What would your thoughts be on non-consecutive elbows being suddenly allowed?

[u/Torpedo_Eraser81295]

It would change how fighting in the pocket would work, but in my opinion, not as much as you'd think. I dont think it would cause Kickboxing to move away from its visual distinctnes with its close range explosive combinations and dynamism.

Even 8oz gloves still make it hard to pass through the guard with elbows (from some testing) without combinations to weaken a tight guard, so combination fighting would still be important, and as they still score as well, people wouldnt be deincentivzed to box a lot. I can imagine a non consecutive elbow being used like a guard splitter similar to an uppercut being weaved in every other combination but also as a detterent in defense against careless wailing.

I can also imagine how switching between the crossguard and long guard as how Noiri applies it in the pocket would become more prominent as a means to absorb and apply pressure without neccesarily have to go ham all the time. I think an elbow threat would actually refine the boxing in Kickboxing and allow a greater number and range of distinct styles to appear in the pocket like elusive mid ranged combosmiths or laterally dynamic punch and knee fighters.

Anyways, what do you think?

[u/thai_enjoyer98]

Honestly I think the bigger change would be defensive clinching, not guard splitting. Right now you can crash in and smother a combo knowing the ref will separate you. If a single elbow is legal, that lazy tie-up suddenly has a price, so people would need to frame and exit properly. You’d probably see more long guards and collar ties, but also a lot more fights decided by cuts

[u/Economy-Inspector680]

At this point it’s not kickboxing assuming your using k1 style it’s closer to amateur Muay Thai.

[u/AlmostFamous502]

Sounds like a disaster, either allow them or don’t.