Blocking and parrying in combat

[bushido_man96]

In this way, your training will be based on tactics that work from a flinch and include predominently gross motor skills, has opposed to assuming you will be perfectly aware of everything thats happening and be able to pull of a fairly specific block and counter with fine motor based techniques.

You make a good point. I want to point out, though, that the block I was describing is a gross motor movement, and not a complex, fine motor skill.

[cross]

I posted this link previously that features tony blauer providing a comparison between a fine and gross motor tactic. It can be found at:

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html#Combatives

The clip is called "Intro to the Flinch, Tony Blauer..."

Whilst traditional blocks may at first glance seem to be gross motor skill in nature because they dont require alot of skill or strength etc to perform. When you look at the full picture they require quiet alot of timing to make work because you can either be late or early with them, and they are side specific has described in the clip.

[cross]

Also check the one entitled "hicks law" to see a generic gross motor response off the flinch to a number of different attacks. This is the jamming and reflexive response i talk about.

[bushido_man96]

Whilst traditional blocks may at first glance seem to be gross motor skill in nature because they dont require alot of skill or strength etc to perform. When you look at the full picture they require quiet alot of timing to make work because you can either be late or early with them, and they are side specific has described in the clip.

The way I am describing it, it is a gross-motor movement. I don't know how else to describe it; essentially, I am moving my arm into the incoming attack, while having the fist clenched. No twisting, no two-handed motion. Gross-motor movement.

[cross]

No problems, i understand its difficult to describe physical movements via text, alot easier to see it.

[Kajukenbopr]

I agree, cross. However, even in scenario training, it won't be the same as it will be in reality. You can get close, though, and the closer, the better.

I completely agree. Thats what my post a while back called "The Reality Gap" was all about. And in my opinion its far more realistic to be aware that when you are completely surprised you will flinch, and when you are in a high stress situation you will lose access to fine motor skills and let your training reflect that, instead of trying to work against what is going to happen.

In this way, your training will be based on tactics that work from a flinch and include predominently gross motor skills, has opposed to assuming you will be perfectly aware of everything thats happening and be able to pull of a fairly specific block and counter with fine motor based techniques.

the movements of tai chi,bagua, hsing i, even with the complex body mechanics, and the internal implications, are done in relatively simple manner; the arms and legs are put in natural and comfortable positions. if you accustom your body to move one way, even when flinching, the reaction right after the flinch will be the move that the body is accustomed to performing before another more primal response

[bushido_man96]

I posted this link previously that features tony blauer providing a comparison between a fine and gross motor tactic. It can be found at:

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html#Combatives

The clip is called "Intro to the Flinch, Tony Blauer..."

Whilst traditional blocks may at first glance seem to be gross motor skill in nature because they dont require alot of skill or strength etc to perform. When you look at the full picture they require quiet alot of timing to make work because you can either be late or early with them, and they are side specific has described in the clip.

I watched the vid, and saw what he is talking about. There isn't much difference in his flinch cover in comparison to my blocking cover, other than the fact that the fist is closed. Keep in mind that I am not tossing out a "middle block" or a "rising block." I am just reacting to the attack, blocking with an arm, that happens to have a clenched fist, by moving my forearm into the line of the attack, much the same way that he describes it. Not much difference.

[bushido_man96]

The way that he covers with the flinch also looks very similar to the way that Iain Abernethy uses the crossed-arms covering in his Applied Bunkai.

[Menjo]

Karate blocks are about understanding your body, and when you think about that, if your not thinking about your own body at that very moment then why think youre aware of it in the first place... theres no point grasping at words and facts.

Karate blocks, strikes, or whatever technique are all designed for complete development of your fighting ability, not increasing potential, unfortunately, things that increase potential are weights or running or stuff that increases power, speed..ect are not practiced, without that balance of alot more potential aided with ability devlopment the balance of being able to use a block is out of the question. The idea isnt motor skills or specialized testing, its being more than average, being more than average excludes you from average statistics.

Its really a simple situation of "noone ever got great aiming for good".

If you know your body, make it work, if not, dont. The whole "do this" for this attack is a huge misconception and is rarely understood.

Thinking otherwise just limits your own confidence in yourself to what others can do, not what you can do better than them.

[bushido_man96]

That is an interesting post, Menjo. Although there is some I would disagree with, it is well stated.