The Secret to a Devastating Elbow Strike

One of the most devastating strikes you can use in close quarters combat is the elbow strike.

However, many people don't understand the dynamics of this powerful move and end up getting it completely wrong, resulting in a missed target and insufficient power at the point of impact.

Let me explain...

Striking someone with your elbow requires you to be very close to their body because you don't have as long of a reach as you do with throwing a regular punch. Because of this shorter range, the farther away you are from your attacker, the more your whole body has to move in order to hit your target (in this example, the head).

Many people who try to throw an elbow strike from "punching range" (about 3' from your attacker) therefore end up signaling their intentions too early as the person they're trying to hit picks up their movement with their eyes and instantaneously flinches backward.

This creates a "moving target" for you that's harder to hit and because their head is moving back in the same direction as your elbow strike, less force is generated at impact.

Does that mean that you can't take advantage of the elbow strike unless you're right up in someone's face?

Not at all. Here's the secret to overcoming this obstacle and still be able to land a devastating elbow strike at further distances...

The answer is in your "lead hand", or the hand that is closest to your attacker.

Assuming that you're going to strike with your right elbow, you would first bring your left hand up, under your attacker's line of sight, and grab the back of the neck/head.

At the same time as delivering your elbow strike, you're going to pull his head, trying to get your left hand to meet halfway with your right elbow.

This accomplishes several things...

1. Your lead hand is closer and quicker so you can control your attacker much faster and easier by quickly grabbing on and pulling him in.

2. By pulling and striking at the same time, you shorten the distance it takes for your elbow strike to hit it's target by 50%.

3. Because his head and your elbow strike are traveling toward each other, you greatly increase the amount of force at the point of impact (think about a head-on collision in your car vs. rear ending a car going in the same direction as you)

Learn to use your lead hand to your advantage and you'll quickly master the elbow strike.

More from Jeff at:
- www.CloseQuartersCombat.com
- www.AdvancedMassBuilding.com
- www.OptimumAnabolics.com
- www.CombatTheFat.com

Jeff Anderson is a 10 year veteran of the U.S. Army, a Master Fitness Trainer, and Master Instructor of Close Quarters Combat self defense. A full time fitness and self defense author, Jeff has trained thousands of men and women in the practical application of advanced military fitness methods as well as close combat tactics for "real life" self defense.

Comments

[#1 Posted by: The Body Master]

Nice cool tip, Jeff. Thanks for the tutorials. I learned a lot from your example.:)

[#2 Posted by: Em Braga]

In general, the single best technique in a street fight is really fast running shoes...

As my gunny taught me, all this stuff is good, but if you can get away without either being hurt or hurting someone else (yes, even the bad guy), you're better off. For one thing, you never know if the bad guy has a friend just up the street, and the friend has a Glock... Elbow strikes don't work worth a darn against 9mm rounds.

[#3 Posted by: Brett Heenan]

My Dad taught me to walk away from a fight, run away from a fight; But, if you have to fight, you had better know how. Elbows hurt!!

[#4 Posted by: divine gerald]

I need help with taking the asvab and the per test, can some one help me?

[#5 Posted by: Nick]

Em, in a way that's slightly debatable. While at a distance guns are obviously superior to hand-to-hand fighting, at point blank hand-to-hand can be utilized to disarm your opponent if you know the right technique. You also have to be very fast.

[#6 Posted by: Jeff Anderson]

Yes...definitely run away if you can! No matter how big and bad you think you are, you ALWAYS have to take into account the "unknown" factor:

Unknown: Will his buddies jump in to give him a hand as you're "winning" the fight?

Unknown: Is he armed?

Unknown: Is his buddy armed? (Thanks Em Braga!)

I've seen a LOT of guys puff out their chest to defend their "manhood"...only to find themselves unconcious from any number of "unknowns" about 3 minutes later.

But sometimes you don't have the option to run away. You'd better know what to do when you can't!

Great posts y'all! Keep the discussion going and I have vids on the way!

[#7 Posted by: Seth Teti]

Well this looks great, I never thought to use my lead hand for more leverage. Hi Jeff and thank you for this video, I am joining the Special Forces "Green Berets" and I am trying to learn as much as possible before Basic. I appreciate this video i learned a lot.

[#8 Posted by: Br.Phil]

Very good effective defensive/offensive technique!! The elbow strike has been used since the beginning of time...Always remember that a low offensive can also be activated simultaneously!!!

[#9 Posted by: RAVEN346]

If you've already gotten yourself into the squared off stance.. Why run? Once youre committed you had better take the advice of this elbow blow. Great advice to get the weak hand to control his head.

[#10 Posted by: Fat Hairy Biker]

This technique is ok. My resume is no where near as bad ass as this guys! However, I've been in alot of bar room brawls. I have the arrest record to prove it! The elbow is great, my personal favorite. Yet thier are many effective ways to deliver it. All of them very devistating.

[#11 Posted by: Karol]

The first thing: effective elbows are delivered almost solely in clinch. It takes years of practice to hit someone with an elbow from a distance.

The secret of a good elbow... is actually good body rotation. Making sure that your hips are accelerating your elbow.

I find grabbing guy's head very dangerous. You just expose yourself too much for "lucky shots". However gaining the momentum from the hands' pull is very effective when we talk about knees in clinch. Devastating technique in Muay Thai.

It might seem I'm expertising too much, while you are an expert. Well, I admire your work, you're doing a great job writing all sorts of articles, it's just that I specialise in Muay Thai and therefore feel I may share my thoughts with others.

[#12 Posted by: Josh]

I agree with Karol, using hips to generate power, using knees, and that I also find grabbing a guy's head dangerous. If I were to use this technique, the only place I could use it with confidence is if I'd already worked the guy over, my best, and I'm getting tired. Maybe he's still standing, but I need to try something to make sure he's going down so that I can get away and catch my breath. I still think I'd use my knee though, and save the elbows for close quarters like when some idiot wraps up on me. It is great advice though, its better to use your leading hand to bring his head to your elbow, instead of trying to make the distance with just your elbow.

[#13 Posted by: JohnUSMC]

The elbow strike is extremely effective. I have busted a knuckle twice trying to throw a punch when someone was pinned to a solid object, like a brick wall! I quickly learned that an elbow strike to the temple in close quarters is far more effective than a hand strike. A temple strike, however, can kill. So aim well.

[#14 Posted by: DEVGRU_RED]

Great video and instruction. The elbow strike is indeed a very devastating method to use in a variety of CQ situations, be it in CQB/CQC or plain street fighting. I personally have used (almost exactly as demonstrated here) this in a defensive posture against an ARMED opponent.

My case: the recipient of my well placed elbow strike was holding (gangsta style!) a PT1911 .45 ACP by Taurus. He held it with is right hand and had it aimed in the vicinity of my head. The weapon was approximately 4 to 5 inches from my face, I could see that his trigger finger was resting along the slide - above the trigger assembly. He was running his mouth about how he was going to enjoy my immediate demise, while I remained silent and observant. When he started to lower his finger from the slide, I reacted without hesitation.

I had my arms raised already, in a left hand lead boxing style or basic position. As I quickly snapped my left arm up and forward, I stepped in towards the "tough guy". Bumping his gun welding hand and arm left and outward. I "wrapped" my left arm over his right forearm and grasped him just above the elbow from behind and pulled him forward. My right elbow was in motion and as I pivoted my hips (right hip towards him) with my right elbow making point of contact at his left temple area.

His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud and I quickly gathered his weapon. It was in the cocked and locked position, so I brought the weapon to a ready to fire state. Being familiar with this weapon; I knew straight away that it was in fact, fully loaded. In a very short matter of time (about the time it takes to exhale after having witnessed something that shocks you), his partners in crime began to advance towards me. I shot six rounds resulting in 2 men dead, one man with wounds to his knee and thigh and another fell with a nasty wound in his groin region.

This was a combat situation wherein, I was on a "Hunting OP" and had simply "run" into the HVT's hired goons. I do believe that had it not been for the POWER of the ELBOW STRIKE and the KNOWLEDGE and TRAINING of PROPERLY executing this maneuver; I would not be keying this in now.

I can not stress the importance of PROPER TRAINING and TECHNIQUE PRACTICE, enough in this area. I am sure that Jeff will tell you all; you can not simply watch his video or any other like it and become properly and adequately trained in such a manner to use this in a life or death situation. I would not even suggest you use this in a simple street fight without proper training and practice - unless you are very pain tolerant and have no one in your life that would demand an explanation regarding the source and circumstances that resulted in all the bruises, bumps, scrapes and cuts that now adorn your body.

Great job Jeff, HOOAH and HOOYAH!

Gunner

[#15 Posted by: skeptic]

nice story devgru. . . . you are the toughest guy in here. and you are so familiar with that colt but sounds like you are a pretty bad shot with it

[#16 Posted by: Karnack]

I noticed that if you are right-handed, you can master this better with some experience in Kendo or Aikido because your right hand is your "steering wheel" while your power arm is your left. This means you have better ability to quickly maneuver your opponent's head into an optimum position while delivering a better forward directed motion with your power-arm. You can learn to do the whole thing off-handed (if you are a lefty.) I'm ambidexterous, but the muscle memory of kendo makes this better if I start right forward. Its an awkward way to enter a fight, but its definately disorienting and you apply your pre-programmed muscle movements.

The other thing about practice (particularly in Kendo) is speed of decision, targeting, and swiftness of action. Its not a "butt-kicking" martial art, but its a good one to have in your repetoire for developing reflexes and focus.

[#17 Posted by: combat ready]

The things the army teach you are only good if your opponent do not know how to defend himself. You need more than a know how, you need lots of experience in order for this to work to your advantage. A major key is for you to make the first move lol

[#18 Posted by: RC]

This is good stuff. A small person like me needs to know what can work if I need to defend others or myself. I hope it never has to be used but just in case, I'm going to build a "dummy" to practice this move.
We old "jar heads" still have an obligation to protect when we can.
Thank you, Jeff

[#19 Posted by: Drew]

This is all very good to know,when you just want to dance around and fist fight, seems to me that we should not take it with a grain of salt, someone attacks me and I am not going to fist fight for minutes, killing in defense of my life is much more easily done,his friends will think twice,guys with guns,depends on how close,use good judgement,like "DEVGRU_RED" close enough to disarm and continue,go, to far,run for it chances are unless you picked a fight with a G.I. or a cop or a well trained civilian he will be a poor shot,run and duck man,but very good video, I want him to show us how to pick our sorry butts up off the ground after someone elbows us because of this video,LOL

[#20 Posted by: Jeff Anderson]

Just want to say that everyone's posts are GREAT (whether I agree or not) and I look forward to your ongoing discussion! Keep up the great work y'all!

[#21 Posted by: Luke]

I hope nobody beleives the crap "DEVGRU_RED" is shoveling. I can see right through it. Good story though.

[#22 Posted by: K.David Smith]

Loved the video. Used to teach Kenpo Karate ... we called that technique "sandwiching" ...

[#23 Posted by: peter]

Good point Jeff. With practice, speed and the ability to generate power by using the whole body, this technique can end the confrontation. Knees are also a valuable weapon especially using the a technique which pulls the opponent into the knee. I am sure you have techniques with this as well.

[#24 Posted by: gregory peter dupont]

good "old dirty boxing"variant...nothing like mauling them at clinch range.

[#25 Posted by: desert war dawg]

DEVGRU_RED ......... you gathered up his weapon?

Can we say Harlequin reader?

It was a good video for consideration.

Do what you have to do to survive.

[#26 Posted by: paulito]

What the hell is a "hunting OP" and "HVT's"????

[#27 Posted by: Ben]

I was taught get away if you can. If hes in your face and you cant disengage, "hit'em back first" make it hard and extremely violent then disengage if your able. If there is more than one move back keep moving, "stack" your oponents, try and put something between you and them i.e. a car. Just a thought.