水平肘打ち（基本型）(Suihei Hiji-uchi (Kihon-gata))
TraditionalTranslation: standard horizontal elbow strike
The Standard Horizontal Elbow Strike is the textbook execution of the horizontal elbow, where the fighter pivots on the lead foot, rotates the hips and shoulders, and drives the point of the elbow laterally into the opponent's temple or jaw. [1] Contact is made with the tip of the olecranon process, and the arm remains tightly bent at approximately 90 degrees throughout the strike to maintain structural rigidity. [1],[2] This strike is most effective at very close range, often delivered from the clinch or as a counter when an opponent steps into punching range. [2],[3]
Horizontal elbows are a core component of Muay Thai's 'eight weapons' system and have been fundamental to the art since before the modern ring era. [1]
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The standard horizontal elbow strike is a close-range weapon fundamental to Muay Thai, delivered by rotating the hips and shoulders to drive the elbow across the target at jaw or temple height. EvermoreMuayThai emphasizes initiating the strike by twisting on the rear foot with the thumb pointing downward, then bringing the elbow straight across; this instructor distinguishes the horizontal elbow (sokta) from the diagonal elbow slash (sokti), noting that proper guard placement determines which variant will penetrate an opponent's defense. Sean Fagan and MMA ATLAS both stress that elbows are short-range weapons requiring footwork to close distance and that simultaneous hand positioning is critical for defense—the non-striking hand should protect the head and temples to prevent counter-elbows when in close range. EvermoreMuayThai and MMA ATLAS agree that the motion resembles a hook, using hip and shoulder rotation to generate power, while maintaining a tight guard. All three instructors highlight that accurate target selection and defensive positioning are essential, as throwing an elbow places the striker within elbow range of the opponent. The strike's effectiveness depends on timing, footwork, and understanding that even modest power delivery causes significant damage due to the elbow's point of contact.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
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Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
Slashing elbow; primary laceration-causing strike in Muay Thai
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [3] WBC Muay Thai Rules (2014)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [3] WBC Muay Thai Rules (2014)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988)
hand speed, hip rotation, wrist alignment on impact
proportional reach, strong wrists, fast-twitch shoulder muscles
deltoids, pectorals, triceps, core rotators, forearms
According to MMA ATLAS, you should use leverage and churn your hips and shoulders when throwing the strike. Professional fighter Sean Fagan emphasizes that when throwing a spear elbow, your feet need to move forward with the strike and you should pop your shoulder slightly to maximize range and power.
According to Evermore Muay Thai, with a straight sokti (horizontal elbow), you come straight across, but with an elbow slash, your thumb points down at the floor and you draw an upside-down arc that comes down at about a 25-30 degree angle across the eyebrow and back.
Evermore Muay Thai explains that if your opponent has their gloves at punch range, a straight horizontal elbow thrown from your current position may land on their glove instead of the target; you need to account for their guard placement when timing the strike.
Sean Fagan emphasizes that elbows are short-range weapons, so you need to cover distance and use good footwork by stepping forward to get into proper elbow range before executing the technique.
The Standard Horizontal Elbow Strike is the textbook execution of the horizontal elbow, where the fighter pivots on the lead foot, rotates the hips and shoulders, and drives the point of the elbow laterally into the opponent's temple or jaw. Contact is made with the tip of the olecranon process, and the arm remains tightly bent at approximately 90 degrees throughout the strike to maintain structural rigidity.
The standard horizontal elbow strike is the most fundamental elbow technique in Muay Thai, taught universally in Thai training camps as the first elbow a student learns. It has been a competition staple for over a century of formal Muay Thai ring fighting.
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)
Danger rating 7/10. Very High — slashing elbow; primary laceration-causing strike in Muay Thai
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Hip Rotation → Strike with Elbow Point.
Standard counters include: Lean Back — pull the head out of elbow range to avoid the short-range strike / Clinch Tie-Up — close to body-to-body range to smother elbow strikes / Push Kick (Teep) — maintain distance to prevent elbow range from being established.
Common variants: Horizontal elbow (swinging the elbow horizontally at head level); Uppercut elbow (rising elbow from below targeting the chin); Downward elbow (chopping the elbow straight down (Muay Thai sok tat)); Spinning elbow (full rotation before driving the elbow into the target).
In Muay Thai competition at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums, elbow cuts are one of the most common causes of stoppages. In MMA, Jon Jones has been one of the most effective users of the horizontal elbow, using spinning and clinch elbows to cut opponents in multiple UFC title fights.
Top errors to watch for: Trying to reach too far and opening the arm — if you need to reach, use a hook punch instead / Rotating only the shoulders without the hips, which halves the rotational force / Hitting with the back of the arm or tricep area instead of the olecranon / Not entering close enough — the horizontal elbow requires clinch-to-close range.
The Standard Horizontal Elbow Strike is also known as Suihei Hiji-uchi (Kihon-gata), Sok Tat, Cross Elbow, Horizontal Elbow.
