BLOCKING? WHY?

 By Phillip Starr

My teacher, Master W. C. Chen, would occasionally remind me, “If you have to use your arms to block attacks and keep them from hitting you, your technique needs work...” Internal systems such as baguazhang and especially xingyiquan, do not make use of powerful, direct blocking techniques. Instead, they make use of making contact with the opponent's arm (or leg) to “make a bridge”, which enables them to feel the enemy's intention and deliver a quick counter-attack. In many cases, even “bridge-building” simply doesn't occur; the opponent is struck immediately as you evade his attack so that all it hits is thin air. There's a saying that tell us, “A sword slicing through the air is harmless...until it meets resistance.” So we offer no resistance whatsoever...

My friend, Master Seiyu Oyata (10^th dan, Okinawan karate, dec.), once told me “There are no blocks in karate.” Initially, this confused me... until he demonstrated the true bunkai (breakdown) of various movements in the kata. Then I could cleary see exactly what he meant. In many cases, a “bridge was established. But in most cases, what was usually regarded as a “block” was actually a strike or joint-twisting technique.

The legendary “sword saint” of Japanese legend, Miyamoto Musashi, spoke along these lines in his famous book on strategy, The Book of Five Rings.

What we generally think of as “blocks” are actually attacks that are applied against the enemy's attacking limb(s) and they are delivered in a very sharp, focused manner. Moreover, they are always followed immediately with a sharp striking or thrusting technique. This will alter the (probably incorrect) manner in which you perform your form(s). There is almost no space between the “block” and the counter-strike (oftentimes, they are performed simultaneously).

A good way to learn how to adjust yourself to this rhythm is to use a metronome (or a classmate tapping two sticks together in a nice, even rhythm). The counter-strikes are to be executed BETWEEN the steady, even beats of the device.

Believe me, a well-focused “block” will quickly dampen an opponent's determination to hit you and will likely impede his ability to do so a second time...