What's the best way to hit someone with an elbow?

[mightymouse2k]

This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I see you're right about the uppercut. I should have my fist on my shoulder, correct? I see I get all my weight into this when I come straight up, but it's a little slower than a regular uppercut (b/c the distance traveled is greater). Also, bringing my elbow up so high puts me in an awkward position.

If you have anything else to say on this topic I would appreciate it.

Thats roughly correct, its a bit difficult to explain over a forum. Yeah the fist is over the shoulder, but remember the real power of this technique comes from the waist and legs and works in unision with the striking limb and i cannot emphasise enough the fact that you need a good connection with the tip of the elbow. In regard to you being slow, remember keep a tight guard and make the technique explosive, play around with it, i.e. use it at different ranges, make the technique snappier and faster until you find a variation that really suits you. I found i got best results practising on thai pads.

[Verstyle]

I'd throw it more like a hook-uppercut. That way the force is going up and you connect with the chin or the eye, or both.

[hemichromis]

It's good to get your opponent cut, but there's never as much weight behind it

there is no reason why it shouldn't. when you throw a hook NO power comes from the motion of the hand and forearm it is still while the rest of the arm and body move it to the target.
with an elbow the same thing happens but 2 major joints are taken out of the equation so less power is lost.

[Pork Chop]

i haven't been here in a while..

you trying to hide the elbow in a boxing match or just throw it?
There are a few different ways to throw the elbow.
It's not always for causing cuts, that's just the only way mma folks have been able to use it.
The KO points are on the button (chin) and on the temple, axe elbows on the top of the head have been known to work too.

The different types of elbow include:
hook elbow (a hook using the elbow instead of the fist) - travels along horizontal plane - weight transfer front to back - easiest to pull when at close range in the clinch.

overhand elbow (think of throwing an over hand rear with the elbow) - comes down at a 45 degree angle, weight transfer back to front - easier to land in the first. there's a jumping variation that's a lot more vertical (you switch stances throwing it)

axe elbow - kinda like an axe fist thrown with the elbow - swinging from overhead downward with the point of the elbow, tends to be illegal more often in sport fights outside of thailand

rising elbow - like a 45 degree uppercut - usually followed by overhand

penetrating elbow - this is a good distance closer - you basically raise your guard (elbow bent slightly more than 90 degrees) and you slide the elbow straight in - i see this on the body a lot too

sliding elbow - this one is more of a body shot, think a deep, side-on stance, elbow bent tight like you're doing the chicken dance, you slide in, kind of like a jab to the body.

reverse elbow - this one the fist is actually lower than the elbow, pointing to the ground, and you raise the elbow up

spinning elbow - kinda like a spinning backfist, except the elbow definitely comes from an almost straight-vertical (90 degree) angle - body bends a little to accommodate the vertical trajectory, this one's fancy & hard to pull off, but high ko percentage, will break the nose if you land it on the bridge

with all elbows, the other hand needs to guard & guard high (guarding hand higher up by temple when throwing elbows).

[kayjay]

Outstanding post, Pork Chop. I'll work on some of these.

I'm not trying to sneak these in a boxing match; just looking for ways to hurt people with my elbows.

[BattlingNelson]

Try looking at the Holmes-Holyfield fight. If I remember correctly Holmes cut Holyfield with an elbow. It was shown in slo-mo. Holmes delivered a straight right which missed Holy's head and Holmes followed trough with the elbow hitting Holyfield on the eyebrow.

I thought it was quite amusing that the old man delivered a dirty but skillful blow on the dirtiest HW fighter of recent history.

[kayjay]

there is no reason why it shouldn't. when you throw a hook NO power comes from the motion of the hand and forearm it is still while the rest of the arm and body move it to the target.
with an elbow the same thing happens but 2 major joints are taken out of the equation so less power is lost.

Well said.