Elbow strikes

Empi-uchi (literally: “monkey’s elbow strike; or “swallow-flying strike”) refer to a family of short-range techniques which are simple to learn, and can hit with the force as a baseball bat, enabling even the most petite-framed students to deal knock-out blows.

When performing an elbow strike, do not strike the opponent with the tip of your elbow. While hitting with the elbow’s tip deals a sharper blow, it also deals an equal amount of impact directed straight to your ulnar nerve, so you’ll just hit your funny bone. Instead, strike with the bony, flat sides of your folded elbow. Elbow strikes are highly versatile -- there are six variations of the elbow strike within Goshin-Jutsu Karatedō. The choice of which to use is dictated by the situation and the intended target area.

Inside elbow strike

To execute an inside elbow strike, first reach your opposite-side hand behind your opponent’s head. (When practicing in the air, hold your hand directly out in front of you, at head level.) Twist your hips towards your open hand, and raise your elbow up to shoulder level, touching your opposite-side shoulder with your hand. As you strike, pull the opposite-side hand in, clapping it against your elbow.

[video of inside elbow strikes from the front and side, fast and slow.]

Inside elbow strikes are best when used against your opponent’s temple, jaw, or ribs.

Outside elbow strike

Outside elbow strikes are used to strike a variety of vital areas (temple, jaw, nose, solar plexus, ribs, etc.) against an opponent who is standing right beside you. When done properly, outside elbow strikes feel just like pulling the starter cord on a lawnmower, snowblower, or chainsaw.

[video of outside elbow strikes from the front and side, fast and slow.]

Forward elbow strike

To execute a forward elbow strike, first reach your opposite-side hand behind your opponent’s head. (When practicing in the air, hold your hand directly out in front of you, at head level.) Twist your hips towards you open hand, and pull your elbow out in front of you, at solar plexus level. The striking-side hand should remain open, covering your same-side ear with its palm. As you strike, pull the opposite-side hand in, clapping it against your elbow.

[video of forward elbow strikes from the front and side, fast and slow.]

Forward elbow strikes are primarily used to smash an opponent’s face or solar plexus.

Reverse elbow strike

To execute a rear elbow strike, sharply pull your fist to the same-side hip. That’s it -- there’s not a whole lot to this technique. As we said, elbows are simple.

Reverse elbow strikes are used when the opponent is directly behind you at close ranges; such as when they have attacked you with a rear mug, a rear bear hug, or some variation thereof. In these cases, reverse elbow strikes can deliver blows to the abdomen or solar plexus, stunning the opponent long enough for you to escape their grasp.

Anytime you chamber or rechamber a technique, this motion can also be used as a reverse elbow strike.

[video of reverse elbow strikes from the front, side,and rear, fast and slow.]

Rising elbow strike

Rising elbow strikes are essentially forward elbow strikes which just keep going. Twist your hips towards your opposite-side, and raise your elbow up in front of the same-side shoulder. Like the forward elbow strike, the striking-side hand remains open, with the palm covering the ear.

Rising elbow strikes are used to strike your opponent’s solar plexus or underneath their chin. [video of inside rising elbow strikes from the front and side, fast and slow.]

Downward elbow strike

Goshin-Jutsu Karatedō utilizes purely vertical “12-to-6” downward elbow strikes to deal potentially crippling blows to the neck or spine of a doubled-over opponent. Because of the power and consequences of this technique it is an illegal move in the UFC and in other mixed-martial arts tournaments.

To execute a downward elbow strike, execute a cross-body block, with your elbow at head level. Then, pull your elbow down to hip level, as though you were celebrating something really awesome, like having your crush agree to go on a date with you. For extra power, squat while performing this strike.

[video of downward elbow strikes from the front and side, fast and slow.]