On a previous post I noticed a thread concerning "Defending Against An Untrained Puncher" and one person recommended blocking the punch with an elbow. I once heard somewhere that the elbow is one of the hardest bones in the body.

To me, using an elbow to block and hurt the opponent's incoming fist sounds very sneaky and unexpected. What do you think about it?

Seems good, but wouldn't that hurt the eblow and possibly have limited/no use for the remainder of the fight?

One more thing. If you can, is there some certain way or angle that you block with and how can you strengthen your elbows?

Swordfish
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funny you should mention that, I had a talk with an instructor last night who was expounding on the strength of the elbows and knees. He teaches Muay Thai among other arts, so he knows whats up on the matter of elbows. He made a point that you hear of artists breaking hands or feet but almost never elbows or knees(as weapons). These points of our bodies are reinforced with bone and tough ligament, and are naturally guarded against damage in this manner in design. with proper training the elbow(as well as knee) are awesome offensive and defensive tools, if any Muay Thai boxer worth his/her salt is any indication. Find a Muay Thai teacher if you can, one could show you alot regarding this subject matter.
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I have had really good TKD kickers try to throw there kicks at me and they get their legs busted up by my elbow and no longer try to kick. Very easy to do. And Elbows on the fist will break the hand or disable it.

I would much rather stop a powerful kick with an elbow than an arm. I save seen a few arms get broken that way.

There are techniques in Kali that have certain moves involving elbows that I wouldt know if u can categorize em as an interception, but certainly can intercept and "defang the snake" as they put it.

The move is basically a parry and elbow strike to either a nerve or the knuckles, if properly executed, it can be devastating because you are smashing an oncomming fist with your elbow on their knuckles...basically breaking their hand.
( remember sequel in Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris Fight in Colosseum scene ?, basically I see kali in that move when bruce crippled chuck's hand -defang the snake-, same concept ..except with elbow striking upwards. )

Example for imagination -

Person facing you throws a punch,
you parry with your left hand, and do an upward elbow strike to their knuckles with your right arm, dont over reach because then you will leave your rib cage exposed, for arguments sake, aim to grab your ear..so the final move actually looks more like a block than an elbow strike.

I say if you practice this alot ..there is a 20% probability of properly executing this move in a live fight, and probably when your opponent is getting tired and slower with punches, and consider the probability of you being exhausted at this point as well.

All moves are effective but all carry a realistic probability of executing it correctly in a real fight.
50% is a really good move, but no move is 100%

my 2.75 cents

Ricky - The thing you are describing is referred to as a "destruction". You know.... the thing that most concepts guys get yelled at for doing by OJKD guys cause it wasn't in the agenda way back in the 60's? LOL

Destructions can be stopping a punch with an elbow to the knuckles to "destroy" the knuckles. It can be punching the bicep/arm pit of an attacker when a punch is thrown either with a normally-closed fist or with a knuckle protruding. This "destroys" the limb. It can be kicking or punching the inside of an attacking leg to "destroy" the limb. You can also use elbows strikes to a kicking leg for the same result. Besides Kali and JKD Concepts, Ninjutsu also uses destructions.

The Bruce Lee part in the movie is another example how Bruce Lee uses whatever is useful at the time to win. It seems certain students of his are more caught up in not using certain things that would be practical in a situation than he is. But alas, to each their own.

I use the elbow spike on a nightly basis with EXCELLENT results. I can hit it about 95% of the time a punch is thrown at my head.

My hands are up high anyway protecting my face. It's nothing to raise your arm up a little as the punch is coming. You don't have to use your other hand to "guide" the incoming punch to the elbow as is often taught either.

-John

John
I would not want to hit your elbows or be hit by your elbows. I have went for a high kick and had my shin busted up pretty good and then be somewhat constrained ect.

LOL

If you use the elbow as a destruction...yeh you may hurt your arm...but think of the damage its done to the opponent...

Destructions certainly have their merit, but I think that given their timing, it may be more efficient to strike the eyes, throat or face than the arm. FMA limb destructions fall into the same timing category as JKD's lin sil die da (simultaneous attack and defense). If given the choice, I would rather attack a primary target (eye, throat, groin) instead of his arm as painful as that may be. If for some reason the former were unavailable (i.e. no unobstructed line to a primary target, trying to maintain a low level of force, etc.) then limb destructions may be a good alternative.

I also practice siko destructions(elbow) your timing has to be pretty darn good to pull it off but it can be done. I tell the people i work out all you need to do is put your elbow were your face was. Foot work is the most important part of elbow destruction to and incoming fist you have to have the right angle and most important distance if you are to close that is when you are going to get hurt. I find the best time for me to use the elbow dstruct. Is when you have started and entry and just by pure instinct that person throws a wild punch that is when you use your elbows drive them to his bicep or shoulder that really destroys those nerves then you can wrench there arm. And that is when you really be able to yours elbows and knees and head butts. That is my out look on that subject.

"NWfish wrote:

I have had really good TKD kickers try to throw there kicks at me and they get their legs busted up by my elbow and no longer try to kick. Very easy to do. And Elbows on the fist will break the hand or disable it."

Back in my TKD days I use to work out with a couple of guys from school. We would get together to trade ideas. One of which was using the elbow against a kick. It was highly effective. So much so, that is was hard to train because the other persons foot would alot of damage. Especially against round kicks where the striking surface is the instep. It even worked well against the shin. Now I'm not sure how well it would work against a person who has a well conditioned shin throwing a kick that has his full weight and power behind it. I never tried to see if my elbow was more powerfull than my partners shin. I guess I wasn't that crazy or stupid for that matter.

Elbows are primed for combat. Elbows have very few nerves around the elbow, mostly skin and bone, the nerves and muscle are in the inside, the forearms and biceps. Elbow blows are very deceptive, an elbow can easily be "popped out" from most punch combos. Elbows are also made for great defensive tools for blocking blows to your body or face. To further deaden the nerves in your elbow/forearm area, just hit the heavy bag and bang the pads with a partner.