Is There A Place For Elbow Pads in Muay Thai

Ill put the punch line first before anyone else "yeah on your elbows mate"

reading on another thread there seemed to be a little dislike to this as the use of elbows is prodominantly to cut so its not real muay thai if there isnt desired effect.

Im of the persuasion that if they are included elbows could also be used at lower levels thus preserving more authentic muay thai techniques and lets face it shinpads dont stop people throwing effective round kicks, but im keen to find the general concencus out there.

would gyms be interested in trying this with their fighters on shows / interclubs?

do the benefits outweigh the risks?

The elbows are scored differently in amateur Muay Thai. Obviously in professional Muay Thai you have the advantage of cutting to up the score or create a stoppage.

SHAUN

Scrap the A, B, C class system (so to speak) and have all fights FTR however,
C Class would have elbow pads 5* 1.5 min rounds,
B Class would have 5 *2 min rounds.
A Class no pads as normal and 5 *3 min rounds.

Would this work?

shaun could you elaborate on that please

rob i personally think that sounds good, but like i said im keen to find out where the whole community sit on this one

I'm running EMF/WMF show on September 8th with amateur (body armour, shin pads, elbow pads, headguard), Pro-am (elbow pads), and then A-Class.

Amateur is 3 two minutes, pro-am 5 two minutes, and Pro 5 three minutes.

All fights are full rules if agreed by both corners, although at the moment only half the pro-ams are full rules, and of course the A-Class.

I like this format and think it is a sensible progression.

Some states in America , and in France pro a class rules you have to we're elbow pads .
3 x 3 IMO no good 5 x 1.5 better..

Bad Boy Gym in Scotland run the ESU shows, I'm not completely sure of the classes but all bouts are FTR with elbow pads.

It makes for exciting fights..

Stu MC

I'm fighting on Kaoloi's 8 September show with elbow pads and I believe it's a great idea..

I think anybody that wants to fight FTR should defo fight with elbow pads first, 1 mistake with an elbow and your scared for life, a tleast if you get caught lots with pads on you will walk away knowing what things you need to walk on..

I hope the show is a success piere. And I agree mike definitely should get people prepared and gives best chance to improve without serious injury and in ftr surely has make the sport purer as opposed to the contrary I here brandished around.

For the vast majority of people who because of their day job can't afford a serious injury even if its just for how it looks I think pads could potentially keep some good fighters fighting.
It seems I'm In favour looking back over my posts but it's a genuine question in the title so still looking for all sides and arguments

FTR all the way!

Amateur 5 x 1.5 Elbow Pads Shin Guards FTR

Pro Am 5 x 2 Elbow Pads FTR

Pro 5 x 3 No padding FTR


Interclubs, would limit elbows to more experienced, but still padded.

Paul

Elbow pads and knee pads? Yeh, for skateboarding.

FBT do a good elbow pad which is really slim and made of neoprene so they don't slip or move in competitions which is a common safety problem. They use these in the IFMA world championships. Worth a look.

I'm good with the elbow pad vibe, will stop a lot of novices going buck-crazy with elbows when they eventually fight A class, its like christmas with a new toy sometimes.
Clinch too takes on a completely different feel when there's the chance of an elbow strike. Its a massive missing piece of the thai jigsaw, seems crazy to have all your boxing,kneeing, kicking sorted, in time to change your game completely for A class. Reckon the 'chicks dig scars' crew will rail on about cuts being part of mt, but I accept that as more people want to fight A class without compromising their day job, its probably a good idea to work elbows and therefore elbow defence/awareness from an early stage with pads to mitigate having a short and bloody A class career. Oh yeah, and its the science of 8 weapons apparently. Slightly off thread...i'd rather have elbow pads than headguards.

c class only. sparring elbows with elbow pads should be good enough for experience to lean how to throw and defend. ftr in b class would be sound just shorter time.

I like the idea of elbow pads in c&b class fights makes sense

just seen an interclub in londond on 30th september with elbows included as all fighters will wear maximum protection.

would you support such events?

Amateur yes, Interclub no. Too many interclubs are starting to become mini shows.

slightly off topic but interclubs bring through the grass roots is it wrong for them to be good little events in their own right?

Not disputing that, but as they are usually for first timers and very novice fighters adding 'Hard contact' and 'full padded, full rules' kind of takes away what interclubs were origionally designed for. After all they are supposed to be no decision light contact bouts. How can a novice be expected to execute skill in spinning back elbows etc?

I even hear of decision bout interclubs, so I am assuming full licencing,insurance, sanctioning, medics, time keepers, MC, Officials, expenses, payment etc are at these decision bouts?

SHAUN

Hi shaun,

I agree, contact should always be controlled at interclubs.

If you can can control power of other strikes could you not control power of elbows especially if everyone is padded up?

regarding the decision bout interclubs you've even heard of I guess you would have to speak to the people organising such events im sure they would probably be able to tell you.

I think people definatly need to know what they are getting into ie controlled interclub or a fight (whether you call decision bout, novice, amateur or whatever) Im sure people have had experience of interclubs which have turned into something a little more lets say and thats certainly not fair

Do away with interclubs and make an amateur scene like ABA...

Amateur with 20 to 30 fights on a day all with decision full thai rules all padded..