I am looking to start incorporating more elbows into my students games (MMA) and I was looking for some new insights on how to train them in a functional manner or in a way that allows them to functionalize their elbows in a fight.
Thanks
Adam Singer
shadowboxing, heavybag, padwork, sparring - just like any other strike.
Speaking from experience, elbows are the last technique in a Nak Muay's arsenal that gets developed. Just train the clinch and look for insertion points if it's there but don't force it if it's not there.
Ive only landed an elbow 2x in competition (My 5th match)and it was more of it being there rather than me forcing it.
Thank guys but I think I was not clear enough. I have trained a lot of Thai with some great coaches and obviously I have been involved in MMA for longer than I want to think about. I was looking for methods to spar with elbows safely. In both the standup range, clinch range and ground range.
Adam
PS I got a great reply from Kru Popejoy that I will post with his permission.
Thais's don't spar with elbows. They do play with them, throwing them lightly to the low neck/chest area during clinch training to let the partner know that his guard is open.
Sparring? Ground? Safety gear is the only feasible option. elbow pads or that plexiface shield helmet thing that lots of RBSD guys use. you can GNP the shit out of a guy on the bottom using one, and he is totally safe..
Post away, Mr. Singer. 
Anyhow, I've had similar issues in the past with incorporating elbows safely for myself and some of my fighters. I'm from pretty much strictly a Muay Thai background, and although we'd drill elbows on the bag or pads....it's just not the same as a live body. Any how, IMO, Elbow pads are a must. Safety first!
We'd start out with simply incorporating the elbow into simple combinations that we'd drill. Kind of like a basic jab-catch type drill, we'd maybe just jab and elbow(so we'd catch the jab, cover the elbow), etc. just to start to get comfortable with the range. Gradually moving up to limited sparring(using only predetermined tools), the on to incorporating them into completely free sparring.
This usually worked pretty well for getting comfortable using them in conjunction with just striking, once clinch range was established, we found we had more work to do. So we'd start slowly working various positions in the clinch, finding were there were openings for the elbow, finding ways to nullify or minimize the threat, etc. while also looking for ways to use it. Again, eventually working towards fully incorporating it all into sparring.
I hope none of that is too vague. If there's anything else I can do or share, please feel free to ask.
best of luck
Bryan Popejoy
Elbow pads and head gear.