw the elbow. Remember, every offensive move should have a built-in defense to keep you protected while you attack.
For drills you can practice at home, see how to throw an elbow, with drills from Superbon.
Why Muay Thai Elbows Matter
Muay Thai elbows are what make the sport different from boxing and kickboxing. They give you something to throw when you are too close to punch.
Learning the defenses matters just as much as learning the strikes. Even if you never throw an elbow in a fight, you will want to know how to stop one.
Start slow. Elbows are short and hard, so always train them with control and a partner you trust.
How to Start Training in Portland
Here is how to get started, step by step:
- Watch all ten videos. Pause on each elbow and copy the shape in front of a mirror.
- Practice slowly. Shadowbox each elbow, then its defense, and check that your other hand stays up.
- If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area, reach out to me when you’re ready. Use the contact form on TrainWithSean.com.
Learn Muay Thai Elbows With a Coach
This video series covers five Muay Thai elbows: the Horizontal, Diagonal, Uppercut, Spinning and Spear Elbows. Each one has its own target and its own defense.
Want to add elbows to your Muay Thai training? I’ve been a Certified Muay Thai Instructor since 1997, and I teach Muay Thai private lessons in Portland, Oregon.
Next in this series: Knees, with each strike shown next to its defense.
Coach Sean Haley
TrainWithSean.com
