Technical Tuesday: Sok Ti (Slashing Elbow)
Today’s elbow technique is one of the most common type of elbow thrown in muaythai, one which most beginners and intermediates grow accustomed to, and one which seasoned athletes know like the back of their hands. In this offensive technique, the motion of the elbow is thrown in an oblique downwards angle. The area this elbow targets is usually the top of the head, forehead, and side of the face. The elbow can be thrown with the leading elbow arm or the rear arm.
To throw the Sok Ti, you must raise the arm slightly angling the elbow slightly higher than your head and bend the elbow so that the upper forearm is almost touching the biceps and twist the shoulder while throwing the tip of the elbow downward in a 45 degree angle. The hip should be rotated inward at the same time the shoulder is twisted. This rotational momentum is what adds power to the strike.
This strike can be thrown either from the leading arm or the rear arm. The leading throw (i.e. left elbow) is less powerful (than the rear, right elbow) but quicker to land and works great if your opponent steps towards you or leading with a jab then falling into the elbow right after.
Tags: Technical Tuesdays
