Downward Elbow
- Striking
- Elbows
- advanced
- Close range / clinch
- 4 steps
An elbow raised high and speared straight down onto the crown or face. Also known as the Spike elbow, the Sok Sub or the 12-to-6 elbow. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 4 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to use it
Use the downward elbow when you are taller than the opponent, or when they duck low or bend forward in the clinch. Pull them down first so you have height over them. Check the rules before you compete, because many rule sets ban straight downward elbows.
Step by step
- 01
Close the distance
Get on top of the opponent, often from the clinch.
- 02
Raise the elbow high
Lift the elbow up above the head to load the downward strike.
- 03
Spike it down
Slam the point of the elbow straight down onto the forehead or crown, dropping your bodyweight through it.
- 04
Recover to guard
Bring the arm back to your guard and reset. Elbows are close-range, so stay tight.
Key details
- Drop your full weight straight down behind the point.
- Best when you have height or an angle over the opponent.
- Strike with the tip of the elbow, vertically.
Common mistakes
- Letting it drift into a diagonal instead of straight down.
- Throwing it without height/leverage over them.
- Leaving the other hand down as you raise the elbow.
Common counters
Opponents keep their head up and posture tall so you lose the height. They also step in to smother it, or catch the raised arm and clinch. Lift and drop the elbow quickly, with the other hand guarding.
How to drill it
Your partner holds a Thai pad flat and face up at chest height, out in front of their body. Raise and drop the elbow onto it ten times, then switch roles, for three rounds.
Related techniques
- Horizontal ElbowStrikingA lead elbow swung horizontally across the jaw, the most common cutting elbow.
- Diagonal ElbowStrikingA lead elbow that slashes downward on a diagonal across the brow, a classic cutter.
- Uppercut ElbowStrikingAn elbow driven straight up the centre under the chin from inside the pocket.
- Spinning Back ElbowStrikingA spinning strike that lands the point of the rear elbow across the head as the body unwinds.
Train it with the AI coach