Okay, so, I’ve been getting into boxing lately, and it’s a real blast. But there’s this one thing that’s been bugging me – using elbows to block. I mean, can you actually do that? I kept seeing mixed things online, so I decided to do a little digging and try some things out myself.
First off, I started by, you know, just Googling around. I typed in “are elbow blocks legal in boxing?” and a whole bunch of stuff popped up. Some places said it was totally fine, others were like, “no way, that’s a foul!” It was pretty confusing, to be honest. I saw some stuff about how elbowing is a no-no in most fighting sports, but then it mentioned that some Southeast Asian boxing styles and mixed martial arts do allow it, but sometimes only in specific ways.
So, I went on to the next step, reading some actual boxing rules. I looked at a couple of different organizations, but they all seemed to say the same thing: You can’t use your elbows to hit someone, I saw things like “You cannot hit with your head, shoulder, forearm, or elbow.” So, no elbow strikes, that’s clear. But what about blocking?
I found some websites that said blocking with your elbow is perfectly legal, and others that said it was generally illegal. So I decided to dive into some forums and see what the real people, you know, the folks actually throwing punches, had to say.
A lot of people were saying that blocking with your elbow is a bad idea. They said it’s a good way to get hurt, and it’s not a very effective way to block anyway. Also saw a quote that stated, “While practicing Boxing, keep in mind that throwing a punch is equally essential as blocking a throw.” So, I started to think that maybe the rules weren’t the whole story.
Next, I decided to just try it out. I went to my local gym and sparred with a buddy. I told him I wanted to experiment with using my elbows to block, and he was game. It went… okay? I mean, I didn’t get knocked out or anything, but it definitely felt weird. It wasn’t a very natural movement, and it left me open to other punches.
I tried different ways of using my elbows to block – high blocks, low blocks, deflecting punches to the side. None of it felt right. It felt slow and clumsy, and it didn’t really stop the punches from getting through.
Then, I talked to my coach about it. He’s been boxing for like 20 years, so he knows his stuff. He pretty much confirmed what I was feeling. He said that while it might not be specifically illegal in all cases, it’s just not a good technique. There are way better ways to block, like using your gloves, slipping, or rolling with the punches.
My Experience
- Tried using elbows to block in sparring.
- Felt unnatural and ineffective.
- Left me open to other punches.
What I Learned
- Elbow blocks aren’t explicitly forbidden in all boxing rules.
- It’s generally considered a poor technique.
- Better to use gloves, slipping, and rolling to block.
So, after all that, here’s my take: Technically, it might not be against the rules everywhere to block with your elbows in boxing, but it’s definitely not a good idea. It’s just not an effective way to defend yourself, and it could actually get you hurt. Stick to the basics, use your gloves, and work on your footwork. That’s what I’ll be doing, anyway! Hope this helps anyone else who was wondering about this. It was a fun little experiment, but I’m glad to be back to regular boxing now!
