Are Blocks Simply Blocks?
Published: 2/1/2012
By Sensei Spencer
When I began training, I was taught the traditional low-block, high-block, and middle-block like generations of karateka before me. I spent a decade walking up and down the dojo floor executing these movements over and over again until the block, hip rotation, shoulder rotation, and weight transfer were in perfect synchronization. If stances are the foundation of karate, then blocks are the first glimpse into true life preservation skills. Learning to block, is like learning the ABCs when you’re being taught to read. The blocking portion of a karateka’s training is part of what many marital artists refer to as martial science and not part of martial arts. Martial science is the mechanics of how you do things, and martial arts is the creative way you implement what you’ve learned. We spend most of our lives training in the martial science area of karate, so we can seamlessly step into the martial arts realm. Tatsuo Shimabuku changed the traditional way of blocking as it was performed in Okinawan karate. Many saw it as a natural evolution of the art while others saw it as a betrayal of tradition. In truth nothing is ever totally what it appears to be, and that applies to traditional blocks too.
Tatsuo Shimabuku sensei changed the way I was first taught to block not only physically but conceptually as well. He in essence turned a century of traditional martial arts tradition on its ear, and in doing so alienated the Okinawan martial arts community and even family members. From my earliest training in Isshin-ryu I was taught that there is no difference between a block, which is considered a defensive reaction, and a strike which is considered an offensive action. My instructors believed that every block or strike should inflict pain on the opponent. Shimabuku sensei’s philosophy was more covert than overt in its creation. The intent becomes obvious when one breaks down the application of the blocks. His change created more of an attack-oriented movement than a defensive one. The intent is to make the aggressor pay for their mistake with every blow offensive or defensive. This philosophy muddies the water between what we call blocks and strikes and clouds the notion that karate is for defense only.
According to master Mitchum, Shimabuku sensei changed the way these techniques were executed after observing the way his students fought. I’ve often wondered if he knew how much controversy these changes would generate and at the same instance know that he was revolutionizing karate. Just how much these slight alterations changed karate can only be understood by an examination of the basic blocking techniques. In this article we will examine the basic blocking techniques that all beginners are taught as they start their journey down the path to better understanding traditional karate, and we will contrast this with Shimabuku sensei’s changes.
Let’s first look at the middle-outside-block (Chudan, Uchi-uke) and examine Shimabuku’s modifications. The first thing Shimabuku sensei did was change the way the middle block was delivered. His block was made with the padding of the forearm and not the sides of the forearm as is the case with the traditional karate middle block. The traditional block utilizes the Ulna or Radius bones to stop an attacker’s punch. With Shimabuku’s change, the impact of a blow is spread over the two bones and not to a single concentrated point on either forearm bone. Also, the musculature on the back of the forearm is heaviest in this area providing for greater protection of the two bones. This reduces the likelihood of fracturing either the Ulna or Radius. Striking with the side of the forearm in a bone-on-bone impact makes arm pounding drills a must for the karateka. To safely make full impact contact to stop or deflect an incoming blow the bones must be hardened because there is very little musculature in this area to protect the bones from fracture. Thus, arm pounding drills must be done to protect these bones when the block is delivered in the traditional fashion. Some Okinawan styles teach blocking with the padding of the forearm during the initial contact, but once the blow is deflected a quick rotation of the forearm is made there by creating a cutting effect utilizing the side or a single bone of the forearm. This motion, to the casual observer, would appear that the block was made with the side of the arm and not the top padded region. Walking up and down the dojo floor executing this technique without embellishment, and the student assumes the block is made with the side or unprotected area of the forearm.
Shimabuku sensei went further with his modifications to Isshin-ryu by completely eliminating the middle-inside-block (Chudan, Soto-uke). This block, if made with the underside padding of the forearm, exposes the karateka’s tendons and veins. In bladed weapon combat this is a main target. A cut to the underside tendons of the wrist can render the hand useless leaving the ability to defend oneself greatly reduced. Striking the hand or wrist with a blunt weapon is also effective. A broken or traumatize wrist makes striking with the fist or holding onto a weapon difficult and painful. Using the padding on the inside of the forearm to block, is ill advised because doing so exposes the tendons and veins of the wrist to trauma when trying to divert or stop a blow with this area of the forearm. Blocking in this manner, to protect the Ulna and Radius, can cause more problems than it solves. In the case of the middle inside block, utilizing the side of the forearm is the safer option. If you choose to use this block, keep the tendons of your wrist facing your body. The middle inside block must also incorporate shoulder rotation or the attacker’s blow will be redirected to the center of your body. Watching beginners perform this block, I rarely see the exaggerated shoulder rotation necessary for this block to work properly. It was possible that Shimabuku sensei removed this block due to the potential dangers to the inside of the forearm. In all my years of training I have not heard any reason for this block’s exclusion from the Isshin-ryu arsenal, but I am certain that is was not simply on a whim that it disappeared.
Shimabuku sensei made subtle changes to all the basic blocks. The high-block is no exception. It is also made with the padded area of the forearm as is the middle block. In the case of the high block, making the deflection with the padded area of the forearm again removes the exposure of the tendons and veins on the underside of the forearm. It also spreads the impact across both bones of the forearm. Delivering a high block in the same manner as it is traditionally performed exposes the underside of the wrist. Remember the hands and wrist are prime targets when being attacked by a weapon, so turning the most vulnerable part of the forearm outward is like handing a madman a knife and daring him/her to cut you. The underside of the forearm should always be protected. Shimabuku sensei’s changes protect the vulnerable areas of the arm.
Okinawan instructors were much shorter than their American students, so in this case the high block was a viable defensive technique. The American students emulated their instructors and brought this technique back to States. The high block became a staple of Americanized karate. I understand what the Okinawan instructors experienced with the taller Americans because I too have a black-belt student that is around six-feet-five inches tall, and on him the high-block is a viable technique. I can squat slightly drive my forearm upwards and go under his punch enabling me to attack his body. Still, we must remember that this technique was developed in antiquity by Okinawan instructors approximately the same size, so is it possible there more to this technique than being a simple block? The height difference of the Okinawan instructors and their students prove that this block can be used as a defensive tool.
I’ve had several instructors explain that the purpose of the high-block was to defend against a weapon being swung in an overhead arch, but in all my years of experience I’ve never known anyone that has been attacked in this manner. Some instructors teach this specific block as a defense against a knife or baseball-bat being swung in a downward arch to the top of the head. This simply does not make sense. In my opinion this would be an impractical use of this type of weapon. Knifes are thrusting and slashing weapons while blunt weapons like a baseball-bat are normally swung on a horizontal circular plain to generate greater power. Plus, I would not want to try and stop or deflect a full impact blow from a Louisville Slugger with my arm even if it were swung in a downward arch. Moving away from the weapon, is the karateka’s more practical defense. The only weapons normally swung in an overhead motion are the sword, bo, kama, and ax. Blocking any bladed weapon with a bare forearm is an ill-advised defense. The sword and kama are sharp close-range weapons, so the best defense is to keep your distance. Stay out of range, and you’re safe. Try getting too close, and you could get a new part in your hair. The bo is a blunt long-distance weapon, so the odds of being cut and bleeding to death are low, but the odds of getting a fractured skull are high. Defense against long distance weapons is different. The rule is to stay away from close range weapons and get inside long range weapons. If you decide to defend against the bo, you must get in close. Once you’ve gotten in close a high block can be utilized to stop an attack offensively rather than defensively. A forearm can be driven into the attacker’s head or neck to preempt any strike. This turns a defensive technique into an offensive weapon. Stopping or deflecting an aching blow from the bo is also ill advised. The question here is would your forearm survive the encounter without being broken? Once you’re close enough, you must get one hand on the bo. Having some control of the weapon, makes an overhead strike difficult if not impossible, and makes the application of a forearm blow a more suitable alternative to a punch. High blocks can be used in defense against attacks from certain weapons, but its’ application becomes more offensive than defensive.
We’ve examined the high-block in the weapons arena, but could the philosophy of making the high-block inflict pain apply to empty-hand self-defense as well? Step inside an attacker’s punch and drive a forearm under an attacker’s chin, and you’ve turned this block into a lethal counter to an empty hand assault. This block can also be driven under an attacker’s punch just above the elbow to hyperextend the joint. Trapping the attacker’s punch with one hand and pushing his/her arm upwards allows the forearm and elbow to driven into the aggressor’s armpit. This obviously is speculation about the application of the high block, but I too believe that every movement whether a block or strike should inflict pain, so the aggressor’s only logical decision will be to discontinue the conflagration. If I’ve thrown a blow, and it does not inflict pain then the effort was in vain. It becomes simply wasted energy.
Next, we must examine the low block. The common application taught to beginning students for a low block is that it is a defense against a low kick. Blocking a leg with an arm is not a good trade-off. Blocking a low kick with your forearm is like stopping a bus with a Volkswagen Beetle. Legs are longer and stronger. Stopping the kick with the forearm also forces you to lower your center of gravity and there is a natural tendency to lean forward. This places your head on a lower plane making it easier for the assailant to strike to the face. A lowered centerline also means that your footwork is also impaired, so you cannot move as quickly. The best defense against any type of strike is to not be where you can be hit. This is called body evasion. To low-block with the forearm you must lengthen your stance. A long forward stance, during a fight, is like swimming in concrete. One alternative to low blocking with the forearm is to gain distance by blocking with the fist. With the traditional block using the fist as point-of-contact, a strike would be made with the soft side or hammer-fist side of the hand. This would indeed deflect the attack making the block a truly defensive technique. Shimabuku sensei taught to drive the back of the knuckles into the top of the attacker’s thigh. The impact of this blow is compounded by the force of the kicking leg moving upward and with the downward force of the knuckles opposing the kick. Impact will be concentrated at the small pinpoints of the knuckles. This high velocity small area impact causes muscle trauma, and if repeated several times can cause the attacking fighter to lose mobility and potentially neutralize the opponent’s kicking ability.
After scrutinizing the low-block and noting that it is more like a strike than a block in the Isshin-ryu context, I believe, this is where my instructors developed what they interpreted to be Shimabuku’s philosophy of inflicting pain via blocking techniques or the philosophy of the interchangeability of blocks and strikes. No where have I read that Shimabuku sensei made any statement to that would corroborate this belief, but after utilizing the slight modification of these techniques in actual kumite (sparring) one can see why a few of my instructors made this assumption. Whether covert or overt, intentional or unintentional, Shimabuku sensei gave us via his modification of technique, a great deal to debate about on what most instructors view as simple blocking techniques.
On a personal note, I strongly believe that lower body kicks should be blocked with the legs, and upper body kicks with the elbows and forearms. Dropping one hand down to stop a kick leaves the upper-body open for attack, so it is better to block kicks with a knee, shin, heel thrust, or cross-over heel kick. Block legs with legs and arms with arms, but cause trauma with every blow regardless.
Driving the knuckles into any aggressor’s strike whether it is a kick, or a punch changes the dynamics of defense and attack. Everything becomes a piece of the attack. You begin to walk a razor’s edge until the lines between blocking and striking merge and there are no longer any blocks or strikes only a continuous flow of blows. A block by nature implies a stopping of an attack or some type of end to the endeavor, but a block or deflection should only be part of a contiguous attack. Beginners are taught ippon kumite (one-step fighting), so that they may learn to fight in a safe and controlled environment. It teaches the karateka to block an aggressor’s attack followed by some type of striking technique. This two-step approach of block and strike is necessary for safety, but if the student develops a block stop mentality their reaction will be slowed in a real confrontation. A fight should be one continuous effort to inflict pain on the adversary until they’re incapacitated, cease their attack, or beg for mercy. Every move should cause the attacker pain, or the move is a useless expense of energy. Remember a karateka never starts a fight, but it is their obligation to end it effectively.
We cannot end our examination of basic blocking technique without making pressure point manipulation part of the discussion. An argument for maintaining the traditional delivery of the middle, high, and low blocks is its’ use in the application of pressure point manipulation. Properly delivered blocks that utilize the cutting edge of the forearm cry out for their use in pressure point manipulation. Scraping the bones of the forearm down the attacker’s limbs can actuate these pressure centers and pain points. The argument boils down to what effect if any Shimabuku’s changes have on pressure point application. George Dillman was the first to truly study pressure point manipulation and make it a mainstay of his karate. He clearly points out in kata how the delivery of basic blocking sequence activates a preset series of pressure points. Striking with the knuckle and not the forearm does not stop the activation of these points. If anything, it makes the activation more like a surgeon’s knife and less like a shotgun, but in my opinion, if I’m in a fight, I’ll take a shotgun over a scalpel any day. Even if the delivery of the forearm blocking technique is in question, the line between a block and a strike continues to be blurred and does not change with the execution of pressure points. Shimabuku sensei was well aware of the use of pressure points when he made his changes to the traditional blocks. Shimabuku sensei studied the Bubishi when he developed Isshin-ryu karate according to the introduction inside of Patrick McCarthy’s translation this ancient text, so Tatsuo had an understanding of pressure point manipulation. It is unclear if this knowledge was transmitted to his American students or not, or if he simply did not place a high value on the knowledge. He too may have died before passing this knowledge onto his senior students. Still, any sensei worth his/her salt has studied Chinese medicine and pressure point manipulation because it is real part of the traditional martial arts. Activating pressure points and pain centers is still simply a part of stringing together a series of attacks leading to the incapacitation of an assailant. Pressure point manipulation may only be a more charitable means of rendering your attacker unconscious, but the results are the same. Every technique has a purpose or is a waste of energy.
There are problems with pressure point manipulation. In many cases more than one point must be stimulated to cause an attacker to be stunned or knocked-out. Another problem is not all body types are susceptible to the same series of manipulations. It becomes trial and error until the proper combination is unlocked. This could be a problem when a wild-eyed maniac is trying to take your head off. Another problem occurs when a person is on drugs. They can have little or no response to pressure point manipulation. Pain is the great equalizer, and Shimabuku’s: blocks, strikes or what ever you want to call them deliver pain, and in life preservation situations I opt to administer pain. Traditional striking may not be as sexy as pressure point manipulation, but it works in most all situations and need very little experimentation.
The changes Shimabuku sensei made to the position of the forearm during a block rocked the martial arts community, but it was the philosophy that came out of this change on the nature of blocking that really grabbed my attention. My early instructors told me that a block was a stop of an aggressor’s attack, but my later instructors noted that a block should inflict pain. Inflicting pain seemed to be contrary to my understanding of the whole non-violent message of karate. Many years later, after much thought, I realized there is a difference between not fighting and being forced to fight. Not fighting means being able to escape a conflict without resorting to violence but being forced into a confrontation means taking your opponent out as quickly and as efficiently as possible to minimize both parties’ injuries. Pain is a great educator. When child touches a hot stove, they rarely repeat their mistake. This is true of a would-be mugger. If you inflict enough pain, the attacker will rethink his/her actions, and run away to find another victim.