? for thai fighters and trainers

[Rob McIntyre]

I was wondering if anyone can give me a answer to the following question (I am sure lots of you on here can):

why do MT straight punches lift the elbow as they hit compared to boxing where you keep the elbow pointed down all the way through?

Cheers

Rob McIntyre - Gladstone
"in your training do not forget the spirit or the humility of a beginner"

[harls]

Not all Thai gyms advocate lifting the elbow to punch.






"Never Argue With The Ignorant Because They Will Simply Pull You Down To Their Level And Beat You With Experience."

[Rob McIntyre]

I know, I don't teach it but I am wondering why the Thai way of punching is to lift the elbow.

I have just been watching a clip of Anawut and was curious what advantages it might have.


Rob McIntyre - Gladstone
"in your training do not forget the spirit or the humility of a beginner"

[AusSambo]

I know that i was taught to utilise both ways the lifting way was to snap elbows quicker if the opponent covered up on the punch

[harls]

Maybe it makes it easier to catch roundkicks by keeping the ribs open? I can't think off any other reason for it..

Good question Rob.



"Never Argue With The Ignorant Because They Will Simply Pull You Down To Their Level And Beat You With Experience."

Edited by - harls on 12 Aug 2007 01:11:28

[L10NHEART]

i train muay thai with boxing background, and have always been taught to not lift the elbow, there is no advantage in doing it, all it will do is leave you open for a body shot.

[Locked Up]

Hi Rob, are you talking about Thai fighters from Thailand or Aussie Thai fighters?

[J.N.I]

I do not agree with it but what I have noticed is 3 things when the elbow is kept up,
1.Easier to follow through with a kick
2.Easier to go from punching to a grapple
3.Easier to throw elbows

John Ioannou

[Dip Muay Thai]

Sawasdee krup,

From my experience there is the straight punch with the elbow down and then 3 with the elbow up. The closest to a straight punch is Mut yao wiang dtam. It is technically not a straight punch, the arm is slightly curved with the elbow twisted up so that the knuckle is used to hit the target. It also allows you to use your upper body strength to twist down, like a screw, forcing the target (your opponent's head) to the side, not straight back.

I'm not sure how to explain in English, but hitting your opponent in the jaw side on, with a twist, can have more impact then a straight punch to the head. It's a bit like pulling a papaya or a coconut off a tree - if you twist sideways they come off, if you just hit them, they stay there :)

This is just from my experience - try it on a bag and see how it feels.

Kop Koon Krup
Dip



Dip_Muaythai@yahoo.com.au

[harls]

JNI, I personally don't think keeping the elbows up makes it any easier than keeping the elbows down for the things you suggested. I guess everyone is different though.





"Never Argue With The Ignorant Because They Will Simply Pull You Down To Their Level And Beat You With Experience."

[J.N.I]

Hey Harls it very well could be but I really think it's more of a Thai fighter thing as they are not prone to punching like the westeners are.

John Ioannou

[Locked Up]

Hi,
I have to agree with J.N.I, I too think that it is a Thailand thing (lifting the elbow), because they don't punch much over there as punches don't even really score points.

The only time that we lift our elbow is if we are throwing an overhand.

I personaly do not think that it is easier to catch as kick if you lift your elbow up when punching, because when your punch is extended you are creating the same opening anyway, ELBOW UP OR DOWN.

I also think that by lifting the elbow you are signaling that you are about to punch with that hand.

If you want to knock the persons head off, elbows down and punch from the hip I think.