Have you heard of the different levels of blocking in Martial Arts?

Question

Lol @ bluto. Yeah, I get what you mean! great thing about typing eh? Well, that's kinda what I am looking for but still missing it. I know that it might be a little difficult to answer as the question is somewhat vague and open to interpretation. I left it that way for a reason, and will display what I am talking about at the end if it's not answered before then.

Thanks to all who've answered truthfully, and politely so far.

Answer 1

Say to prevent a kick or a punch. To cut, to chop, to punch or to return with a kick. Which one you choose?

In a spilt of second, I don`t think that you have so many rules. One is what your master taught you the best to deal with it, the other is how would you manage it the best.

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

To me it does not mean the heighth of the block, rather how the block is performed. In most okinawin styles, there is what is called a stack befor ethe block. There are examples of a stack in this video, most notibly the first one where he brings the arm across the body before blocking up. This is not the best video, but it was what I could find on short notice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4AqvzNpl...

This is where the blocking hand comes back toward the karate ka or across the body, and then goes out to do the block. Same thing with a cross block. In the begining we are taught that the 'stack" is to generate power for the block. the actual block itself is used for a block. the next level has the stack being used as a parry, letting power continue while deflecting it away, which turns the block into a strike to your attacker. The next level uses the stack as a s strike to the attacking limb, be it arm or leg. The level after that uses tenshin(body shifting) to avoid the attack, and the stack now becomes a strike to the attackers body, rather then a limb.

Don't know if I explained it well enough. if not let me know and I will see if I can describe it better.

Answer 4

never heard of it .sorry cant help

Answer 5

d**n!!!!!

Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. I had half of an answer done this afternoon and I was called to a meeting and accidentally clicked-out the browser and lost it all.

As I understand it, if I am understanding correctly:

This "levels of blocking" is something that is part of the some Southern styles, particularly the Fukien and Hakka arts. It was also practiced by the older Okinawan Ryuha.

Actually, there really is no "blocking" in the above mentioned arts. The concept they understand is "receive" ( "uke" ). It is likened to Hung Gar Bridge Hands. You cast out your defense, extending towards the target that your instinct automatically takes you to - provided you were trained correctly.

When attacked, your instinct makes you connect with the attacking limb. That connection, or "bridge" is your first "uke" - "reception". As your instinct feels the antagonists pressure, it takes you deeper into the mix - your second "receiving". The more pressure, the more the opportunity to make contact and break the attack. ( <--- for all you who know Gekisai kata, this is what it means)

Hakka arts teach you about your "3 hands". It is the same concept.

Again, I am going by the fact that these arts have no blocking techniques. Many will dispute this but it is a fact. Just the term used itself is proof. The word "block" does not exist in Chinese or Okinawan MA.

As you progress forward into an attack, you become the attacker by the mere action.

Incidentally, for all you kata haters - Kata teaches you this! Ta-Dah!!!

Answer 6

there are different "types" of deflections ranging from slipping, ducking, etc. to parries, deflections to actually absorbing and "taking" the hit on a different part of the body.

different methods work with varying degrees but these are the types I know of, learned or have heard about or seen others do or demonstrate or heard people talk about work in theory.

1- not bieng there- ie: slipping a punch, dodge, etc. Ideally this is the best you can do as you are ideally putting yourself in a position to counter right away, provided the strike wasn't a set up in the first place.

2- deflections: ie: wedging, re-direction parrying a punch, you are pushing, hitting etc. your opponent's offending limb/strike away in a different direction that is not against thier strike. often combined with "absorbing" with is kind of like a "soft-block".

3- absorbing: ie: absorbing the force of a blow but not blocking "force on force" kind of like a coiling spring, would be "rolling" with a hit after contact or "catching" and sort of reducing the impact of a strike.

4- outright blocking, covering up, meeting an incoming strike and stopping it suddenly with an impact or by having it strike a different "less vulnerable" part of your body. (put up your guard and get hit in the forearms instead of your face).

just some "types" and ways to break them down I guess- technically you probably could break it down even further and we can sit here till the cows come home overanalyzing, but here are some basic ideas I've come across certain times they work in certain applications, certain times they don't in others, sometimes certain ones work better than others but multiple work, etc.

its funny that it took me so many words to describe what if you were standing in front of me I could demonstrate in under 60 seconds.

Answer 7

unfortunately no. I have studied martial arts around 11 years now, and currently do mma. I think there are still aspects of traditional martial arts that can be utilized and blocking is one of them.  

Answer 8

I'll take a stab, although I have never heard it put that way....

As a beginner, one learns basic blocking techniques.  More on rudamentary level.  

-standard kick blocks

-standard punch blocks (inner and outer)

As an advanced student, one learns more refined blocking techniques that incorporate circular movements, blocking while moving, blocking to grab techniques, etc...

There are also other types of blocks that may be considered a "level" which are weapons blocking, two handed blocks, etc..

Is this close to what you are referring to?

Answer 9

No.