Introduction to the Horizontal Elbow

The horizontal elbow (Sok Tat) is among Muay Thai's most devastating strikes due to the concentrated force delivered through the elbow point. Proper execution requires full body engagement and accuracy to maximize impact while minimizing risk to the striker.

Foundational Stance and Setup

The striker begins in a basic Muay Thai stance and takes a forward step to generate hip rotation. From this position, the non-striking hand is placed defensively over the eyebrow and temple to protect against counter-attacks, as close-range elbow exchanges demand high head coverage.

Initiating the Strike with Hip Drive

Power originates from the rear foot twisting against the floor, which rotates the hips and shoulders through the strike. The striking hand begins with the thumb pointing downward, creating the mechanical lever for the elbow to travel through the target.

Execution and Target Line

As the hips rotate, the elbow drives horizontally across the opponent's jaw line. The thumb-down hand position ensures proper arm alignment and allows the elbow to slice cleanly through the intended target before retracting to guard.

High Guard Positioning at Close Range

When in elbow striking distance, both hands must maintain high guard coverage over the temples and eyebrows rather than resting on the cheeks. This positioning is critical, as cuts and temple strikes pose greater danger than body shots at this range.

Sok Tat Versus Sok Ti Variations

Sok Tat is a direct horizontal elbow strike across the jaw, while Sok Ti incorporates an upward diagonal slash (approximately 25-30 degrees) that travels over the opponent's guard. The diagonal variation proves effective against opponents with lower hand positioning typical of punch-range defense.

Defensive Strategy and Guard Adaptation

Against a properly positioned high guard, both Sok Tat and Sok Ti are less effective. However, if the opponent maintains punch-range hand position instead of elbow-range defense, the diagonal slash of Sok Ti can slip over the gloves to strike the eyebrow.

Practical Application on the Heavy Bag

The striker demonstrates the technique from fighting distance, raising hands to close range, then executing the rear-hand Sok Ti with a slight downward diagonal. Hip rotation on the rear foot provides the power, while the thumb-down hand position ensures proper elbow trajectory.

Basic Attack - Rear-Hand Horizontal Elbow (Sok Tat / Sok Ti) * | Muay Thai Tips | Thai Boxing World

EvermoreMuayThai

Sok Tee

2 min read·8 key moments·PT4M25S video

Key Takeaways

•Introduction to the Horizontal Elbow
•Foundational Stance and Setup
•Initiating the Strike with Hip Drive
•Execution and Target Line

Some basics to executing the horizontal elbow with your rear arm, and some principles to help you get better at it in your practice. The elbow that comes across, perpendicular to the floor ("sok tat" or "sok tad"), is powerful but will only make contact with your opponent's face if his/her gloves is down entirely too low. The elbow slash ("sok ti") is much more likely to make it over an opponent's guard and strike their actual head instead of their glove. Give us a follow and ding the bell to be the first to know when new content is up -- we release free tutorials like this one every week, along with blogs, training highlights, and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about sok tee?

This video covers introduction to the horizontal elbow, foundational stance and setup, initiating the strike with hip drive. It provides detailed instruction from EvermoreMuayThai.

How long does it take to learn sok tee?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 8-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.