WATCH: How To Use The Spinning Elbow In Muay Thai (Videos)

For many Muay Thai fans, the spinning back elbow, or in Thai, sok klap, is certainly a favorite. It is a technique that requires immense technical skill and timing and, if performed with enough force, has the power to inflict a devastating KO on its unfortunate recipient. What makes this technique especially unusual is that one’s body must be turned around in order to execute it.

This gives it an unconventional angle that could be difficult for your opponent to defend, if your timing and range are perfect. If you are willing to temporarily turn away from your opponent, a spinning back elbow could be the perfect technique to add to your arsenal. Even MMA fighters, including former UFC Light Heavyweight World Champion Jon Jones, are big fans of the spinning back elbow. In fact, Jones has been known to devastate his opponents with this deadly move.

Because of the difficulty of this technique, the spinning back elbow requires a perfect set up:

Setting up with a feint

When you set up with a feint, your opponent will undoubtedly try to counter your strikes, leaving him open for you to land your spinning back elbow.

As the last strike in a combination

As you know, it is important to keep your opponent guessing. You can start off with several simple combinations and eventually surprise him by using the spinning elbow as the last strike after a combination.

When your opponent is against the ropes

When your opponent is against the ropes, he has no place to move. As you step in and launch your strike, your opponent will bounce back, giving you the momentum you need to generate a stronger spinning elbow.

There are 2 kinds of spinning elbows:

Horizontal/Straight Spinning Elbow

When your opponent isn’t within clinch range, the horizontal/straight spinning elbow is a good attack to use. As you come forward and close the distance between yourself and your opponent, you can try to land the spinning elbow by setting it up with some strikes, using it as a counter after catching your opponent’s kick or after a feint.

Execution

Step your left foot on the outside of your opponent’s left foot. Torque your right elbow backwards across your body as you whip your hips clockwise until you elbow points forward. If you are a southpaw, you should rotate your hips counter-clockwise. Your body should be completely twisted around, with your torso facing your opponent. Your elbow should end up 180 degrees from the original position.

The energy generated by your rotation should be enough to land a devastating elbow with your rear arm. Quickly return to your stance after you’ve landed the elbow.

Set-ups

Feints

Jab / Orthodox Stance

Throw a jab to gauge the distance between you and your opponent.
Throw a second jab but use it to misdirect your opponent’s line of vision.
Immediately after the second jab, step your left foot to the outside of your foot.
Pull your right elbow backwards across your body while whipping your hips around in a clockwise motion all the way around until your elbow points forward. Your body should be twisted around completely with your upper body facing your opponent.

In this video, watch as Kem Sitsongpeenong throws a few jabs as a fake to cover his opponent’s vision and immediately step his left foot across and whip his hip around in a clockwise motion landing a clean horizontal spinning back elbow.

Left push kick

Throw a left push kick into your opponent’s abdomen.
Fake the second push kick by lifting your left knee. Your opponent will defend this kick by lowering his guard.
Before landing your left leg, step your left foot to the outside of your opponent’s left foot.
Pull your right elbow backwards across your body while whipping your hips around in a clockwise motion all the way around until your elbow points forward. Your body should be twisted around completely with your upper body facing your opponent.

In this video, watch as Somrak lifts his left knee to fake a push kick and step his left foot outside of his opponent’s left foot and land a spinning back elbow.

Fake left knee

Throw a left knee at your opponent’s abdominal area.
Fake the second left knee by taking a left step back, your opponent’s natural reaction is to lower his guard to defend the knee.
Immediately lift your knee up replicating a knee strike but instead of going for the strike, take a step with your left foot to the outside of your opponent’s left foot (assuming both fighters are in orthodox stances).
Pull your right elbow backwards across your body while whipping your hips around in a clockwise motion all the way around until your elbow points forward. Your body should be twisted around completely with your upper body facing your opponent.

In this video, Somrak throws the first left knee, on the second left knee he lifts up his left knee replicating a knee strike and steps over to his opponent’s lead foot and throws a horizontal spinning back elbow.

Countering a kick

Wait for your opponent to throw a left kick.
Catch the kick and lock your opponent’s shin close to your ribs.
Immediately take a left step outside of your opponent’s left foot (assuming both fighters are in orthodox stances).
Pull your right elbow backwards across your body while whipping your hips around in a clockwise motion all the way until your elbow is pointing forwards and your body twisted around with your upper body facing the opponent.
Release your grip of the catch while throwing your back elbow.

In this video, notice how multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao’s elbow is mostly parallel to the ground. His posture is also upright. The spinning elbow Nong-O executes in this video is useful when countering your opponent’s kick, using it to close the distance.

Setting up with other strikes

In this video, multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Yoddecha Sityodtong sets up the spinning back elbow with several combinations. This will keep your opponent busy as he defends the combinations of attacks, ending with a spinning elbow surprise.

Tilted Spinning Elbow

Unlike the horizontal spinning elbow, the tilted spinning elbow must be executed in a much closer range. If you are in clinch range or if your opponent is coming forward, the tilted spinning elbow is an ideal strike to use. Another option is to use the tilted spinning elbow when you’ve slipped to the right of a left hook or jab. Just like the horizontal spinning elbow, you can set it up with feints such as a jab, left push kick, and left knee.

What makes it different from the horizontal spinning elbow is that your body must be tilted, with your head lower than your opponent’s and your elbow must come in at a raised angle at the same height as your head.

Execution

Step your lead foot slightly to the side of your opponent’s lead foot. Turn your body slightly downwards with your elbow raised higher than your head. Just like the horizontal spinning elbow, you must whip your body around clockwise. The tip of your elbow should be higher than your head with your body tilted downwards.

Set-up

Slipping a punch (left hook/jab)

As your opponent throws a left jab or left hook, pivot clockwise, bend your knees and dip your head down to the right just enough to evade the jab or left hook.
After slipping the jab, step your lead foot slightly to the side of your opponent’s lead foot.
Turn your body slightly downwards with your elbow raised higher than your head.
Whip your body around in a clockwise motion as you land your elbow.
At the end of this motion, the tip of your elbow should be higher than your head with your body tilted downwards.

In this video, Somrak slips a left jab by bending his knees, lowering his head enough to slip the jab. Watch how he immediately steps his lead foot beside his opponent’s lead foot and launches a tilted spinning back elbow.

Observe how multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Yoddecha Sityodtong sets up the tilted spinning back elbow. First, he fakes a push kick to lower his guard, convincing his opponent to move within range for him to strike with a tilted spinning elbow.

Although landing a spinning elbow during a fight might sound like a long shot at first, undoubtedly with enough practice, it is certainly doable. Like all techniques, you should practice first on a heavy bag or with your trainer on the pads. When you’re more confident, enlist the help of a partner and drill the technique until you’ve got it down perfectly. Remember, as with all advanced moves, you will need perfect timing and technical skill to be able to execute them during a fight. Good luck!