The twelve to six elbow, also known as the downward elbow chop (sok tong), is a dangerous strike from muay thai.
It’s called the 12 to 6 because like the arms on a clock your elbow goes straight up and back down. Gravity helps add more force to this misunderstood strike.
How to Downward Elbow in Muay Thai
- Raise your arm
Step in and raise your arm above your head. Your hand should be either in a fist or open and facing inward or behind you.
- Put power into the strike
Put power into the strike by dropping your weight slightly. Adding a slight twist at the hips will also add power.
- Strike with the tip of the elbow
Bring your elbow down hard into your target.
- Reset
Put your arm back into defensive position and be ready for a counter attack.
The 12-6 Elbow and MMA
The 12-6 elbow is banned from the UFC under the unified rules of MMA. This was due to the strike being cited as brutal, although the rules on the strike were never clearly defined.
Learn about more muay thai techniques here.
