Using Your Elbows in Boxing?

Using Your Elbows in Boxing?

Self-Defence 36 Comments

Icy Mike, known for his raw and practical combat knowledge on the YouTube channel, Hard2Hurt, shakes up the boxing world in his video “Using Your Elbows in Boxing?”. While gloves are the undisputed stigmas of the sweet science, Icy Mike convincingly introduces elbows as a versatile tool for defense and counterattacks. Meticulously tying in tactics from Muay Thai, MMA and self-defense in the boxing ring, he and professional boxer, Jerry Robinson, demonstrated elbow-framing techniques, body blocks, parrying methods, and even low-key limb destructions. Recognizing the blurred lines between different combat ideologies, this engaging video infuses street sense into traditional boxing, redefining ‘fighting dirty’ to improvise and survive.



A Modern Look at Using Elbows in Boxing and Self Defence

The YouTube channel Hard2Hurt, run by Icy Mike, has recently uploaded an instructional video concerning the usage of elbows in boxing. This text will be a summary of the video’s main points, explaining in broader detail the importance of elbow utilization not only in boxing but in self-defence situations. Can You Use Your Elbows in Boxing? This is a common question among boxing beginners, and the answer is a definite yes, used within specific rules and contexts. Traditionally, the primary tools in boxing are the gloves. However, other body parts like elbows can significantly play pivotal roles in the dynamics of a fight or match. The boxing expert, Jerry Robinson, featured in the Hard2Hurt video shares the same view. Elbows as Frames When boxing or defending yourself, hundred degrees of elbow bend can be used as an efficient “frame” against your opponent. One common scenario where this can be applied is when your adversary attempts to land a clear hit or decides to close the fighting range by clinching or going for a ‘big old hug’. By maintaining this elbow frame, you can create a protective barrier that restricts the opponent’s ability to land additional punches while providing yourself more control over their movements. Elbows for Steering and Countering Another significant advantage of using your elbows in self-defence situations highlighted in the video is the ability to steer your opponent and create space for potential counterattacks. Utilizing the elbow as a steering mechanism can inhibit an opponent’s movement, giving the defender additional time to react and reposition. Elbows as Blocks and Parries Aside from using them as frames and steering tools, elbows can also be used to block or parry punches, especially when aimed at the body. When, for example, an opponent’s straight punch is coming, a well-timed elbow can deflect it, and as Jerry Robinson notes, even potentially cause some damage to the puncher’s hand. Elbows in Body Mechanics Furthermore, Icy Mike emphasizes the importance of holistic body mechanics when using your elbows in boxing or self-defence. This means that when you use your elbow to block, to steer, or to maintain a frame, you should always be conscious of your overall body movement, ensuring you are balanced and ready to respond to your opponent’s actions. In conclusion, the elbows have a crucial role to play in both boxing and self-defence. While the use of elbows might not be the first tactic that springs to mind, this video by Hard2Hurt brings attention to their versatility and effectiveness. This informative content serves as a powerful reminder that in boxing or self-defence, we must make the most of all our natural tools, the elbows being a prime example. Practise makes perfect, so train smart, stay safe, and remember – understanding your body’s potential is key to becoming harder to hurt.

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Hard2Hurt is a YouTube channel run by professional trainer Icy Mike. Offering expert fitness and self-defense lessons, he combines his expertise with engaging content. Icy Mike’s raw and authentic approach to providing practical self-defense techniques has successfully drawn in thousands of subscribers to his channel.

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36 Comments

  1. The cross arm guard utilized by the mongoose , Archie Moore, ken Norton and George Foreman also uses the elbow and forearm as blocks and parrying

  2. If you want to see this stuff in action. You want to look at Dustin Poirier's fight against Holloway. He's just fantastic at only giving away these shitty shots on his elbows and forearms with his weird hillbilly shell.

  3. Hey man, I’m trying to reach out to you to ask you a few questions about a video you made (BJJ is not designed for smaller people..)
    I just saw it and really enjoyed the video. As a former world class striker and now BJJ blue belt (5+ years training), I would like to hear your opinion on a few things.
    Keep up the videos! Cheers

  4. You shouldn't walk around with your elbow stickin' out like that, man. .. That stance at @5:03 is gonna piss the other guy off & raise the temperature if he already knows about it. .. Personally I'd pop that shit with a left hook on the meat, & go in like a gorilla. 🦍

  5. I've been watching your videos since I started combat sports. I think you told me that I have good boxing yesterday after my first IKF and I thought it was so cool that it came from you.

  6. I tried this and failed completely in blocking with punches, I caught a good few with the elbow nicely too, but eventually it wore me down in a body sparring session

  7. Mike Tyson used elbows all the time during his hay day! Those short hooks turned into inside elbows QUICKLY with his speed

    Floyd would also get warned for elbows under the neck aaaalllll the time

  8. The martial art 52 blocks literally specialized in using elbows combined with boxing you should talk to or do a video with lyte burly or sensei mo to learn more about the 52 blocks it's a really good martial art

  9. Another elbow block is if they're trying to go over your jab with a cross or an overhand. Instead of retracting the jab, you can raise it up for an elbow block or parry their rear hand.

  10. Charles Oliveira does that first technique a lot, and it goes all the way back to why the old BJJ purists decided "well, if I have to learn striking, I'll just learn Muay Thai because it encompasses damn near everything on the feet."

    The frames in Thai Boxing are also perfect for transitioning from striking to grappling exchanges. If the person trying to tie up elect to go for the takedown when you frame like that, you're in a much better position with that frame than without it.

  11. this goes back to the “tyson sequence” bit. your opponent is going to react to the series of combos youre focusing on at the moment. if youre going body body body with tyson combos…your ultimate goal is to make them throw their arms down and go for the chin (as you put it). same example in this case, if someone is tapping your chin with jabs over and over, in that moment, you need to protect the face in expense of your body. you cant protect everything all of the time, you can only hope to adjust in the moment. thanks.

  12. So question, I mean I want to get a great head start for fundamentals in self defense. Where should I start? I mean I teach myself, but the biggest downside with self taught is that you fall into habits that can really inhibit you. Whatever that may be. Any advice?

  13. Elbow checks or blocks are something used a lot in MMA, but also 52 Blocks style of striking. You also see guys using that more since the rise of BKB as a Professional sport. I think, even for Boxing newbies or self defense training, the elbow is a good shield outside the big gloved striking world. It comes natural, it is stable and it also educates good body movement. But I am just a fistfighting enthusiast without great skills, though I really am happy to see some of my own experience and research been shown by real good boxers here. That being said, if you look back in history, you find many of these things in old school boxing aka Pugilism.

  14. If you wanna see this high elbow in use, check out Gene Fulmer versus Sugar Ray Robinson. It is known as the reverse Cross guard. For a normal cross guard check out by Archie Moore. This man did not get enough recognition. He refused to shout out to the mafia and was only given a chance of the heavyweight title. When he was very old he still managed to smash Marciano around quite a lot.

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