Combative Martial Arts: Aren't they all?

[Chikara]

That's exactly what Isshinryu teaches, make them think twice about attacking again. I haven't had a single bruise on my arms for a year, even though we still block really hard.

My other dojo teaches just the opposite, so I'm learning a new way to block and move out of the way of the oncoming energy. Sensei says it's a ploy to make them think you're weaker than you are. Block soft, hit hard.

[joesteph]

That's exactly what Isshinryu teaches . . .

My other dojo teaches just the opposite, so I'm learning a new way to block and move out of the way of the oncoming energy. . . . Block soft, hit hard.

When I was being tutored by a friend in Isshinryu, there was a friend of his/acquaintance to me, who joined us for the first month. We blocked differently from the Taekwondo blocks I'd been introduced to, using the outer forearm, and when we practiced blocks against punches, we used some pretty hard slams. It was force-against-force to a degree, but these blocks that were like forearm strikes were part of the reason the third guy quit. Looking back, I'd say we were conditioning our forearms without realizing it.

Your references to block, move, and the oncoming energy, Chikara, make me think of redirecting, of channeling your opponent's energy to his disadvantage, perhaps moving your center no more than a foot but causing his blow to dissipate, even throw him off balance.

Do you block with open hand in the new dojo? Do you redirect? Home in on a choice spot in a select way? An example of the latter would be that a roundhouse is coming in, and you've moved towards your opponent, blocking at his knee, not the apex of his kick. In this example, the block is not force-against-force, and you're in a good position to counter. My instructor moves in a flash against a punch, shifting her center to one side while firing off a knife hand block against the punch itself, setting up a diagonal shot to the face or ribs.

These are really two different ways of blocking, and sometimes, say in a tight space, the Isshinryu block (followed by a counter) is the better of the two, but in another situation, the soft block--followed by the hard hit--is the better choice.

[Chikara]

Yes, to everything. We are always conditioning our limbs in Isshinryu. Of course, nowadays, my current dojo is only interested in kata and weapon katas for tourneys. I hate tournaments, so I'm switching.

 

Thing about being in a close quarter fight is that those blocks really do work in close. We practice redirecting when they're trying to shove that blunt steel knife through our gut and it works.

 

Yesterday, Sensei had us 1 at a time deflect and redirect his knife attacks. He started slow and further away, and gradually got much faster and much closer. It was amazing to see how effective it really was. Because by the end of it, he was actually going for it. And he said not to block with the hand, but with the forearm (hand still open).