Blocks,are they blocks to you?

[Kenpo man]

I agree... I was taught that every block is a strike, and every strike is a block.

... But there are many other possibilities that a simple block/strike will set you up to be able to perform.

It is kind of like footwork, where if you do not have the most basic building blocks there and are not performing them correctly to begin with, you will never be able to perform the "hidden" techniques that are available to you through the "Setup" when attempting to perform these types of techniques.

[GrrrArg]

Of course every block can be a strike or can be a block.

But thats too complicated. Its all movement. Movement can be used in any way you want it to be used in any given situation.

I dont actually like the word block. Uke translates as recieve.

Im now coming around more and more to the idea that "blocks" should be soft transitionairy moves.

Ill play devils advocate here for a second, so no flaming!

Simply blocking for the sake of blocking is a neutral movement. It neutralises the attack but thats all it does, it doesnt by definition leave you in an advantageous position.

*tries to find words that wont make him sound like Bruce Lee*

My method (damn, failed) would be to take the centre line, wedge into their attack without the use of bone jarring force. Then redirect their attack and make it into an attack of your own.

Practicle example:

Hook is thrown, step forward same leg as the attack, same side arm weges and absorbs the attack, slide hand up to the bicep area and twist their arm to break their balance, now step in with the other side and putting you weight behind it, deliver your prefered strike.

Devils advocate over.

[karate kid 1]

i agree with ninjanurse and parkerlinage every block is a strike and evey strike is a block

[yamesu]

Contact with an oppontent is just contact with an opponent. IMO. Block, Strike or Trap/Throw. Its all just contact.

The best way to avoid attacks is tai-sabaki. IMO.

Osu.

Edited July 28, 2005 by yamesu

[Menjo]

so pretty much you can say is a block is also an opportunity

[yamesu]

definantly,

if your going to make contact, why not make it count?

otherwise its simply better to get out of the way if its possible, IMHO, not making contact requires less energy for me, so I aim to only connect in combat with an opponent when I wish to fully engage in fighting, and feel Ill have the 'upper hand'

Osu.

[ovine king]

Did someone say "receive"?

Sounds like the secret wing chun ninja is doing his job well! "receive", "centre-line", wedge" and "re-direct" all in the same post!

sorry.

just kidding.

But you're right; it is all just movement. It's a block when you need it to be, a way to get hold of a limb, a lead to a throw, a covering postion to strike or whatever whenever you need it to be.

At MY risk of sounding like a Bruce Lee wannabe, it is this fixing of things like this IS a block, or this IS a strike is the fixation on dogmatic practice that should be avoided.

Taking the wing chun approach as an example.

The very first thing you learn is the basic punch. The basic punch is a block, a strike, a covering move, a lead to a arm lock (if you add a small circle), a means to take balance and that's just usig one arm. Change what's at the end of the movment (replace fist with a palm) and you have another set of things you can do, even though the same basic movment is the same

i.e you extend your arm.

Now add your other arm into the mix and you have just increased the things you can do that only involve extending your arm BUT it's all still from tht basic punch.

I don't think the question is "are blocks just blocks?".

I think the question is "what can these movements be?"

[makiwaraman]

I do shotokan and we are taught blocks are blocks, strikes, throws, and anti grab defence. But the practicality of it does come in to the equation such as when doing age uke we expose our wrist artiary, so that would be a strike the exchange before the block is the real block.

regards maki

[1st KYU]

Do you believe that blocks are actually blocks hitting arm to arm,leg,or object? Or, Do you have deeper applications for them?

I've heard instructors say that rising blocks block overhead swings and low blocks block kicks etc. Do you believe in thee applications?

believe? i dont understand, does it work? that is all you have to know....its not a fairytale.

throw a chudan uke into a jaw, throw a low block into the groin. there is nothing mystical about it.

[Tiger Burford]

A block is a strike ,a strike is a block, a block,strike is a grab and lock