How come elbows aren't usually used in Muay Thai?

Before you flame me...





I know they are used, and in my Muay Thai, we are taught to use elbows.





But it seems in major bouts, they aren%26#039;t very common.


Is such a deadly strike simply usually unwarranted?|||It depends on where the major bout is and what the rules are. Elbows aren%26#039;t commonly used or allowed in most Western Muay Thai rules simply because of the fact that it%26#039;s too damaging of a weapon.





In Thailand however, yes it is allowed...everything is allowed. The elbow is a very dangerous and nasty short-range weapon and you need to be within a foot of your opponent in the clinch range in order to slash with it.





Elbows can also be used defensively on the outside to block and hurt an opponent%26#039;s punches and kicks. Anything it hits will cut and bruise and break.





Thai fighters usually have an unspoken understanding that if you don%26#039;t use it, I won%26#039;t either. Of course, this is never further from the truth based on all the countless matches you see in Thailand where elbows and ultra-bloody fights are not uncommon. Elbow knockouts in Thailand also score well with judges and fighters can receive a higher bonus in the end.|||Haha... no, it%26#039;s not a %26quot;deadly strike%26quot;.





First, the opportunity to use them doesn%26#039;t present itself too often. While in the clinch, the arms are used mostly to control the opponent. You%26#039;ll occasionally see an elbow strike as they push away, or sometimes getting into the clinch, but once they%26#039;re in there, the arms are already up by the head and can easily defend most elbow strikes.





I remember hearing some talk when I was in Thailand that most fighters won%26#039;t use elbow strikes in the early rounds because, traditionally, the first few rounds are a feeling out process and, because an elbow strike so easily opens up a cut, they%26#039;re not used because they can end the fight prematurely.





You see them used more often in the clinch in MMA. Check out Kalib Starnes vs. Alan Blecher and Tim Sylvia vs. Brandon Vera, for starters.|||You don%26#039;t see elbows used in many of the fights in the US because they don%26#039;t allow it. Even in MMA many states while allowing some things have disallowed the use of elbows for the amateur fighters as well as knees above the chest to the face and head. This along with elbows, kicking an opponent while down are all things the state athletic commissions have said they won%26#039;t allow or accept. Most of the Maui Thai in is country is fought under American rules. That includes leg kicks only; some are fought under European rules which include knees along with leg kicks. None are fought under what they call traditional Maui Thai rules that include leg kicks, knees, and elbows.|||Elbows are harder to use than punches, knees and kicks because you have to first get into range. That%26#039;s tough to do against an equally skilled opponent. Most of the time elbows are used going into or coming out of a clinch. Once in the clinch, your hands and elbows are busy holding the opponent so you use your knees, because they%26#039;re free.





But I still love elbows. Great self-defense on the street against an unaware opponent. If a novice is throwing haymakers, you go straight inside with punches, move in close and transition to elbows, move back out and transition to punches and then if he%26#039;s still standing move out of punching range and finish with kicks. It%26#039;s all about range.





The elbow is not a %26quot;deadly%26quot; power strike. My instructor says it%26#039;s for cutting, not power. If you try to make it a power strike you are doing it wrong, will over extend and leave yourself open for attack. Done correctly, it%26#039;s used for close range, quick cutting work to put blood in the eyes.|||Quick answer, they%26#039;re a move used only at the right opportunity. You need to first close the distance before you throw one, otherwise a simple jab will stop you rather easily.





You can%26#039;t.. *shouldn%26#039;t*... throw an elbow from punching distance (at least not against anyone halfway good), you need to be in close quarters.|||its very hard to connect an elbow and can leave you wide open, and not many fighters care all too much about the other fighters well being, i mean, there in the ring to hurt each other, only after do they care about how the other fighter is|||Elbows in a thai boxing fight (show), is only allowed if under full muay thai rules. There is class a, class b, class c|||don%26#039;t know. maybe cuz most prefer to use their knees when they are close. i have seen some elbow strikes used.