02 Roundhouse Elbow Strike
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Sok Ngad·Hakuda Ryu Eastern Arts Centre
In this lesson, we're going to be looking at the elbow strikes starting with the roundhouse.
Sok Ngad
SubFamilyศอกงัด(Sok Ngad (Thai: ศอกงัด))
TraditionalTranslation: Sok (ศอก) = elbow, Ngad (งัด) = to pry/to lever upward — the levering/prying upward elbow, driven vertically into the opponent's chin from below
Overview
Sok Ngad (the Uppercut Elbow) drives the point of the elbow vertically upward into the opponent's chin from below, combining the knockout mechanics of a boxing uppercut with the devastating hardness of the elbow's olecranon bone. [1] The technique is the third fundamental elbow in Muay Thai's classical 24-elbow system (Cherng Sok 24 Cherng), after the diagonal Sok Fan Nah and the horizontal Sok Tad — it completes the three-directional elbow arsenal (diagonal, horizontal, and VERTICAL) that gives Muay Thai fighters the ability to attack with the elbow from any angle. [1] The Sok Ngad is executed from close range by bending the elbow fully (bringing the fist to the same-side shoulder), then driving the elbow point straight upward using hip extension and a slight rising body motion — the ascending elbow enters under the opponent's chin from below, targeting the mandible (jawbone) from its most vulnerable direction. [1],[2] Yod Ruerngsa documents the Sok Ngad as particularly effective in the Muay Thai clinch, where the fighters are chest-to-chest and the opponent's chin is exposed directly above — the rising elbow needs only 6-8 inches of vertical travel to reach the chin from this range. [1] The chin is the human body's optimal knockout target because the mandible acts as a first-class lever: when struck from below, the jaw rotates the head backward with angular acceleration that exceeds the brain's tolerance for shearing forces, producing immediate loss of consciousness. [1],[2] When the impact surface is the elbow (1 cm² of olecranon bone, the hardest striking surface on the body) rather than the fist (8-10 cm²), the pressure at the contact point is approximately 8-10x higher than a boxing uppercut of the same force — this extreme pressure concentration is what makes the Sok Ngad capable of breaking the jaw, fracturing the palate, and producing instantaneous unconsciousness from a single strike. [1],[2]
Uppercut ElbowBoxingRising ElbowSok NgatTHVertical ElbowUpward Elbow StrikeElbow UppercutBoxingSok Hud (related pulling variant)TH
History & Origin
The Sok Ngad is the third technique in the Cherng Sok 24 Cherng (24 traditional Muay Thai elbow techniques), completing the fundamental three-directional elbow system alongside the diagonal Sok Fan Nah and the horizontal Sok Tad. [1] Together, these three elbows provide attack capability from three primary directions (diagonal, horizontal, vertical), forming the foundation upon which all other elbow variants are built. [1] In Muay Thai's golden era (1980s-1990s), the rising elbow in the clinch was a signature weapon of clinch specialists like Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn, who used the plum clinch's head control to position opponents' chins directly above his ascending elbows. [1],[2] The technique has been preserved in Muay Thai through the traditional training camp system (sor/sak/kor camp nomenclature), where young fighters learn the 24 elbows as a complete system before specialising in their preferred weapons. [1]
Effectiveness
The Sok Ngad is the single most effective elbow technique for producing knockouts because it targets the chin from below — the mandible's leverage effect means that even moderate force produces knockout-level rotational acceleration of the head. [1],[2] In the Muay Thai clinch, the Sok Ngad is the primary knockout weapon: the chest-to-chest position places the opponent's chin directly above the fighter's elbow, requiring only 6-8 inches of vertical travel — the shortest distance of any elbow technique. [1] In MMA, the rising elbow from the clinch and from bottom position has produced numerous stoppages, with fighters like Jon Jones, Tony Ferguson, and Valentina Shevchenko demonstrating the technique's fight-ending capability at the highest level. [3] The Sok Ngad's effectiveness is enhanced in the clinch because the opponent's hands are typically engaged in clinch wrestling (fighting for neck control, underhooks, etc.) rather than protecting the chin — the chin is consistently the most exposed target in the clinch. [1]
Lineage
Competition Record
The Sok Ngad is the primary clinch-range knockout elbow in Muay Thai stadium competition. Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn used the rising elbow from the clinch extensively during his undefeated Lumpinee reign. In MMA, Jon Jones has used the rising elbow from the clinch in multiple title fights. Valentina Shevchenko's spinning elbow KO of Jessica Eye (UFC 238) included a rising elbow component. The technique is responsible for some of the most devastating knockouts in both Muay Thai and MMA history.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — The fully bent elbow drives vertically upward from below the opponent's chin — the olecranon point ascends in a straight vertical line, impacting the underside of the mandible
Joints Involved — Elbow (fully flexed, approximately 30-40°, bringing the fist near the shoulder to present the olecranon point upward), shoulder (flexion to drive the elbow upward), hip (extension to add a rising body motion), legs (slight knee extension to add leg-drive to the upward force), core (engagement for structural rigidity at impact)
Force Vector — Vertically upward — the elbow travels straight up from approximately chest level to chin level. The vertical path is the shortest distance between the starting position and the chin (6-8 inches at clinch range).
Leverage Principle — The chin lever effect: the mandible is approximately 4-5 inches long from the chin point to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). When struck from below, this lever arm amplifies the upward force into rotational acceleration of the head — the head snaps backward with angular velocity proportional to the impact force multiplied by the mandible's lever length. A Sok Ngad of moderate force (300-400 pounds) applied to the chin point produces angular acceleration exceeding 6,000-8,000 rad/s² — above the threshold for diffuse axonal injury (knockout). The olecranon's 1 cm² contact area concentrates this force into the highest possible pressure, maximising the energy transfer per unit area.
Position & Entry
From the Muay Thai clinch (primary application) — In the chest-to-chest Muay Thai clinch, the elbow is already at the correct height — the fighter slightly releases one clinch grip, bends the elbow fully, and drives the olecranon straight up into the opponent's chin from below
As a counter to a ducking opponent — When the opponent ducks under a hook or high technique, the Sok Ngad rises to meet their lowering chin from below — the opponent's downward motion adds to the elbow's upward force
After a body attack — After delivering a Chudan Tsuki or knee to the body that causes the opponent to bend forward, the Sok Ngad rises into the now-lowered chin
From the clinch break — As both fighters separate from the Thai clinch, the Sok Ngad fires upward in the brief moment when the opponent's chin is exposed above their lowered guard
After catching a kick — Catch the opponent's body kick → step forward → fire the Sok Ngad upward into the chin of the one-legged opponent
Variants
Standard Sok Ngad — straight vertical rising elbow from close range
Clinch Sok Ngad — fired from within the Muay Thai plum clinch
Retreating Sok Ngad — the rising elbow fires as the fighter steps backward, catching the advancing opponent
Lead Sok Ngad — using the lead arm for a faster rising elbow (less power but faster arrival)
Sok Ngad from the ground — a rising elbow delivered from bottom position to a top opponent's chin (MMA application)
Double Sok Ngad — two successive rising elbows from alternating arms
Videos
Basic elbow strike in Muay Thai Part 4
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Sok Ngad·Positivist
Disclaimer: This presentation has been developed for educational purposes only.
2 videos
What Instructors Say
Sok Ngad, or the roundhouse elbow strike, is a fundamental elbow technique executed from close range that emphasizes full-body torque and hip rotation. Hakuda Ryu Eastern Arts Centre provides detailed technical instruction, beginning from a classical fighting stance with feet positioned as if on a clock face (front foot at 12 o'clock, back foot at 3 o'clock for right-handed practitioners). The technique initiates with feet together in a short straddle stance, hands up in a defensive guard position, then progresses through two coordinated movements: stepping forward while rotating the hips and shoulders, then striking with the back elbow across the target (chin or body). The instructor emphasizes that power derives from total body engagement—chest, shoulders, and hips—rather than arm strength alone. The technique can be adapted from classical karate stance or modern boxing guard, with the rear elbow traveling in an arc to contact the opponent. Positivist's Muay Thai approach categorizes elbow strikes into variants including forward, upward, and downward directions, positioning the roundhouse as part of a broader elbow arsenal used in close-contact fighting. Both instructors stress the importance of correct slow-speed practice before increasing velocity to establish proper muscle memory and technique foundation.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Hakuda Ryu Eastern Arts Centre — 02 Roundhouse Elbow Strike: Comprehensive technical breakdown of roundhouse elbow mechanics from classical karate stance, including detailed footwork (clock-face positioning), hip rotation emphasis, body weight distribution, and adaptation to boxing guard. Stresses slow practice for proper technique development.
- Positivist — Basic elbow strike in Muay Thai Part 4: Contextualizes roundhouse elbow within broader Muay Thai elbow taxonomy (forward, upward, downward variants) and identifies it as a close-contact technique applicable in various defensive and offensive scenarios.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
10
Extreme10/10
The Sok Ngad to the chin is one of the most dangerous legal strikes in combat sports. The combination of the elbow's hardness (the olecranon is the hardest bony prominence on the body), the chin's lever-effect vulnerability (the mandible amplifies rotational force), and the vertical trajectory (which arrives from the opponent's visual blind spot below) creates a strike capable of: immediate knockout, jaw fracture (mandibular fracture), palatal fracture (roof of the mouth), dental avulsion (teeth knocked out), and severe concussion. In Muay Thai, the rising elbow to the chin is responsible for some of the sport's most spectacular and brutal knockouts. [1,2]
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All elbow strikes prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Elbow strikes not a legal technique in sport karate
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDFKyokushin — Elbow strikes prohibited {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Prohibited
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Prohibited in all kickboxing formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Prohibited — key difference from Muay Thai {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Legal
— Unified MMA — Legal — all elbow strikes permitted
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— art of eight limbs
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The elbow must be FULLY BENT before the upward drive — if the elbow is only partially bent, the forearm (rather than the olecranon point) contacts the chin, distributing the force over a larger area and reducing the knockout effect. Bend the elbow until the fist touches the same-side shoulder (Ruerngsa, Charuad & Cartmell). [1] The upward drive comes from the LEGS and HIPS, not the arm: the arm simply positions the elbow point under the chin, while the legs and hips drive the entire body upward, transmitting the rising force through the locked elbow into the chin. Think of the Sok Ngad as a vertical hip thrust that happens to have an elbow point at the top. [1],[2] On the Thai pads: the pad holder presents the pad flat at chin height from below — the fighter drives the Sok Ngad straight up into the pad. The pad should snap upward from the impact. [1] In the clinch: practise the Sok Ngad release: from the plum clinch (both hands behind the opponent's head), release one hand, bend the elbow fully, and drive it upward in one smooth motion. The release-and-strike must be faster than the opponent can react to the grip change (approximately 0.2-0.3 seconds). [1] Drill against the heavy bag from below: stand close to the bag and drive the elbow upward into its bottom surface. The bag should swing from the vertical impact. [1] SAFETY: the Sok Ngad to the chin is one of the most dangerous techniques in training. Use 30% or less force with partners, always with a protective cup on the chin area. In competitive pad work, full power is acceptable because the pad absorbs the force. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Not bending the elbow fully — if the elbow angle is greater than approximately 40°, the forearm contacts the target instead of the olecranon point, losing the concentrated impact effect
!Using arm strength instead of hip/leg drive — the rising elbow should be powered by the body's upward motion, not by the arm's flexion; arm-only rising elbows lack power
!Elbow not pointing straight up — if the elbow drifts laterally during the rising motion, it becomes a diagonal or horizontal elbow (different technique, different target) rather than a pure vertical rising elbow
!Telegraphing by dipping — dropping the body before rising (a natural preparatory motion) alerts the opponent to the incoming upward strike. The elbow should rise from the current body position without a preparatory dip.
!Attempting at long range — the Sok Ngad is a CLOSE-RANGE weapon (6-8 inches of travel); at punching range, the elbow cannot reach the chin. Use it only at clinch or post-clinch range.
!Not targeting the chin specifically — the Sok Ngad's devastating knockout power comes from targeting the CHIN (mandible lever effect); hitting the neck, chest, or shoulder with the rising elbow wastes the technique's primary advantage
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Chin tuck — tucking the chin against the chest removes the primary target from the rising elbow's pathLean back — pulling the head backward as the elbow rises causes it to fall shortClinch tighter — in the Muay Thai clinch, pulling the opponent closer (rather than creating space) prevents the elbow from developing its rising trajectoryPush kick (teep) — a front kick to the body at the moment the opponent releases the clinch to fire the Sok Ngad creates distance that removes the close-range threatCounter knee — as the opponent releases one clinch grip to fire the elbow, their body is momentarily open to a knee strikeControl the rising arm — in the clinch, controlling the opponent's arm (bicep control, wrist control) prevents them from releasing the grip to fire the elbow
Setup Chain
1From Muay Thai clinch: establish plum clinch (both hands behind opponent's head) → Use knee strikes to the body to occupy the opponent's defensive attention → Release one clinch grip → Bend the released arm's elbow fully (fist to same-side shoulder) → Drive the olecranon straight UPWARD using leg and hip extension → Elbow point impacts the underside of the opponent's chin → Mandible lever amplifies the upward force into rotational head acceleration → Opponent's head snaps backward → Knockout or severe stunning → Follow with additional strikes or clinch control
2From clinch break: fighters separate → Sok Ngad fires upward during the separation gap → Chin is exposed above the lowered post-clinch guard
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Ruerngsa, Charuad & Cartmell)
1Book[1] Ruerngsa, Y., Charuad, K.K. and Cartmell, J. Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting. Cherng Sok section (Sok Ngad — technique #3). [2] Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Muay Thai Unleashed. McGraw-Hill. Rising elbow section. [3] UFC fight records — rising elbow finishes.pp. Ruerngsa et al., Cherng Sok 24 Cherng (Sok Ngad — technique #3)
description: [1] Ruerngsa Sok Ngad, [2] Krauss 2006
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4Citation[1] Ruerngsa, Y., Charuad, K.K. and Cartmell, J. Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting. Cherng Sok section (Sok Ngad — technique #3). [2] Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Muay Thai Unleashed. McGraw-Hill. Rising elbow section. [3] UFC fight records — rising elbow finishes.pp. Ruerngsa et al., Cherng Sok 24 Cherng (Sok Ngad — technique #3)
description: [1] Ruerngsa Sok Ngad, [2] Krauss 2006
Community
Athletics
Strong legs and hips for the rising drive (the primary power source)
Good proprioception for targeting the chin from below
Close-range comfort (the technique operates at 6-8 inches)
The elbow requires no special conditioning (the olecranon is naturally hard and durable)
Accessible to all body types — shorter fighters have a natural advantage for rising elbows because their elbows are closer to the opponent's chin
Notes
Sok ngad (uppercut elbow from the crouch) delivers a rising elbow from a crouching position — used when ducking under a punch to counter with the elbow. (Kraitus, Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting)
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I focus on speed or technique when learning the roundhouse elbow strike?
Concentrate on technique first and practice slowly with correct form rather than fast and wrong. Hakuda Ryu Eastern Arts Centre emphasizes that doing it fast but incorrectly builds bad muscle memory that's hard to break later.
What should I be driving into the target with the roundhouse elbow strike?
You want to get your shoulder, chest, and entire body into the strike, rotating everything around together as you bring the elbow to the target point.
How does the Sok Ngad work?
Sok Ngad (the Uppercut Elbow) drives the point of the elbow vertically upward into the opponent's chin from below, combining the knockout mechanics of a boxing uppercut with the devastating hardness of the elbow's olecranon bone. The technique is the third fundamental elbow in Muay Thai's classical 24-elbow system (Cherng Sok 24 Cherng), after the diagonal Sok Fan Nah and the horizontal Sok Tad — it completes the three-directional elbow arsenal (diagonal, horizontal, and VERTICAL) that gives Muay Thai fighters the ability to attack with the elbow from any angle.
Where does the Sok Ngad come from?
The Sok Ngad is the third technique in the Cherng Sok 24 Cherng (24 traditional Muay Thai elbow techniques), completing the fundamental three-directional elbow system alongside the diagonal Sok Fan Nah and the horizontal Sok Tad. Together, these three elbows provide attack capability from three primary directions (diagonal, horizontal, vertical), forming the foundation upon which all other elbow variants are built.
Is the Sok Ngad legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal — all elbow strikes permitted; WBC/Boxing: banned — All elbow strikes prohibited in boxing; WKF: banned — Elbow strikes not a legal technique in sport karate; Kyokushin: banned — Elbow strikes prohibited; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: banned — Prohibited; WAKO: banned — Prohibited in all kickboxing formats; K: banned — 1/GLORY — Prohibited — key difference from Muay Thai; IFMA: legal — Legal — elbows are a core Muay Thai weapon (art of eight limbs)
How dangerous is the Sok Ngad?
Danger rating 10/10. The Sok Ngad to the chin is one of the most dangerous legal strikes in combat sports. The combination of the elbow's hardness (the olecranon is the hardest bony prominence on the body), the chin's lever-effect vulnerability (the mandible amplifies rotational force), and the vertical trajectory (which arrives from the opponent's visual blind spot below) creates a strike capable of: immediate knockout, jaw fracture (mandibular fracture), palatal fracture (roof of the mouth), dental avulsion (teeth knocked out), and severe concussion. In Muay Thai, the rising elbow to the chin is responsible for some of the sport's most spectacular and brutal knockouts.
How do I set up the Sok Ngad?
The standard setup chain: From Muay Thai clinch: establish plum clinch (both hands behind opponent's head) → Use knee strikes to the body to occupy the opponent's defensive attention → Release one clinch grip → Bend the released arm's elbow fully (fist to same-side shoulder) → Drive the olecranon straight UPWARD using leg and hip extension → Elbow point impacts the underside of the opponent's chin → Mandible lever amplifies the upward force into rotational head acceleration → Opponent's head snaps backward → Knockout or severe stunning → Follow with additional strikes or clinch control → From clinch break: fighters separate → Sok Ngad fires upward during the separation gap → Chin is exposed above the lowered post-clinch guard.
How do I defend against the Sok Ngad?
Standard counters include: Chin tuck — tucking the chin against the chest removes the primary target from the rising elbow's path / Lean back — pulling the head backward as the elbow rises causes it to fall short / Clinch tighter — in the Muay Thai clinch, pulling the opponent closer (rather than creating space) prevents the elbow… / Push kick (teep) — a front kick to the body at the moment the opponent releases the clinch to fire the Sok Ngad creat….
What are the variants of the Sok Ngad?
Common variants: Standard Sok Ngad (straight vertical rising elbow from close range); Clinch Sok Ngad (fired from within the Muay Thai plum clinch); Retreating Sok Ngad (the rising elbow fires as the fighter steps backward, cat…); Lead Sok Ngad (using the lead arm for a faster rising elbow (less power …); Sok Ngad from the ground (a rising elbow delivered from bottom position to a top op…); Double Sok Ngad (two successive rising elbows from alternating arms).
How effective is the Sok Ngad in competition?
The Sok Ngad is the primary clinch-range knockout elbow in Muay Thai stadium competition. Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn used the rising elbow from the clinch extensively during his undefeated Lumpinee reign.
What are common mistakes when doing the Sok Ngad?
Top errors to watch for: Not bending the elbow fully — if the elbow angle is greater than approximately 40°, the forearm contacts the target i… / Using arm strength instead of hip/leg drive — the rising elbow should be powered by the body's upward motion, not by … / Elbow not pointing straight up — if the elbow drifts laterally during the rising motion, it becomes a diagonal or hor… / Telegraphing by dipping — dropping the body before rising (a natural preparatory motion) alerts the opponent to the i….
What are other names for the Sok Ngad?
The Sok Ngad is also known as Sok Ngad (Thai: ศอกงัด), Uppercut Elbow, Rising Elbow, Sok Ngat, Vertical Elbow.