Knife hand block.

[Martial Walrus]

The knife hand block is one of my favorite techniques. I've noticed how different styles teach it differently. In Shotokan, the guarding hand starts extended in front, then is drawn back to cover the body while the blocking hand comes forward. In Kyokushin and most Korean styles I've seen, the guarding hand starts behind and is brought forward to cover the body as the blocking hand comes forward. Also, the blocking hand moves in a straight line in some styles, while it moves in a sort of overhand arc in others. Can someone explain the significance of these differences and how they effect application?

[MasterPain]

I can't understand why these things are ever taught separate from their application. Looks more like an attack than a block to me.

[Martial Walrus]

I can't understand why these things are ever taught separate from their application. Looks more like an attack than a block to me.

It's both. In Taekwondo and Karate, most blocks are actually modified strikes. They can be used to either defend or to attack, depending on the distance.

I understand the application of the knife hand block for my own style. I'm asking for someone to explain how the differences between different ways of executing it effect application. Is it because it is meant to be used differently, or simply a matter of preference?

[davehale]

When I practiced Shotokan, my sensei would say to think of the knife hand block as "attacking the attack" while my Goju sensei would say "ensnaring the attack."

[bushido_man96]

In my current TKD style, the knife hand block tends to start with both arms crossed, the knife hand on the inside, for both blocking or striking, if I recall correctly. I like to consider the crossing of the arms as an initial "guarding" or "protecting" defensive position, similar to what Iain Abernethy demonstrates in his applications, prior to the striking hand either striking or doing some other application.

When I was in the ATA, we always did "blocks on bottom, strikes on top." That is, the arms crossed parallel to each other, instead of crossing like an X, and to make things consistent for students and instructors, blocking arms were crossed on the bottom, and striking arms were crossed on the top. Less application there, in my mind, and more of a technical aspect.

[Wastelander]

In Shuri-Ryu we brought both hands back to the ear and then executed the knife hand, but in Shorin-Ryu I actually haven't been given any solid direction beyond "depends what you are doing" so watching me run kata with knife hands in it is interesting . The way I look at it is this: the way you execute it depends on what you are doing with it, and since you can do a LOT of things with it you are going to see a LOT of variation in how to do it in the air.

[Martial Walrus]

When I practiced Shotokan, my sensei would say to think of the knife hand block as "attacking the attack" while my Goju sensei would say "ensnaring the attack."

Given what I know of those styles, I don't find that surprising. That would explain the more circular nature of Goju blocks. Strangely, I have always been taught to use the knife hand block more as an attack against my opponents attacking arm than as a way to ensnare it, yet I've also been told to make it a more circular movement.

In my current TKD style, the knife hand block tends to start with both arms crossed, the knife hand on the inside, for both blocking or striking, if I recall correctly. I like to consider the crossing of the arms as an initial "guarding" or "protecting" defensive position, similar to what Iain Abernethy demonstrates in his applications, prior to the striking hand either striking or doing some other application.

When I was in the ATA, we always did "blocks on bottom, strikes on top." That is, the arms crossed parallel to each other, instead of crossing like an X, and to make things consistent for students and instructors, blocking arms were crossed on the bottom, and striking arms were crossed on the top. Less application there, in my mind, and more of a technical aspect.

The way your current style does it is how mine also does a single-knife hand block/strike. What about the double knife hand (i.e., when the non-blocking hand is used to cover the solar-plyxus instead of being pulled back to a chambered position). Do you begin with that hand in front and bring it back, or with it behind and swing it forward with the blocking hand?

I find the "strikes on top, blocks on bottom" idea strange. I've always been taught to start from the opposite of were my hand is moving. If I am blocking upward, start below. If I am blocking downwards, start above. For middle blocks, whether it is above or below depends on the specific block and how it is being used.

In Shuri-Ryu we brought both hands back to the ear and then executed the knife hand, but in Shorin-Ryu I actually haven't been given any solid direction beyond "depends what you are doing" so watching me run kata with knife hands in it is interesting . The way I look at it is this: the way you execute it depends on what you are doing with it, and since you can do a LOT of things with it you are going to see a LOT of variation in how to do it in the air.

The way you were taught in Shuri-Ryu is similar to how I've been taught in Tae Kwon Do. I agree with your point about the many different ways of doing it. I also should have specified the type of knife hand block I meant (the inside to outside knife hand block with the rear hand guarding the body), since there are many different types that all have clearly different purposes. However, even the same type of block will be a little different based on the context. Still, I'm curious about how and why different styles do it differently.

[bushido_man96]

In my current TKD style, the knife hand block tends to start with both arms crossed, the knife hand on the inside, for both blocking or striking, if I recall correctly. I like to consider the crossing of the arms as an initial "guarding" or "protecting" defensive position, similar to what Iain Abernethy demonstrates in his applications, prior to the striking hand either striking or doing some other application.

When I was in the ATA, we always did "blocks on bottom, strikes on top." That is, the arms crossed parallel to each other, instead of crossing like an X, and to make things consistent for students and instructors, blocking arms were crossed on the bottom, and striking arms were crossed on the top. Less application there, in my mind, and more of a technical aspect.

The way your current style does it is how mine also does a single-knife hand block/strike. What about the double knife hand (i.e., when the non-blocking hand is used to cover the solar-plyxus instead of being pulled back to a chambered position). Do you begin with that hand in front and bring it back, or with it behind and swing it forward with the blocking hand?

Double blocks, like double knifehand block or double forearm block, start with both hands back, and both come forward.

I find the "strikes on top, blocks on bottom" idea strange. I've always been taught to start from the opposite of were my hand is moving. If I am blocking upward, start below. If I am blocking downwards, start above. For middle blocks, whether it is above or below depends on the specific block and how it is being used.

Sorry, I probably didn't explain this too well. Think about the example of crossing the arms. Same idea, but instead of crossing them, the arms still do the "hugging yourself" type of pre-movement, but instead of crossing, one is above the other. It does allow for a deeper stretch of the pre-movement. Sorry for the confusion. Hope that helps.

[Wastelander]

In Shuri-Ryu we brought both hands back to the ear and then executed the knife hand, but in Shorin-Ryu I actually haven't been given any solid direction beyond "depends what you are doing" so watching me run kata with knife hands in it is interesting . The way I look at it is this: the way you execute it depends on what you are doing with it, and since you can do a LOT of things with it you are going to see a LOT of variation in how to do it in the air.

The way you were taught in Shuri-Ryu is similar to how I've been taught in Tae Kwon Do. I agree with your point about the many different ways of doing it. I also should have specified the type of knife hand block I meant (the inside to outside knife hand block with the rear hand guarding the body), since there are many different types that all have clearly different purposes. However, even the same type of block will be a little different based on the context. Still, I'm curious about how and why different styles do it differently.

When both hands pull back to the ear and then shoot outward as we learned in Shuri-Ryu, I have to look at why I would ever have both hands on one side of my head--for me, it would be because I had stepped into a punch or kick and needed to cover that side of my head. After that, I always follow the rule that you never have a hand doing nothing, so the hand that guards the body should be grabbing something (usually the attack I covered my head for) and pulling it out of the way so I can use my knife hand to strike.

[sensei8]

The knife hand block is one of my favorite techniques. I've noticed how different styles teach it differently. In Shotokan, the guarding hand starts extended in front, then is drawn back to cover the body while the blocking hand comes forward. In Kyokushin and most Korean styles I've seen, the guarding hand starts behind and is brought forward to cover the body as the blocking hand comes forward. Also, the blocking hand moves in a straight line in some styles, while it moves in a sort of overhand arc in others. Can someone explain the significance of these differences and how they effect application?

Methodology...it's a wonderful thing.

Our knife hand waza's are quite compact; no big wind-ups or the like. Everything in Shindokan is kept compact as our Tuite requires it.

Shortest path between two points is a straight line.