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Different styles of martial arts will call the following blocks by a variety of names. For this article, you will be taught the names given in American Freestyle Karate. They will be the first three blocks a beginning white belt would learn.
The first and by far the easiest block is the middle or “scoop” block. It is used most often to block a punch.
To execute a middle block, drop the arm you are blocking with down and to the outside of its corresponding leg. By this it is meant that if you are using your right arm to block, drop it to the outside of your right leg.
Keep your elbow slightly bent and make a fist with your hand. The knuckles will be pointed towards the floor and the back of your hand will be facing forward. Now to actually make the block, imagine you have a large coffee cup in your hand. You are gripping it by the handle and there is also a barrel of water directly in front of your body. In a sweeping motion, use the imaginary cup to “scoop” a full cup of the water and the toss it back to the right of your body. Practice this movement several times and then try to end it perpendicular to the ground and just slightly to the outside of the right side of your body. The edge of the fist with your thumb and the radius bone in your arm will be the blocking areas and will be to the outside of the block.
It is important with this block to keep your arm relaxed until the last moment before ending the block. This allows a smoothness and speed giving you a better chance of actually blocking the punch. At the last moment, you will want to clench your fist and tighten the muscles and tendons of your forearm.
The next kick a beginning martial artist will be taught is the down block. This one is originally taught as a defense against a kick. Again using the right hand as giving the block, bend your elbow and bring your right fist up and touch your left shoulder. The movement will look similar to a Klingon warrior saluting a superior officer. Back of hand and arm facing forward, closed fingers touching the shoulder. In a sharp downward movement, sweep the arm and fist down and across your body and end just slightly to the outside of your right knee. This sweeping motion will push an attacker’s kicking leg away from your body as well as setting him up for a strike from you. At all times your right elbow should have a slight bend.
If it is straight or locked is asking to be hit with the foot or leg during the block and can actually cause the hyperextension or breaking of said elbow. As you practice and become more comfortable with the down block, try doing it with both arms by having them pass across each other. As the right hand is at the shoulder, the left hand should be in the down position. Moving both arms at the same time, have the right hand pass over the left on the outside and come to a halt in the down block position. The left hand during this time can be coming up on the inside in a middle block. After you have completed the blocks, pause, move the left hand to the right shoulder and start again.
The last block a beginner will be taught is called the upper block. This block is designed to stop a strike from above your head be it a knife attack, over head strike with a fist or an object like a two by four being used as a club.
This block is a little more complicated than the other two. Beginners are taught to have their left arm brought over to be in a straight line with the center of the body. Forearm and back of fist will be facing forward and the top of your knuckles should end somewhere in front of your chin. As this arm is steady, let your right arm drop down and across your body so your fist ends in front of your left thigh. Again the back of the fist and forearm is facing forward and there is a slight bend to the right elbow.
Sliding your right arm upwards across the left, bring it up to your brow level and then rotate your fist with a snap so the ulna is facing up horizontal to the ground. The ulna is the bone that runs in the forearm on the side of the arm your pinkie finger is on.
When executed properly, your bent elbow will be in a 90 degree angle from your shoulder. It will be above and slightly in front of your head. The blocking surface once again is the ulna. It should be level across the top from your elbow. Fist is tight with fingers facing outward and forearm is taunt.
As you get used to this upward snapping movement that passes over the other arm, start bringing the other fist down and level with the side of your belt. The elbow will be sticking out behind, your forearm and fist will rotate up so the fingers are facing towards the sky. From this, the fist at your waist can then deliver a strong, well placed punch after you have blocked your assailant’s attack. This block and retaliatory strike should be practiced repeatedly until you are comfortable with them and then practiced some more.
As with any martial art skill or technique, it will not be of any aid during an attack if you haven’t practiced it until it has become second nature to you. If you have to pause to think how to execute a block, the attack will be over long before you make your first move.
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