Elbow Strike Sparring Ideas in Martial Arts Teacher Training

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxbkzBeDxeE

A video recorded and edited by my client showing the first round.

23.01.2026

Martial Arts Teacher Training

My Cotswolds Karate teacher client returned for the sixth hour of his Martial Arts Teacher Training with me this morning. We went back through much of the material covered last week. These were the rounds covered. Check out the above video for the recording of our first round.

Round 1 - Elbows to the body in the clinch. This is a great way to integrate elbow strikes, showing the incidental intuitive way they can be brought into stand-up grappling.

Round 2 - Elbows only sparring with full-face head guards. Elbow strikes are now isolated, but the hands are unprotected. The round demonstrated the difficulty of landing elbow strikes without support tools.

Round 3 - Elbows and boxing with full-face head guards and boxing gloves. Although punches were allowed, only elbows scored. This round promoted more elbow action, but again showed how even with punches they aren't easy to land.

Round 4 - Elbows with trapping wearing elbow guards and MMA gloves. Without full-face head guards our vision was better. Trapping made landing elbow strikes easier as it set datums.

Round 5 - Elbows in clinch with MMA gloves and elbow guards. This was the domain for landing the most elbow strikes.

Round 6 - Elbows and knee strikes in clinch with MMA gloves and elbow guards. Here chained knee strikes with elbow strikes.

MMA fighters engage in elbow strike training during a personalised session, focusing on technique and precision. Explore more insights on the blog at clubbchimera.com/blog.