Blocking techniques

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A block is a technique in martial arts such as karate or Taekwon-Do that prevents an attack from making contact with the body. A block usually consists of placing a limb across the line of the attack. All blocks contain a 'chamber' action, ie, they have two equal and opposite movements to increase speed and accuracy. An example of this is a simple low block, where when the arm moves down to block, the opposite arm moves back towards the body. This creates a more effective movement as opposed to using only one arm to perform the block.

In Japanese martial arts such as Shotokan Karate, these techniques are referred to as uke waza. Examples include age uke (rising block) and shuto uke (knifehand guarding block). In Korean martial arts such as Taekwon-Do, these techniques are referred to as makgi, with some examples being chookya makgi (rising block) and sonkal taebi makgi (knifehand guarding block). An effective block will require both good structure (correct alignment of the body) and good strength relative to your attacker; good timing is also essential in order to intercept the attack effectively.

Contents 1 Basic Blocks 1.1 Low Block 1.2 High Block 1.3 Middle Block 1.4 Knifehand Guarding Block 1.5 Inner Forearm Block 1.6 Outer Forearm Block 2 More Complex Blocks 2.1 Circular Block 2.2 Low X Block 2.3 High X Block 2.4 Twin Forearm Guarding Block 2.5 Hooking Block 2.6 Pole Block 3 Other Types of Blocks 4 Alternatives to Blocking 5 See Also 6 References

[edit] Basic Blocks

The following blocks are the simplest blocks, and are therefore usually the first to be taught to beginners of a martial art. Even though these are simple blocking techniques, they should not be underestimated, as they are very effective in combat situations when more complex blocks are useless or not effective.

[edit] Low Block

Low block should be aimed low to protect the lower body, particularly the groin, from an attack. The low block (right) is performed by:

1. Make a fist with both hands. Idealy, you should be in forward stance.
2. Bring your front arm up to the opposite shoulder so that the palm is facing towards your cheek. The opposite arm should be pointing straight out with the palm facing upwards.
3. Sweep the front arm down across the body, turning the wrist until the palm faces down. Simultaneously pull the opposite arm back, with the hand in a fist until it guards your side with the palm facing upwards.
4. Stop your arm slightly beyond the front knee. The arm should be at a 45° angle pointing inwards to deflect the attackers strike.

[edit] High Block

High block should be aimed high to protect the upper body, particularly the head, from an attack. The high block (right) is performed by:

1. Make a fist with both hands. Idealy, you should be in forward stance.
2. Bring your front arm up to the opposite shoulder so that the palm is facing towards your cheek. The opposite arm should be pointing straight out with the palm facing upwards.
3. Sweep the front arm up past the head, turning the wrist until the palm faces down. Simultaneously pull the opposite arm back, with the hand in a fist until it guards your side with the palm facing upwards.
4. Stop your arm slightly beyond the top of the head. The arm should be at a 45° angle pointing inwards to deflect the attackers strike.

[edit] Middle Block

Middle block should be aimed centrally to protect the torso, particularly the solar plexus, from an attack. The middle block (right) is performed by:

1. Make a fist with both hands. Idealy, you should be in forward stance.
2. Bring your front arm up to the opposite shoulder so that the palm is facing towards your cheek. The opposite arm should be pointing straight out with the palm facing upwards.
3. Sweep the front arm across the body, turning the wrist until the entire forearm and palm faces away from you. Simultaneously pull the opposite arm back, with the hand in a fist until it guards your side with the palm facing upwards.
4. Stop your arm slightly before the front knee. The arm should be bent forward slightly from the elbow.

[edit] Knifehand Guarding Block

[edit] Inner Forearm Block

[edit] Outer Forearm Block

[edit] More Complex Blocks

The following blocks are not significantly more difficult than the previous blocks, however they are designed for specific purposes and are usually only effective for these purposes.

[edit] Circular Block

[edit] Low X Block

Low X Block is designed to protect the lower body, particularly the groin, from ascending attacks.The Low X Block is performed by:

1. Form fists with both hands, situated at the waist, both facing up.
2. Simultaneously extend each fist towards its respective opposite knee, meanwhile rotating the wrists to face downward, until arms are straight.
3. The final block should be no wider than the width of one's hips, and situated approximately one foot from the body. Forearms and fists should form a slightly less than perpendicular 'X' situated directly in front of, or slightly below the groin.

[edit] High X Block

High X Block is designed to protect the upper body, particularly the head, from descending attacks. The High X Block is performed by:

1. Form fists with both hands, situated at the waist, both facing up.
2. Simultaneously extend each fist diagonally upward, crossing midway, right over left. Continue untils arms are fully extended.
3. The final block should be no wider than the width of one's shoulders approximately 30-45° above being parallel with the ground. Forearms and fists should form a slightly less than perpendicular 'X' situated in front of and above the face.

[edit] Twin Forearm Guarding Block

[edit] Hooking Block

[edit] Pole Block

[edit] Other Types of Blocks

Offensive techniques can also be used to block. For example, a kick or palm strike can be used to neutralize an incoming blow. It is also very common to use the knee to block leg attacks from an opponent. Since the knee and shin area is bony and rigid, it is an effective way of blocking turning kicks and front kicks, where the opponents toes will be most likely to recive the damage. A knee block, however, is quite ineffective when dealing with side kicks and any kick in which the heel of the foot is used; it is simply too hard to take a blow to the knee/shin area with an attack of this nature.

[edit] Alternatives to Blocking

Blocks are considered by some to be the most direct, and the least subtle of defensive techniques. Other ways of avoiding being hit include evasion, trapping, slipping and deflection of the oncoming attack and this approach is often referred to as the application of 'soft' techniques. See hard and soft (martial arts) for further details. Sometimes, it is more understandable to deflect an attack, as it may leave the opponent open for a counter-attack. Some martial arts, such as Tai Chi Chuan, reject blocking techniques completely as they consider them too inefficient.

[edit] See Also

Animated guides to some blocking techniques: UK Martial Artist Web Resource.

• Hard and soft (martial arts)

[edit] References

• Low block instructions. How to Perform a Low Block in Tae Kwon Do. Retrieved on 19 October 2006.
• High block instructions. How to Perform a High Block in Tae Kwon Do. Retrieved on 19 October 2006.
• Middle block instructions. How to Perform a Middle-Inner Block in Tae Kwon Do. Retrieved on 19 October 2006.