Elbows - Attached/Unattached

If you peruse a number of martial arts instructional videos, you will notice that there is some emphasis on using elbow strikes as an effective means of self-defense. This would not be a bad idea provided that the instruction of the elbow striking actually made sense. In other words, the way elbow strikes are taught is flat out STUPID.

Basically, elbow strikes from an unattached position are next to impossibe to pull off due to the close range nature of elbow strikes. In order to be effective with elbows (granted, there are some exceptions) is to use the elbow strikes from a clinch position. You really need to control the head of the person who is going to 'receive' the elbow strike. If the head is not controlled, the person will probably move and the elbow is going to miss or the person will raise his arms and block the elbow strikes.

So, when you see some joker teaching unattached elbow strikes...do yourself a favor and ignore them.