3: Backwards elbow.
3: Backwards elbow.
3: Backwards elbow.
3: Backwards elbow.

Lifestyle

Move of the week: elbow moves, week 6

The sixth exercise in our eight-part weekly series of boxing workouts.

The National staff

January 23, 2013

  • English
  • Arabic

George Lusadan, a former professional Thai boxing fighter from the Philippines and currently based at MMA Fitness in Tecom, demonstrates the sixth exercise in our eight-part weekly series of boxing workouts. Do this move alone, incorporate it into your own fitness routine or watch this space over the next two weeks to create a comprehensive regimen. Go to www.thenational.ae/moveoftheweek, where we collect the workouts and post video demonstrations.

1 Forward elbow

Start at fighting position, with the right hand guarding your chin, which should be kept in. Your weight should be centred. Strike with the left arm and block with the right at same time. The palm used for defence should be facing the opponent and kept at forehead level so you maintain a clear view of your opponent. Bring elbow up to face level for blocking and attack. Step forward and twist body slightly. Leg should be brought forward with attacking arm.

2 Side elbow

Start at the fighting position, then step to the side and backwards instead of forward.

3 Backwards elbow

Start at the fighting position, then step back with right foot and strike with left elbow. Blocking should be with right hand.

Benefits

Works the forearms and the lats.

Tips

Make sure to block properly. Maintaining fighting position is very important.

HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED

Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.

Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.

The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.

The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.

A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.

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