Cutting Elbow (ศอกตี)

The cutting elbow is used a lot in muay thai fights as its diagonal nature can cut over the guard and surprise the opponent. This is a strike that normally instead of a knockout, aims to cut the opponent’s skin by making contact with the tip of the elbow.  A bloody cut can blind the view of the fighter and becomes the target of the opponent eager to finish the fight.

For best results, the fighter must drive the momentum from his hips and put weight behind the strike. For beginners, it is often difficult to throw this elbow in a sufficient angle (45°), that is needed to pass the opponent’s guard.