Title: Uppercut Elbow: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/striking/uppercut-elbow

> Uppercut Elbow. An elbow driven straight up the centre under the chin from inside the pocket. Step-by-step breakdown with key details and common mistakes.

# Uppercut Elbow

- Striking
- Elbows
- intermediate
- Close range / clinch
- 3 steps

An elbow driven straight up the centre under the chin from inside the pocket. Also known as the Sok Ngat or the Rising elbow. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Use the uppercut elbow at chest-to-chest range when the opponent ducks in or leans forward to smother you. It slips through a tight guard where wider elbows cannot. It also lands as they bend forward in the clinch.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Close the distance

   Get chest-to-chest range, hands high.

2. 02

   ### Drive the elbow up

   Drive the lead elbow straight up the centre-line under the chin, extending the legs and hips like an uppercut.

3. 03

   ### Recover to guard

   Bring the arm back to your guard and reset. Elbows are close-range, so stay tight.

## Key details

- Drive up with the legs and hips, not just the arm.
- Keep it tight to the centre-line under the chin.
- Stay in tight. It only works at close range.

## Common mistakes

- Throwing it from outside elbow range.
- Leaning back instead of driving up.
- Flaring the elbow wide off the centre-line.

## Common counters

Opponents cover tight and clinch to tie up the arm, or step back and counter. An elbow thrown from too far misses and opens your chin. Stay in close.

## How to drill it

Your partner holds a Thai pad face down at chest height with their arms extended, so it sits well clear of their chin; step in and drive the elbow up into it. Do three rounds of two minutes, extending your legs and hips on every rep.

## Related techniques

- [Horizontal Elbow Striking A lead elbow swung horizontally across the jaw, the most common cutting elbow.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/horizontal-elbow)
- [Diagonal Elbow Striking A lead elbow that slashes downward on a diagonal across the brow, a classic cutter.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/diagonal-elbow)
- [Downward Elbow Striking An elbow raised high and speared straight down onto the crown or face.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/downward-elbow)
- [Spinning Back Elbow Striking A spinning strike that lands the point of the rear elbow across the head as the body unwinds.](https://darce.app/techniques/striking/spinning-back-elbow)

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