1. Stance (Muay Thai Guard/Ready Position)

• Foot Position:
  Begin in your Muay Thai stance. If you’re orthodox, your left foot is forward, and your right foot is back. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with weight distributed on the balls of your feet for balance and readiness.
• Knees and Hips:
  Keep your knees slightly bent to stay balanced and mobile. Avoid locking your knees. Your hips should be aligned with your body’s center of gravity, allowing fluid motion during the strike.
• Hands/Guard:
  • Your lead hand (left for orthodox) should remain up, guarding your face and jaw, ready to strike or defend.
  • Your rear hand (right for orthodox) should be up by your chin, protecting your face and ready to guard against incoming punches.
  • Keep your elbows tucked in to protect your ribs and avoid leaving openings for the opponent.

---

2. Chambering the Left Upward Elbow (Preparation)

• Hand Position:
  Before throwing the upward elbow, bring your left hand near your face with your elbow slightly bent, ready to launch the strike upward.
• Elbow Alignment:
  The elbow should be positioned below your fist, with your fist near your chin. This helps maintain control and ensures a quick, explosive upward motion when you deliver the elbow.
• Hip and Shoulder Rotation:
  Engage your core and rotate your hips and shoulders slightly to the right. This rotation will help generate the power needed for the upward elbow, with force coming from your lower body.

---

3. Executing the Left Upward Elbow (The Actual Strike)

1. Step 1 – Hip and Shoulder Rotation:
   Begin by rotating your hips and shoulders to the right (for orthodox fighters). This will transfer energy from your lower body through your core, driving the elbow upward with more force.
2. Step 2 – Elbow Path and Arm Position:
   Explosively drive your left elbow upward in a tight arc. The elbow should travel in a vertical path, aiming for your opponent’s chin, jaw, or face. Keep your arm close to your body for control and effectiveness.
3. Step 3 – Impact and Target:
   • The sharp point of your elbow should strike the target, focusing on landing with the hard edge of your elbow.
   • The chin, jaw, or lower face are prime targets for the upward elbow. A clean strike can cause significant damage, often stunning or cutting the opponent.
4. Step 4 – Follow Through and Retract:
   After making contact, allow the elbow to follow through slightly, but do not over-extend. Quickly retract your left elbow back to your face and guard position to protect yourself from counterattacks.

---

4. Footwork During the Left Upward Elbow

1. Weight Transfer:
   As you throw the upward elbow, shift your weight slightly to your lead foot (left) to maintain balance and generate more force from the lower body.
2. Pivoting:
   Pivot on the ball of your rear foot (right) as you rotate your hips and shoulders. This pivoting motion channels the power from your body into the upward strike.
3. Step Forward (Optional):
   Depending on the distance and timing, you might step forward with your rear foot to close the gap and maintain balance while delivering the upward elbow.

---

5. Defensive Positioning and Protection

1. Rear Hand Guard:
   As you throw the upward elbow, make sure your rear hand (right) stays up near your chin to protect against potential counterattacks like hooks or straight punches.
2. Head Position:
   After you throw the upward elbow, don’t remain stationary. Use slight head movement or slip to make yourself harder to hit by your opponent. Keep your head slightly off-center and avoid staying in one spot.
3. Elbow Position:
   Ensure that your left elbow stays tight to your body. If your elbow flares out, it could expose you to hooks or uppercuts from your opponent. A tight elbow ensures the strike is both compact and powerful, while protecting your body.

---

6. Follow-Up and Recovery

1. Return to Guard:
   After executing the upward elbow, immediately return your left hand to your face to protect against counters. A quick recovery to your guard is crucial to maintaining defensive readiness.
2. Set-Up for Combinations:
   The upward elbow can set up follow-up strikes such as hooks, crosses, or knees. After landing the upward elbow, look to continue your offense with additional strikes or clinch work.
3. Reset Your Position:
   Make sure to return to a balanced stance after throwing the upward elbow, whether you’ve advanced or retreated during the strike. This allows you to stay in a defensive position and ready to attack again if necessary.

---

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overcommitting:
   Avoid leaning too far into the upward elbow. A too-committed movement can leave you off-balance and vulnerable to counters. The strike should be compact and explosive, not a wild swing.
2. Dropping the Rear Hand:
   One of the most common mistakes is dropping the rear hand (right for orthodox) when throwing the elbow. Always keep the rear hand up to guard against counters, particularly hooks or uppercuts.
3. Excessive Arm Focus:
   The power of the upward elbow comes from the rotation of the hips and shoulders, not just the arm. If you rely only on arm strength, you reduce the power and control of the strike. Always engage your core and body to maximize effectiveness.
4. Telegraphing the Elbow:
   Avoid telegraphing the upward elbow by making the movement too obvious. A sudden, quick elbow is harder for your opponent to react to and more likely to land cleanly.

---

8. Advanced Concepts

1. Upward Elbow Feint:
   At an advanced level, the upward elbow can be used as a feint. By pretending to throw the upward elbow, you can bait your opponent into reacting and create openings for other strikes, such as a hook or cross.
2. Upward Elbow with Angle Change:
   Another advanced technique involves throwing the upward elbow while slightly changing your angle. This helps you generate more power and makes you a harder target for counterattacks.
3. Upward Elbow and Clinch:
   The upward elbow can also be used to set up a clinch. After landing the upward elbow, quickly close the distance and enter the clinch for knee strikes or to control your opponent’s posture.

---

Conclusion

The left upward elbow in Muay Thai is a powerful strike that utilizes body rotation and explosive motion from the hips and shoulders. Proper technique, timing, and guard position are crucial for executing this strike effectively. With the correct footwork and body mechanics, the left upward elbow can surprise your opponent and cause significant damage. As with all Muay Thai strikes, quick recovery, awareness of defensive positioning, and the ability to follow up with additional strikes or clinch work make this an essential technique in your Muay Thai arsenal.