Elbow Blocks in Boxing – All That You Desire to Know

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Bare-knuckle fighting is gaining popularity and changing the game. Now boxers – amateurs and pro alike – are forced to consider new strategies for their career. In this article, we plan to explore elbow blocks in boxing and hopefully grant whoever’s reading a new perspective to their combat formula!

Are Elbow Blocks Allowed In Boxing?

The rules of boxing states that one cannot “hit with their head, shoulder, forearms, or elbow”. But there are no mentions of “elbow” in blocking. This makes for quite the confusion: Are we allowed to use it since there are no specific mentions, or are we not to use it since the law doesn’t encourage it?

The answer is: You can do elbow blocks in boxing. They are allowed as a method of defense for your head and body. And it’s fine for you to utilize whatever you have to your strengths. 

There are precedents of the elbow block in the arena. In fact, it’s so common that it’s become a go-to move for more boxers than you think, including but not limited to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather, and George Foreman. You’re not alone if you want to include elbow blocks in your kit, and you will never be!

So you can let out a sigh of relief; the referee will not call you out for elbow blocks. It’s time to move forward and learn precisely how to use said block effectively in a match. Grab your gears, and we can get to work!

Advantages To Using Elbow Blocks In Boxing

“Why should I use the elbow block?”, we hear some ask. After all, there are a myriad of ways to prevent a fist to the body/face. A boxer can prevent themselves from getting hurt with their forearms, their thighs. Some boxers may even counter-punch as a defense method (you know what they say, attack is the best form of defense). 

There is, of course, no harm in those methods. But using elbow blocks in boxing can provide several leg-ups that other forms of defense cannot.

The elbow blocks will serve you right, in several reasons we have listed below:

Punishes Power Punchers

The elbow bone – also known as the olecranon – is many things: large, chunky, curved, and extremely reliable. Even if you wear a pair of 16-ounce gloves, you’re not going to smile after punching the elbow. Many have broken their hands trying to break through the elbow block, and that kind of injury can be career-ending.

Provides Good Coverage

Everyone knows that not all punches can land on the exact spot, no matter how skilled the boxer is. Therefore, anyone’s means of defense should cover as large an area as possible to prevent stray attacks.

Are you blocking with your hand or the entire section of your forearms since it’s also involved in the elbow block? The answer is obvious, and elbow blocks in boxing provide great protection for your entire body!

The same can also apply to elbow parries or counter-attacks. Compared to glove parries, elbow parries cover a larger damaged area, making it harder to miss. 

You can swing your elbow and forearm into the opposing punch’s trajectory, and be rest assured that the punch is blocked. With enough practice, the elbow parry can be your get-out-of-jail-free card in sticky close combats.

Leaves The Hands For Defense

It’s always good to keep your hands near your head to protect it at all times, but this can limit your attack sets. With your gloves always up high, planning the next move from a barrage of hits can be quite challenging.

Using elbow blocks in boxing, especially against opponents with repeating movesets, is advantageous. You can combine your elbow blocks with crunching and side dodges to diversify your movements. This also helps to disable movesets since they tend to consist of attacks from many directions. Elbow blocks grant you mobility in battle, to be short.For examples of a good elbow block in a high guard, you can look to Winky Wright. You’ll find that he can maintain his opponents’ sight with his high stance while taking hits after hits without breaking a sweat. That’s how sturdy and reliable an elbow block can be!

You can also utilize the clear view of your opponent in your elbow block to counter-attack. Since your hands are already pulled back to your body during the elbow block, you can technically, given the right circumstances, throw a punch from that position. Vice versa, you can move back from a strike to an elbow block when you’re used to the position.

Even when you’re not a boxer, you can utilize this move. Elbow blocks are not just limited to boxing; you can use them in MMA fights against punches and kicks and wrestling matches against striking. Keep the elbow block in mind to save yourself from a ruck in any circumstances!

>Read more: Why is clinching allowed in boxing?

Tips For Your Elbow Blocks

The only downside to the elbow blocks in boxing is that you, among a lot of people, are not using it yet. So the next natural step to this guide is to learn how to properly execute the block!

Keep Your Elbow Close

This is obvious. If your elbows are too far away from your body, you risk leaving the sides of your body open. If your opponent is any smarter, they can strike your elbow and attack you with your own fist and momentum. 

Keeping your elbow close makes your stance stronger and more dynamic. Once again, look to Wright and Mayweather for elbow block role-models: sustained, stable elbows that are ready for attacks and dodges. For the clean and fast switch between offense and defense, you’ll need to learn rigid body control, and all that starts with closed elbows.

Don’t Spike Your Elbow To Your Opponent

There are many reasons not to do this. 

Firstly, spiking the elbow turns it from a blocking tool to an attacking one. “Elbow” is one of the body parts that’s banned from hitting, so you’ll commit a foul if your spiking hits your opponents.

Secondly, as we’ve mentioned before, no boxers should take their elbows off the side of their body/head. That leaves an opening for opponents to utilize to take countermeasures against you, and that’s going to hurt. Spiking will also disable that hand from attacking unless you count your opponent pushing your fist against your own face “attack”.

Rule of thumb (or in this case, elbow): Always keep your arms to the side of your body for protection and attack efficiency.

Create “Defense Traffic”

A lot of amateurs are taught to block and parry “reactively”, meaning only defend themselves as a response to the other person’s movement. 

Elbow blocks in boxing, and generally, a high guard changes a reactive boxer to a proactive boxer. Beginning every moveset with an elbow block as default will grant you a nearly permanent, impenetrable shield and condition you to block before your opponent even has a chance to attack you.

Most of the time, you’ll be protecting yourself from nothing. That’s okay since the elbow block limits your opponent’s options for attack since they wouldn’t risk landing a blow on the “traffic” of your elbow. If you’re a tactician, you can also learn valuable information about your offender to protect yourself and chip their defense, too.

This move is most seen in how Floyd Mayweather – “Fighter of the Decade” in the 2010’s engage in his matches. Aside from the elbow block, he flicks his elbow up slightly as a warning and a flaunt, even when his opponent isn’t striking. Slightly flicking doesn’t count as spiking, and Floyd is careful enough to never land a hit with his elbows.

Learning to switch between defense and offense turns a good boxer into a genuinely great one. It’s never good to lean only to one tactic and abandon another. Getting proper training on your reflexes, agility, and versatility in combat makes anyone a formidable, stable player in the game, and learning a proper elbow block helps start the process!

Conclusion

“Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible.” – Frank L. Gaines

The great fruits of elbow blocks in boxing can be hard to spot in a match, but an overseen move isn’t a useless one. A well-oiled elbow block can save a boxer from hits, kicks, and even career-ending injuries. 

Practicing the elbow block properly can be against the force of habit for some: People naturally point their elbows outwards after punching to wind up for more punching. But we can assure you (with the various points throughout this article) that straying from your habits can benefit you greatly.

Utilizing elbow blocks in boxing provides excellent support for any boxers if done correctly. Don’t forget to follow these tips closely to protect yourself in matches as well as planning new strategies for your career!

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