Good talk on blocks

[Van Canna]

This is a great write up by Jeff Brooks...well worth your read.

http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=542

[robb buckland]

Great article thanks Van

[Van Canna]

Yes, Robb...a very well written article that make sense.

The second misunderstanding about blocks – and the more common one – is that blocks are interceptions. That is “blocks are like anti-missile techniques.”

It is as if people who teach defending this way actually believe that you can perceive the incoming technique, process the information and respond decisively and accurately to it. You can’t. No matter how good you are if you are reacting to the opponent’s decision making, if you allow your opponent the initiative in the fight, however briefly, they will quickly outpace your ability to keep responding.

The reactive reflex arch is too long. You can pull this off in choreographed or predictable technique exchanges; and you may be able to do it where attack zones are limited (in sport matches where no attacks are allowed below the belt or to the back does set up a situation in which you have a highly predictable and relatively easily defendable target region.)

[Van Canna]

Certainly it is essential to gain the initiative in the interaction immediately or at least as rapidly as possible. If we move properly in response to incoming force it is possible to simultaneously (in a single movement)


1. Reroute the incoming energy past our target region,
2. Reposition our body just outside the range of attack,
3. Off balance the opponent,
4. Damage the opponent’s attacking personal weapon (limb), and
5. Execute a counter and/or set up a counter attack that is launched without any extra motion of your body.

To do this we have to understand the use of the full body in movement. If we move the body as parts – an arm here, a step there – we will not maximize our ability to move effectively.

The means of moving the body as a fully integrated system utilizes the three components of koshi – the ability to move in a whip-like, helical form by rotating from the center, compression – drawing the body toward the center point and then exploding force outward, and using the arches of the body – integrated flows of energy and body architecture which connect the whole body in a resilient unified structure.

[robb buckland]

Though the content of this article is not new to me it's not so much we need to be taught as we need to be reminded......
I based my class on this last night ....lol....thanks again

[Art Rabesa]

Great points Van. The whole idea of blocking sometimes gets confused with "Defending". That is why I treat blocks just like any other strike. You are correct in your view of acting vs. reacting. Blocks in kata should be done just like the strikes in that kata. There is no need to block when you act rather than react. "It's better to hit than be hit". That has always been my philosophy. -----Art

[Van Canna]

Right on my friend.

[Van Canna]

Jeff Brooks

In karate it is this kind of deep, austere training that allows an understanding of the deeper levels of the art: of tuite (grappling), kyshojutsu (point strikes), atifa (power transmission) and dynamic tai sabaki (body shifting).

This high level of sophistication in the use of the body is very rare to find, and very valuable. And it’s fun. It also forms the heart of kata practice.

With all the insights, all the discoveries, all the connections, all the ways in which kata come to life, it is not a matter of "innovations." It is a matter of dissolving the obstructions to understanding in the transformative heat of practice.

[Art Rabesa]

Do not let yourself get confused with the type of block you should use. Blocking a high, middle, low attack. Blocks for kicks . Blocks for punches. HEY! there really is only a couple of blocking strikes that are needed. You'll get your head taken off trying to figure out what block to use. I can't really get into explaining how to handle attacks in general here on this forum. With proper hand and arm position, and a good understanding of seisan jamming leg blocks, you'll handle just about all attacks. Practice is , of course, needed here. I go over this on my web site somewhat. Now that I think of it, I should have spent more time on this situation. OK - I've got a video I'm doing shortly. I'll go over this. Tough to demonstrate these blocking strikes though. They really do a job on the incoming limbs. I'll have to figure out a way to show it without taking someone to the E.R. Get er done. -----Happy Trails-------Art

[Van Canna]

For me it is tactically hard to reconcile the concept of 'our style is a defensive karate style' being preached in dojo, and even the concept of every beginning move of a karate kata always starts with a 'block'… the nature of kata being defending against an attack by letting the attacker strike first, redirecting the attack and following it up with a counter attack of your own...and so on.


The critical question to address for anyone defending against an attack should always be "when did the fight actually start?"

When it gets to exchanging blows, an aggression continuum is the best answer in almost every possible situation. Passive or defensive mindset almost always gets one overrun. We see this in every dash cam video you see of cops being beat up, the single event that every one of them will have is the cop backing up, or defending, or trying to block while the aggressor runs over him and takes dominance.

We also see this in tournament fighting where the passive fighter usually loses the match.

The very worst thing you can do in a street fight is to give your opponent the freedom of getting off first and get you to react to his attacks instead of the other way around.

If an attack is imminent the law is on your side if you pre-empt it. The mindset of backing up, to defend … sets you in the idea of defending…and this leads you to getting overrun by an opponent with a mindset that is superior to yours in regard to winning a fight.

There is data from actual conflicts that gives credence to the idea that pressing the fight in combative situations is a good idea.

[Van Canna]

There is something to be said about the best defense being a good offense.

When we think of defending/blocking...always keep in mind that ... Action is always faster than reaction, especially when you won't be able to tell what will be thrown at you... don't end up behind the 8-ball in an encounter.

But be sure you can articulate the reasons for your pre-emptive striking.


_________________

[Stryke]

A good offense is a good defense would be a better statement .

blocking isnt understood becuase its used passively , have your shot then I get a turn because I block .....

I was watching George the other day some clip were he was talking about the effecitveness of uechi kata and how he said 90% of people only do there kata as a ritual .....

Rushing through and not really getting into it...

Same with blocking , its for the ritual and then we fight differently. If we fight at all

when you should be fighting from the kata.... But then we see what we train in the drills right ? block take a turn strike etc ..... fresh eyes sometimes..... You need to get Rory in to tell you about the golden move , the golden moves in the katas......

Block eh not so much position cover entry , being good and tough and just effective , it's not a crime , people tend to be so busy looking at fighting from some highbrow dojo ritual position they miss the basics. Get in there Son !!!

To be honest it's not often done as a fighting system , its a training system , but your training ritual , not fighting , the fight has for the most part been removed.

to quote George again

the further we go away from the original intent of the training and the less effective is our training the more and more safe it becomes , and in the process the less effective it becomes .....

now what was the original intent of the block , to buy time , negate an attack , or to enter on force and overhwelm ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtOQxVcbQ1Q

lots of better ways to train out there that make lots of sense.

[Van Canna]

How would you handle this blocking situation?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10b2ZTYmmWA

[Van Canna]

Or maybe this one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3gkC2SYZ4A

[Stryke]

Keep asking yourself how to use them as blocks and you'll get the same answer ....

you need new questions to get a different result .