the basic uke blocks - are they of any real use?

[cross]

Learning the basic blocks is only a beginning. Only when the basic blocks come smoothly, quickly and with force can you begin to really put them to work. Consider a simple head block - what happens when you follow that up by bringing your hand down into a backfist across the bridge of the nose. You need the force of the upper block to get the hand out of the way and the speed to bring it back down with force.

How about the down block, can you see it used as a stike? Next time you are standing next to someone bring your down block down to the side they are standing on and aim for the cojones.

Or maybe notice the resemblance between a side block and a back fist strike to the ribs of someone next to you.

Every move you learn has multiple applications. A move is not truly yours until you can begin to discover ways to use it on your own.

That all reads very well and makes alot of sense on paper. But when it comes to application and the reality of doing these techniques full out. They rarely work has trained and thats why you see people wildly waving their arms around trying to protect themselves.

[Shawn Miller]

SaiFightsMS you are on the correct path.

Lets think back to the days of the Samuri and when Matsumura was the head guard at Shuri castle. Do you think they would wast time doing these same blocks we still do today if they didnt work? First if they didnt work they would get killed or thier famly would ect. Sport didnt really exist it was life or death. These blocks we learn and do are all very very effective but maybe not in the way you have shown.

They are all strikes, Joint locks, arms bars and ect.

as SaifightsMS said a down block can be a groin strike ,and really so much more its a great arm bar,or finger lock to .

pm or email if your interested in more I have probably siad to much to the genral public now.

[Zanshin]

To me, the basic uke are of vital importance to the Karate-ka, as they teach correct timing, distance, co-ordination, focus and movement, the key requisites for Kumite.

On the subject of exactly what each technique is designed to do as part of the uke waza this is, by its nature, subjective.

[shogeri]

Traditional Uke blocks in Goju Ryu/Naha Te are actually strikes disguised as blocks. They are called striking blocks in many a dojo.

A block is not just a block, nor should it ever just end there. It must have a devasting purpose behind it. No wasted energy.

It is better to just strike though, and lightly parry as you move in for the strike zones, or as you create those zones.

I teach these things as beginner methods, and allow the student to evolve there own usage based upon their own body mechanics, etc.