Martial Arts Techniques & Training

The Kanji Dragon translates to 'spirit of the tiger and the dragon' and was featured on Ed Parker's patch.

Elbow Strikes: American Kenpo Karate

These basic elbow strikes are required for promotion to your next belt. As you get better, your understanding of each should also improve.

Warning — train with caution and with good control. Elbows are your most powerful weapon; so powerful, in fact, that it's almost impossible to NOT injure your opponent when using them. When training, make sure that your partner knows and understands that you are using elbows, and strike very carefully.

You have different weapons for different ranges:

Legs — Long and Medium Range
Hands — Medium and short Range
Knees and Elbows — Short Range

Striking with Knees and Elbows is a great way to to maximum damage to your opponent. Where the hand has many small bones, the knees and elbows are solid bone. Power is more easily transmitted from your body to your knees and elbows than it is to your hands. You can strike anywhere with knees; obviously, though, you need to bring the target down to the right level. To drive a knee into the head, for example, you might kick to the groin to bring the head down. You'll have to hit pretty hard with your hands and feet to stop a man who's used to fighting. An elbow strike, with relatively little power behind it, will do more damage.

Elbow Strikes

1: Back Elbow

Start from a training horse
Hold your right hand out in front of you, palm down
Now pull the elbow back as if striking to the solar plexus of a man standing immediately behind you
Your hand should end palm up, high on your pec, and your elbow should form a sharp point

2: Inward Elbow

From the Back Elbow position, bring the elbow in counter-clockwise and rotate your hand from palm up to palm down
Your elbow should be at the same level as your shoulder; the elbow should not go forward of your face

3: Inward Elbow with a Sandwich

Your goal is to sandwhich your opponent's head/jaw/face between your right elbow and your left hand
Do an inward elbow, but let the elbow come farther forward and slap the elbow with your left hand when it is at 12:00 — right in front of your face
Your right hand will have to rotate down and out of the way in order to do this
Remember that your elbow should stay on the same level as your shoulder for maximum power
Bend your knees if you need to drop

4: Outward Elbow

Reach across your body with your right hand and point to the left (3:00)
Thumb is up; now imagine that your opponent is to your right and strike to the face with your right elbow
Your hand will rotate from thumb up to thumb toward you for torque (imagine that if you were holding a glass of water, that you would pour the water on you as you rotated your hand in during the strike)
Again, keep the elbow at the same level as your shoulder for maximum power

5: Upward Elbow

Move your hand / fist back as though brushing through your hair on the side of your head
The elbow will rise straight up, striking under the chin of your opponent

6: Inward Overhead Elbow

Your arm should execute a big circle (maximum travel) to your rear
As the hand reaches its maximum height, it should be palm forward
Now, bring the elbow down and strike to your opponent
(Imagine them trying to tackle you from the front)
As your elbow comes down, your hand rotates from palm front to palm back
Bend your knees and drop for Marriage of Gravity to increase power

7: Outward Overhead Elbow

Your arm should execute a big circle (maximum travel) across your front, clockwise for the right hand, counter clockwise for the left, from inside to outside
As the hand reaches its maximum height, the palm should be facing in the direction that you wish to strike (facing out to the side)
Now, bring the elbow down and strike to your opponent
(Imagine them trying to tackle you from the side)
As your elbow comes down, your hand rotates 180 degrees, from palm away to palm towards you, for torque
Bend your knees and drop for Marriage of Gravity to increase power
To create a sandwich, lift up with the knee as the elbow comes down (you'll catch them between the knee and the elbow)

8: Obscure Elbow

Standing relaxed, with your hands at your sides, snap your elbow up
Your hand started with the palm towards you, and rotates to palm back as you strike
Imagine catching your opponent under the jaw as they grab you from behind

Remember: Elbows and knees are very destructive. In sparring and techniques, use them with control and try not to surprise your partner. If the fight's on, though, knees and elbows will end it faster than feet and fists.