Elbow to Knee Combinations

Lead Elbow to Rear Knee

-L. Horizontal Elbow -> R. Straight Knee *example

Rear Elbow to Lead Knee

-R. Horizontal Elbow -> L. Straight Knee *example

Lead Elbow to Lead Knee

Rear Elbow to Rear Knee

Core Two Strike Combinations

There are far too many combinations to list them all. Here I've limited myself to listing 1) one set of opposite side & one same side two strike combinations initiated from the lead side and 2) one set of opposite side and same side two strike combinations initiated from the rear side. (this likely comes across like word salad unless you have first read the section Combination Attacks). This list is primarily made to show you the possibilities. (I added a few more in for the kick variations since some of the kicks are mechanically very different from each other)

I. Combinations Which Start With A Hand Attack

Punch Combinations

Opposite Side

Jab -> Cross

Cross -> Hook

Same Side

Jab -> Jab

Cross -> R. Uppercut

Punch to Elbow Combinations

Opposite Side

Jab -> R. Horizontal Elbow *example

Cross -> L. Horizontal Elbow

Same Side

Jab -> L. Horizontal Elbow

Cross -> R. Horizontal Elbow

Punch to Knee Combinations

Opposite Side

Jab -> R. Straight Knee (Cross Guard & Cross Tie)

Cross -> L. Straight Knee (Cross Guard & Cross Tie)

Same Side

Jab -> L. Switch Straight Knee (Cross Guard & Cross Tie)

Cross -> R. Straight Knee (Cross Guard & Cross Tie)

Punch to Kick Combinations

Opposite Side

Jab -> R. Front Kick

Jab -> R. Round Kick

Jab -> R. Oblique Kick

Cross -> L. Front Kick

Cross -> L. Round Kick

Cross -> L. Side Kick

Same Side

Jab -> L. Front Kick

Jab -> L. Round Kick

Jab -> L. Side Kick

Cross -> R. Round Kick

II. Combinations Which Start With A Elbow Attack

Elbow Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Horizontal Elbow -> R. Horizontal Elbow

R. Horizontal Elbow -> L. Horizontal Elbow

Same Side

L. Vertical Elbow -> L. Horizontal Elbow

R. Horizontal Elbow -> L. Vertical Elbow

Elbow to Punch Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Horizontal Elbow > R. Uppercut

R. Horizontal Elbow -> L. Hook

Same Side

L. Horizontal Elbow -> L Uppercut

R. Horizontal Elbow -> R. Uppercut

Elbow to Knee Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Horizontal Elbow -> R. Straight Knee

R. Horizontal Elbow -> L. Straight Knee

Same Side

L. Horizontal Elbow -> L. Straight Knee

R. Horizontal Elbow -> R. Straight Knee

Elbow to Kick Combinations

Would only be used if your opponent quickly moves back to try and create distance from the elbow. 

III. Combinations Which Start With A Knee Attack 

Knee Combinations

I would never throw two unclinched knees in a row. After the first knee, I would clinch if I wanted to throw a second knee. 

Knee to Punch Combinations

Knee to Elbow Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Knee -> R. Elbow

R. Knee -> L. Elbow

Same Side

L. Knee-> L. Elbow

R. Knee -> R. Elbow

Knee to Kick

L. Knee-> R. Round Kick

R. Knee-> L. Round Kick

IV. Combinations Which Start With A Kick Attack

Kick to Kick Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Front Kick -> R. Round Kick

R. Front Kick -> L. Round Kick

Same Side 

L. Front Kick-> L. Round Kick

R. Front Kick-> R. Round Kick

Kick to Punch Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Round Kick-> Cross

R. Round Kick -> L. Hook

Same Side

L. Side Kick-> Jab

R. Round Kick -> Cross

Kick to Elbow Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Round Kick-> R. Elbow *example

Same Side

Kick to Knee Combinations

Opposite Side

L. Front Kick->R. Knee *example

Same Side 

R. Round Kick->R. Knee *example

I originally started a far more extensive series on two strike counters which became too time consuming to work on. I may continue it at some point. Here is the link. 

Large two strike combinations outline

Combination Attacks (Attack by Combination)

Combination attacks are sequences of two or more single attacks delivered in rapid succession, with each strike intended to hit its target. The purpose of attack by combination is to create openings by overwhelming the opponent’s defensive abilities and to maximize overall damage by increasing the likelihood that multiple strikes will land during the exchange.

Two Strike Combinations

One of the main challenges in learning attack by combination is the sheer number of possible strike sequences, which can quickly become overwhelming. To bring clarity and structure to this process, I begin the study of combination attacks by focusing on two-strike combinations. 

The four primary striking tools of the body used in combination attacks are the hand, elbow, knee and foot or shin (kick). When organizing two-strike combinations from these four tools there are 16 possible variations.  They are:

I. Combinations which start with a hand attack

    1) Hand to hand

    2) Hand to elbow

    3) Hand to knee

    4) Hand to kick

II. Combinations which start with a elbow attack

    1) Elbow to elbow

    2) Elbow to hand

    3) Elbow to knee

    4) Elbow to kick

III. Combinations which strt with a knee attack

    1) Knee to knee

    2) Knee to hand

    3) Knee to elbow

    4) Knee to kick

IV. Combinations which start with a kick attack

    1) Kick to kick

    2) Kick to hand

    3) Kick to elbow

    4) Kick to knee

By mentally focusing on this simple framework, students build a solid foundation from which they can build more complex combinaitons. 

Longer combinations are just the linking of two strike patterns, where the end of one is the beginning of another. For instance, a jab->cross->hook can be thought of as the two punch combos of jab->cross and cross->hook combined into a longer pattern. The key point is that once you get them down, your body knows how to perform longer combinations with ease. 

Opposite Side Striking & Same Side Strike

Two strike combinations can be broken into two primary categories: Opposite side attacks and same side attacks.

1. Opposite Side Attacks - Are simply two strikes delivered from opposite sides of the body. Examples would include: Jab followed by a Cross, or Lead front kick to rear knee. 

2. Same Side Attacks - These are two strikes delivered from the same side of the body. Examples include: Jab followed by a jab, or cross followed by a rear leg round kick. 

Opposite side attacks are the fundamental striking patterns in most striking arts as they generally are more fluid and more powerful than same side attacks. Since they are the standard pattern, an experienced opponent will generally expecte them and have certain defensive reactions ingrained. This is where same side attacks can capitalize on your opponents ingrained defensive reaction  (they expect the next punch to come from the other side) allowing you to land the second blow. 

With this in mind, I beleive if self defense is your primary goal opposite side striking should have far more emphasis than same side striking. The goal in a street confrontation is to end it quickly. The stopping power from opposite side striking provides this advantage. Additionally, your opponent in a street confrontation is less likely to have developed the defensive reactions of a trained fighter. This means the confusion that same side attacks may cause a trained fighter in a sporting event is lost on the street assailant. 

Initial Strike Side

All combination attacks, whether same side or opposite side, will be initiated from either the lead side or the rear side. 

Lines of Attack

Lines of attack describe the physical zones and directional planes through which strikes are delivered or defended—essentially defining where and how an attack travels. These are commonly broken down as high line, middle line, low line, inside line, outside line, straight line and curved line. 

High, middle & low refer to the three different vertical target zones. The high line is the area above the solar plexis to the top of the head. The middle line is the area from the solar plexus to just above the groin. The lower line is from the groin to the ground. 

Outside & Inside refer to the path of your attack as it relates to your opponents guard. I refer to anything outside of your opponents guard as outside and anything between your opponents guard as inside. Alternatively, I might simply say "side" or "front" and essentially be referring to the same thing. Side note: these are generally referred to as gates in Wing Chun.  

Straight and curved lines refer the actual path of your strike from start to end. Regarding punches, the jab and cross are straight line attacks. The hook, uppercut and overhand are curved lines. 

For example, say you attack with a jab ->low rear round kick. The jab is is attacking the opponent high, inside, with a straight line strike. The low rear round kick is attacking the opponent low, outside, with a curved line attack. 

The most often referenced and useful of these terms is the high, middle, and low.

I think it's a good idea to have an understanding of these sort of theoretical breakdowns but don't spend too much time being concerned with perfect definitions and analyzing things in an overly theoretical way. 

Putting It All Together

Applying all the elements of this framework creates a hierarchy that provides a wide range of possible two strike combinations. 

Here's an example of how this system is hierarchical. Two Strike Combination (then choose) Hand -> Hand (then choose) Starting with the Lead Side (then choose) Same Side Striking (then choose) Middle Line to High Line (possible result) Jab to the Body -> Jab to the Head. 

This example isn't of course how one would go about choosing a combination to work on. It is simply demonstration of how the various conceptual elements discussed above can be applied into a working system. The purpose isn't to create an algorithm for choosing strikes. The purpose is to get practitioners to think conceptually about how different variables—tools, sides, lines, etc.—interact to produce effective combinations. By understanding these relationships, the practitioner learns to analyze, adapt, and create combinations logically rather than memorizing sequences.

Striking To Clinch and Takedown Shots

Punching To Clinch or Takedown

-Rear Overhand to Double Under Body Lock to Outside Trip *example

Knee To Clinch or Takedown

-Knee to Double Neck Tie *example

Various Combinations

There are far too many combinations to list them all. Here's a mishmash. 

Combinations Which Start With A Hand Attack

Hands Combinations

Jab->Jab & Slip->Cross *example

Jab-> Cross-> Side Step L. Hook -> Tyson Step -> L. Hook *example

Jab-> L. Angle Step Slip & Cross *example

Jab to Body->R. Uppercut to Head *example

Jab to Body-> Cross-> L. Hook *example

Hands to Legs Combinations

Jab-> R Round Kick (F)
Jab-> Cross-> Lead Round Kick (F)
Jab-> Cross-> Hook-> R Round Kick (F)

Jab->L. Round Kick (F)

Jab->Cross->R. Round Kick (F)

Jab-> Body Cross-> Hook-> R. Round Kick *Example *Without the kick

Body Jab->Cross->L. Round Kick

Jab->Over Hook->Shovel Hook to Body->R. Low Round Kick *Example

L. Long Hook->R. Uppercut to Body->L. Shovel Hook to Body *example

L. Step Cross-> R. Foot Full Angle Step (Shifting) -> Cross (other hand) -> L. Pivoting Hook (Check Hook) -> R. Round Kick *example

Combinations Which Start With A Kick

L. Push Kick-> R. Round Kick *Example 

L. Push Kick->Cross->Hook->R. Round Kick

L. Push Kick->R. Knee->R. Elbow *Example

Missed Or Faked Round Kick -> Side Kick

Rear Leg Missed/Faked Round Kick->Side Kick *fightTIPS  

Rear Leg Missed/Faked Round Kick -> *Spinning Backfist/Elbow

Notes:

V.L.C. -Vertical Line Change

L.F. - Lateral and Angled Footwork

F - Fundamental

Exiting/Transitioning Off Punch Combination

1. Moving Back

  a) Straight/Angled Back

    -Push Back *example *example

    -Jabbing Out *example

    -L Step (Straight Back Then To The Rear Side) *example

  b) Back to the Right (Off Rear Hand Punch Or Jab) *example

  c) Back to the Left (Off Lead Hand Punch) *example

   

2. To The Side

Weave

  a) Lead Side After Throwing Lead Punch *example

  b) Rear Side After Throwing Rear Punch *example *example *example *example

 

Slip (Bob) And Pivot

  a) Lead Side Slip & Pivot *Slip W Cross *Slip After Throwing Lead Hook

  b) Lead Side Slip & Cross (Rear Foot Steps Up) To Step Away *Dart

  c) Rear Side Slip & Lead Foot Step To Pivot After Throwing Rear Punch *example

  d) Rear Side Slip & Rear Foot Step To Pivot/Slide Step (Reface) After Throwing Rear Hand (Note 1) *example

  e) Rear Side Slip & Rear Foot Step While Throwing Lead Hand To Pivot/Slide Step Away

Curved Step

  a) Lead Hand Curved Step Punch *example *example

Shuffling Away

  a) (Dart) Throw deep leaning cross dragging back foot up then shuffling away to lead side *exemple

3. Clinching

4. Shooting For Takedown

Note 1: I sometimes refer to this footwork as a step and reface

Single Direct Attack & Targeting Vulnerable Parts Of The Body

Single Direct Attack

The single direct attack is the simplest manner of attack in which a single strike is thrown directly at the target.

Timing, distance and speed are key elements to successfully landing the strike. You must be able to recognize openings to know the right time to attack as well as be close enough to land the blow without your opponent being able to launch an effectively defense. People often think of a single direct attack as something that happens once a fight is already underway—for example, you and your opponent are at long range, you notice their guard drop, and you quickly jab to the face. While this is a valid scenario, a more realistic example might involve someone already within striking distance who acts aggressively, leading you to believe you’re in immediate danger and prompting a preemptive strike. *example

Single direct attacts utiize all the offensive tools discussed in the fundamentals section. You can attack any of the lines discussed in the combination attack section. 

Sometimes single direct attacks will involve a preplanned quick in, quick out movement where you quickly move from long range to middle range to strike then immediatly back out to long range. My favorite example of this is the front foot step jab (See Jab). 

Other times you will attack, do a quick evaluation, and act from there. You might decide that a follow up attack is warranted or to defensively retreat. 

When practicing the single direct attack, (as well as other attack methods) it is important not to telegraph your attack. See non-telegraphic movement.

Targeting Vulnerable Parts of the Body

There are three main criteria to consider when choosing parts of the body to strike: How accessible is the target? How much power is necessary to have an effect? How severe will the effect be? 

Note: The following is a list of targets best to attack from standup striking range. 

I. Head

 

Eyes

-Eye Jab -Eye Jab

Nose 

Chin & Jaw

-Hook  -Hook & Knee

Side of Neck

-example -example -fight example  -article -article

Throat

-example -example

II. Torso

Liver

-Round Kick to Liver  -Round Kick to Liver  -Knee to Liver -Body Hook -Uppercut to Body

Floating Ribs

Solar Plexus

Groin

III. Extremities

Knees

Thigh

    Outside

    -example -examples

    Inside

Calf