Elbow Observations

[ABCF]

While attending a Tom Givens class during my exile, I noticed something kind of funny. Working disarms with the inimitable Mr. Bill, those with no prior training were having serious issues utilizing such common strikes as the rising elbow while in a standing clinch. They wanted to bring the elbow around the outside of the clinch to strike the head of the aggressor...Very odd.


Anyone else noticed this tendency?

[krept]

dunno, from standing clinch did anyone try knee? or feint knee, transition to single leg when you see the momentum to aborb go forward?

rising elbow is kinda a wierd one... go from having someone in a standing turtle (defensive) without hitting the shoot or thai clinch depending on what range you dig is offbeat

[Aslan]

hmm, not sure what you are describing here. But, in general elbow strikes can be very effective.


If I am visualizing this correctly:

You are being grabbed from behind and are bringing the elbow up and around to strike the guy behind you.

Sounds like a strike and a hold break at the same time - unless I am missing something.

As the elbow comes up and around, it would cause your shoulder to make a small circular motion. This would cause the grasp of your opponent to shift - even if he is stronger than you.

After the elbow strike, do they continue the motion? I could visualize stepping out to the side of the attacker, following through with a pivot and possible striking with the other hand, or trapping his arm with the arm that did the elbow strike.

But I may not be visualizing this correctly...

:devil:

[Aslan]

Ok, just re-read your post and now I get it...

You were describing the tendency of un-trained people to try and strike at the head, instead of simply bringing the elbow directly up.

Gotcha. Now it makes sense.

I can see how people would miss on the simple more direct methods...

:devil:

[ABCF]

Sorry for being unclear. Let me start again...:D

Bad guy has gun pointed at good guy.
Good guy moves the muzzle off of his body while closing the distance between the bad guy and himself.

Given the close range and the need to maintain control of the gun, the good guy needs to hit the bad guy forcefully and repeatedly while working to take the gun away.

The structure between the two resembles a standing clinch. The range is close and the strikes must be delivered from whereever they are, lest the good guy's strikes be foiled by the bad guy when he [G.G.] draws back to chamber.

The rising elbow to the underside of the chin or face works well, can be thrown in the compressed space available without covering any part of the good guy's anatamy with the muzzle, etc.

Rather than utilize the rising elbow [closest weapon] to the chin [closet target], the tendency was to try and bring the elbow around the arm of the bad guy and into a sort of feeble semi-horizontal elbow strike to the head.

It struck me as an odd attempt to damage another person, but I did see more than one person try and make it work.

In general, I'm a big fan of elbow strikes. It was just odd watching these guys try and force a 'long way around' elbow shot to the head, when they had something right there, straight line and under the line of vision of the bad guy, just begging to slam into him.

[Aslan]

Shortest most direct path usually is best. I agree with your observation. Elbow should come straight up into the chin/face.

I guess my reading comprehension was a little off last night....

oh well.

:devil:

[andy]

untrained people can just forget such stuff. Not enough practice at where their own fist goes, etc. Best just clamp both hands on the gun, and try to use knees, head butt, kicks, stomps, etc.