បាត់គូនខ្នង
Bat Koun Khnong (Horizontal Elbow)
Difficulty: BeginnerAll Strikes
The horizontal elbow is the most fundamental elbow strike in Kun Khmer, delivered in a horizontal arc targeting the temple, jaw, or cheekbone. It is the bread-and-butter elbow technique and the foundation upon which more advanced elbow strikes are built.
Steps
- From your guard, raise the striking elbow to shoulder height with the forearm folded tight.
- Rotate the hips and torso powerfully, driving the elbow through in a horizontal arc parallel to the ground.
- Strike with the point or the first two inches of the forearm near the elbow, cutting through the target.
- Follow through past the target and immediately return to your guard position.
Key Points
- The elbow must stay at shoulder height throughout the strike — dropping it reduces power and accuracy.
- Generate power through hip rotation, not just arm movement. The whole body drives the elbow.
- Close distance before throwing; elbows are close-range weapons and are ineffective at punching range.
Common Mistakes
- Flaring the elbow out wide before striking, which telegraphs the technique and slows it down.
- Striking with the forearm rather than the point of the elbow, reducing the cutting effect.
- Throwing from too far away, resulting in the elbow falling short or only making contact with the forearm.
Targets
- Temple
- Jaw
- Cheekbone
- Ear
- Eyebrow ridge
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Last updated: August 2026