Cool stuff, John! Thanks for sharing your insight.

As far as spikes for kicks, it is always uber-painful for the kicker to have one's kick blocked with a pointy elbow - esp if said kicker is kicking with the foot/instep and not the shin. I have had a kick "spiked" in such a manner on more than one occasion, and sometimes it has put an end to my match. This works best with kicks to the body/lower torso - just hold your elbows in tight and make sure one is in the way of a foot.

The caveat is, however, that this has happened when training barefoot, wearing at most shin and instep pads. Footwear may add an element of imperviousness to this, depending on the shoe. A tennis shoe kicker may still end up with some nasty bruises, but a workboot kicker may have nothing to worry about.

Just my 0.02.

Peace,
Mike

Double post deleted by MattJ

I often kick to the body and accidentally hit elbows sometimes, its very painful and sometimes makes you want to stop. I think if someone used this tactic to their advantage, they would be very dangerous.

So far I've only got two spike techniques for kicks;

When I do my MT block, I'll angle my elbow out diagonally to meet their shin. Sometimes it hurts, but the effect it gets on them is much greater. The risk is by bending it diagonally, I'll get hit in the face sometimes, but oh well.

The second is when they kick, I'll intercept into their kick as well as kneeing them right in the thigh. Sometimes it doesn't happen on precise timing and I end up kneeing them in the shin, which of course hurts more. It's better to intercept late than early imo.

I've been experimenting with the elbow spikes and to be honest, they're great. John, thanks for making me stronger muhaha. Just need to get the timing down and then I'll destroy fists like paper.

Quote:

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You want to punish your opponent at every turn. Every time he tries to hit you, he ends up hurting as a result. That's a pretty good deal in my opinion.

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Sounds like a deal from "duty-free". Discount anyone?

-Taison out

In TKD matches i like to block with my elbows against roundhouse kicks. after feeling a few of those they usually start to hesitate to attack me. It isn't illegal either because it looks like a forearm block just your arm is slightly bent.