Kung Fu Combo - Rising Crane to Elbow Strike
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Rising Elbow·Sifu Kuttel
In this video we use one of the most signature positions in any martial arts and that is the one legged Crane, or rising…
Rising Elbow
SubFamily上げ肘(Age Hiji)
TraditionalTranslation: rising elbow
Overview
The Rising Elbow subfamily covers uppercut-trajectory elbow strikes that travel upward from a low starting position to target the chin, jaw, or underside of the opponent's face. [1] The rising elbow is driven by an explosive upward thrust of the hips and legs combined with shoulder elevation, launching the elbow point vertically into the target. [1],[2] This technique is particularly dangerous because it attacks the chin from below, an angle associated with high knockout rates due to the rotational acceleration imparted to the head and the resulting shearing forces on the brainstem. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Rising elbow strikes have been used in Muay Thai clinch fighting for centuries, where the upward elbow from within the plum clinch is one of the most celebrated offensive techniques. [1] The rising elbow is also found in various Southeast Asian martial arts including Lethwei and pencak silat. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The rising elbow strikes upward under the opponent's chin or jaw. [1]
Lineage
From Muay Thai's sok ngat. [1]
Competition Record
Used in Muay Thai and MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Ballistic extension of the arm — kinetic chain transfers force from the ground through the hips to the fist
Joints Involved — Shoulder (flexion/rotation), elbow (rapid extension), wrist (stabilised on impact), hips (rotation)
Force Vector — Linear (jab, cross) or circular (hook, overhand) depending on the punch type
Kinetic Chain — Ground reaction force → hip rotation → torso rotation → shoulder extension → fist impact — each link amplifies velocity
Position & Entry
From boxing stance (inside range) — Drop the rear shoulder slightly, drive the fist upward using leg and hip extension, target the chin or body
As counter (opponent ducks) — When opponent lowers their head (ducking a hook or level changing), fire the uppercut to the exposed chin
From clinch — In close range, short upward punch targeting the chin with explosive hip extension
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Rising elbow; targets chin from below
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 rising elbow travels from low to high, driving the point of the elbow upward into the opponent's chin or face
✓It is essentially an elbow uppercut but with a longer upward path starting from below the waist
✓Dip the striking side slightly, then explode upward with the legs and hips, letting the elbow rise through the target
✓The rising elbow catches opponents who are looking down or ducking from punches
✓In Muay Thai, the rising elbow is thrown from the clinch when the opponent pulls their head down to avoid horizontal elbows
✓The upward trajectory bypasses the standard guard, which protects against horizontal and downward attacks
✓Target the tip of the chin for maximum knockout potential
Common Mistakes
!Rising too slowly and losing the explosive upward snap that makes this technique effective
!Using the arm only without engaging the legs and hips — the power must come from the ground up
!Aiming the elbow at the chest or body instead of driving up under the chin
!Leaning back during the upward drive, which disconnects the body from the elbow
!Not dipping first to load the upward explosion — the dip-and-drive is essential
!Throwing the rising elbow from mid-range where you cannot reach the chin
!Letting the elbow continue past the target and over your head, pulling you off balance
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Close Distance — enter elbow range through clinch work or after slipping a punch
2Hip Rotation — generate power through the core by rotating the hips
3Strike with Elbow Point — drive the elbow through the target at the correct angle
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] WBC Muay Thai Rules (2014)
2BookChampionship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] WBC Muay Thai Rules (2014)
6CitationChampionship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
Community
Athletics
Requires
leg drive, upward hip thrust, tight vertical alignment
Favours
shorter reach fighters effective at inside range
Key muscles
quadriceps, glutes, deltoids, biceps, core
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Rising Elbow work?
The Rising Elbow subfamily covers uppercut-trajectory elbow strikes that travel upward from a low starting position to target the chin, jaw, or underside of the opponent's face. The rising elbow is driven by an explosive upward thrust of the hips and legs combined with shoulder elevation, launching the elbow point vertically into the target.
Where does the Rising Elbow come from?
Rising elbow strikes have been used in Muay Thai clinch fighting for centuries, where the upward elbow from within the plum clinch is one of the most celebrated offensive techniques. The rising elbow is also found in various Southeast Asian martial arts including Lethwei and pencak silat.
Is the Rising Elbow 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 Rising Elbow?
Danger rating 7/10. Very High — rising elbow; targets chin from below
How do I set up the Rising Elbow?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Hip Rotation → Strike with Elbow Point.
How do I defend against the Rising Elbow?
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.
What are the variants of the Rising Elbow?
Common variants: Standard uppercut (rising punch from below targeting the chin); Short uppercut (compact version for clinch range); Body uppercut (targeting the solar plexus with the rising punch); Lead uppercut (using the lead hand for a faster, less-telegraphed rising…).
How effective is the Rising Elbow in competition?
Used in Muay Thai and MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Rising Elbow?
Top errors to watch for: Rising too slowly and losing the explosive upward snap that makes this technique effective / Using the arm only without engaging the legs and hips — the power must come from the ground up / Aiming the elbow at the chest or body instead of driving up under the chin / Leaning back during the upward drive, which disconnects the body from the elbow.
What are other names for the Rising Elbow?
The Rising Elbow is also known as Age Hiji, Uppercut Elbow, Sok Ngat, Upward Elbow.