AOKK Basic Blocks (Isshin-ryu)(Video) – AOKK Karate/Jujitsu/Weapons

AOKK Blocks (Isshin-ryu Karate)

AOKK Basic Blocks [Uke-waza]:

Every block should be an offensive strike or an entrance for an offensive strike. It should inflict pain on your attacker. If you’re using a power block to protect yourself, you’re wasting opportunities and energy.

The only legitimate defensive block is the Parry-Block. A Parry-Block redirects the blow with minimal effort and force, and still this block should be followed by a strong offensive attack. The Parry-Block is part of conservation of energy. Do not waste time and strength when it is not absolutely necessary. The Parry-Block uses the attacker’s energy to move the strike out of range. A Parry-Block can be followed by a power block, like a middle block, to re-enforce the offensive opening.

All blocks should be an integral part of the counterattack. Karate is for defense only, but when attacked you must strike back. Allowing the attacker to make the first move, only sets-up the counterattack. A rising block under the attacker’s armpit inflicts pain and shuts down an overhead strike. This also opens the attacker’s ribs for a vertical punch.

The high block is easily be transformed into a forearm strike. For example, if the attacker punches to your solar plexus, you simply step forward and outside on 45˚ angle push the punch downward with the lead hand pressing block or parry block and go over the attacker’s arm driving the back of your forearm into their face. Blocks can become strikes and strikes can become blocks. Sometimes the best defense is offense. The old karate adage is that if you’re surrounded by ten thousand warriors…. attack. Sometimes this attack will create an opening for escape. The transformation of a block into a strike can surprise an attacker. Surprise can be a martial artist’s friend.

When practicing any strike or block, emotion must be removed from the equation, Anger or fear impedes your movement. These two emotions must be controlled in fighting. The mind cannot focus on two tings at once. If you’re angry or afraid, you’ve placed the brakes on your defense. Anger slows you down. When executing any block or strike, the body must be relaxed until the moment of contact. Hip rotation and every movement must be timed to stop at the same time for maximum transfer of power. This is true of the mind as well. Your mind must remain in a relaxed state to minimize resistance to performing any strike or block. As the old adage goes, “Be like water” or flow and adapt to any situation.

Side Step:

The first block is avoidance. If you’re not there, you cannot get hit. If an attack comes straight forward, a sidestep to the striking side minimizes the blow, and makes a counterattack difficult due to body positioning. This was one of Kyan’s philosophies on angular fighting. He was a small man and unlike Motobu could not go toe-to-toe with his attackers.

Arm Pounding, or conditioning [Kotikitae]:

If a style’s belief is in power blocking techniques, they will practice arm pounding to desensitize their arms, so they can withstand a blow’s impact. Some systems believe in fighting smarter and not harder. This many times depends upon the karateka’s personality. Smaller quicker students will embrace movement while larger karateka, like Motobu Sensei, embody this power contact type of training. Bone-on-bone blocks are popular with many systems, but this type of block or strike comes with a price.

Many systems teach blocks that utilize the Ulna or Radius bones in the forearm. It is my belief that this is simply a lack of understanding of the administration of the technique. Bone-on-bone techniques invite fractures. The real nature of the block should always be made with the padding of the forearm. To increase the karateka’s ability to inflict pain, the forearm, after initial contact is made to deflect or dampen the blow, rotates using the Ulna/Radius bone to cut or inflict pain. This may look like one is striking with the side of the arm, but in reality, the blow is deflected by the muscle and the Ulna/Radius is rotated into this secondary cutting position.

Some Isshinryu schools teach arm pounding or conditioning, but the system also incorporates movement and speed to facilitate blocking. The blocking portion of the arm, in Isshin Ryu, is the padded muscular area as discussed earlier. If there is such an animal as a true block, using the padded portion of the arm only would be the viable argument for a true block’s existence. Go-No-Sen (delayed reaction) utilizes a block punch action, so it would be necessary to have true blocks, but the martial artist operates in the Sen-No-Sen (simultaneous strike) and Sen Sen-No-Sen (first strike) realm. Sen-No-Sen utilizes the conservation of motion. In other words, the block and the strike can be made in one motion with the same hand or foot. Remember, all power blocks are strikes, and the only real defensive moves or blocks are redirection techniques.

Isshin ryu has eliminated the inside Middle-Inside-Block (Soto-uke) from its arsenal. As stated earlier, in most traditional karate schools this block is taught using a single bone in the forearm to take the entire trauma generated by this block. In the case of the Inside middle block, it would be the Ulna, and in the case of the Outside middle Block it would be the radius bone. By blocking with the back or muscular part of the forearm, both bones in the forearm disperse the impact. When Shimabuku Tatsuo removed the Middle-Inside-Block, he also removed potential damage to the underside of the wrist where the majority of the veins and tendons that tie muscle to bone are located. A Kenjutsu practitioner trains to avoid exposing the under side of the wrist. If this area is cut, you can lose the use of the hand and also bleed to death, yet the way tradition soto-uke blocks are taught the underside of the wrist is vulnerable to being cut in an encounter with an opponent wielding a bladed weapon. Even striking the tendons at the wrist can cause pain. The irony here is that a traditional karateka could spend decades building calcium deposits on the ulna bone only to have an attacker cut or strike the underside of the forearm as it becomes exposed. Tatsuo Shimabuku removed this technique and focused on the Outside Middle Block (Uchi-uke) to increase the Isshinryu middle block’s viability, yet he did not remove arm pounding from his training. His deviation from tradition was a life protection decision, and he was chastised for his efforts by the traditional karate community. In my opinion Shimabuku was a martial arts genius, and his many innovations do not get the credit they deserve.

In the AOKK or (FSBC), we do not perform arm pounding drills. We teach Tiger Boxing, and the repetition of the Tiger Boxing drills naturally pounds the student’s forearms, and it teaches realistic blocking at the same time. The student receives forearm conditioning and does not realize it.

Isshinryu Parry Block Side Step:

Many systems believe that power is a necessary component to a block, but the parry block uses the speed of the attack to redirect power away from the body. The parry block is made with the palm of the hand and only utilizes a tap to redirect the energy of the attack. The faster an attack comes the farther the tap will deflect the strike. This block can be made to the side, downward and out, or upward. The direction the block is made determines the open areas that can be attacked.

Opening and Closing an Attacker with the Initial Block:

If you execute Middle-Outside-Block (uchi-uke), using the arm on the same side as the attacker’s punch, the block deflects the punch outward and opens up the opponent’s centerline to attack. This called Opening the Attacker. Opening an opponent also means that his/her free hand can strike you too because your centerline is also exposed. Blocking the arm utilizing the same block, but on the opposite side of the attacker’s punching arm “Closes” his/her centerline. This exposes the ribs, kidneys, cervical plexus, and spine. The best part is by closing the attacker’s body their upper-body shields you from their free arm making a count strike difficult.

Practice opening and closing the attacker. In a real confrontation, you may not have time to open or close the attacker due to the speed and ferocity of the attack. If an attacker swings a wild haymaker or circular punch you may only be able to initiate Middle-Outside-Block opening him/her up. Be able to recognize when the attacker is “Open or “Closed,” so your mind instinctively knows where to land your counter strike.

If you execute Middle-Inside-Block (soto-uke) on the same side as the punching arm, you will close the attacker. Opening and closing the attacker’s centerline depends upon your choice of block as well as the attacker’s choice of weapon. To increase the effectiveness of Middle-Inside-Block, on the same side, step on an angle to the outside and forward. Middle-Inside-Block the punch with the muscle of the forearm and rotate the Ulna to generate pain. The rotation of the wrist also increases the torque generate in the technique. This block must use hip rotation, shoulder rotation, and weight transfer to be most effective. Hips first, shoulders second followed by the forearm. If the rotation is not in sync power is diminished.

Isshin-ryu High Forearm Block [Jodan-uke]:

The high forearm block starts at the waist moves upward with the top of the forearm forward and stops above the forehead on an angle. Beginners are taught it is to defend against an overhead strike mainly from a weapon. The forearm is on an angle, so the blow will be deflected away from the body. The musculature of the forearm is what takes the majority of the impact. Later you will see a traditional high block that is similar but utilizes a bone-on-bone method differing from the muscle-on-bone principle used in the high forearm block of Isshinryu. Some systems block with the muscle of the forearm and rotate the forearm after contact using the bone in the forearm to cut into the opponent’s arm. This block can be used to deflect any attack thrown between the waist and the head.

This like any high block is a good defense if the attacker is larger than you. To deploy this block your centerline must be lowered. As your centerline drops the block goes up. Once the attacking arm is pushed up over your head the ribs, kidneys, armpit, or solar plexus is exposed. Americans dismiss this technique because they seldom fight men larger than themselves, but in Okinawa all instructors were shorter than their American students, so this became a very viable technique.

This block is also a great striking technique. Driving the forearm to an opponent’s throat or point of the chin can impede his/her attack. Driving this block under an attacker’s armpit can break their balance. Again, to do this, you must drop your centerline and raise the block simultaneously. Once the block is in place, you must use your legs to drive the technique upward and forward to break the opponent’s balance. The most important part of any block is to move the attacker’s target first.

There are misconceptions about the Isshinryu block. As stated, before beginners are taught that this technique is to stop an overhead strike, but most attackers don’t strike overhead and downward. They’re also taught it is a defense against a weapon. If this strike were used to stop a blow from a blunt weapon, it could break your arm if used in the traditional sense. Now we must ask the question of when to use this block? The traditional version of this block also exposes the underside of the arm and wrist where all the tendons and veins are located. If these are cut, the hand will not function at best and at worst you can bleed to death. A study of Kenjutsu or knife fighting makes the martial artist realize that the underside of the wrist is a primary target of someone wielding a bladed weapon. Shimabukuro by changing this technique removed the exposure, to this vulnerable area, during the execution of the block. Striking with the muscle, of the forearm, has other advantages too. When the traditional block is made, the majority of impact is with a single bone [Ulna] in the forearm but changing this block like Shimabukuro did allows impact to be spread across both forearm bones [Ulna & Radius], and the padding cushions the blow and reduces the potential to break the arm.

Remember blocks are not always simply a block. This block can be used to remove a double lapel grab by pushing upward against the attacker’s arms with your forearm. As the attacker’s hands are pushed upward his/her body opens to attack. In the Isshinryu upper body technique nine, this movement is best demonstrated. In this upper-body technique a high block vertical punch combination is practiced over and over until it becomes reflex.

This block can also be used to interrupt a strike. If an attacker is trying to strike you with a club overhead, you can use this technique to strike under the attacker’s arm. As the weapon is raised above the attacker’s head, step forward and drive the forearm under attacker’s bicep or armpit before the weapon can be brought downward. Remember to step out sideways and forward to remove your centerline from attack. This is a preemptive strike with the forearm and timing is important. As this block is made the chambered hand grasps the attacker’s Obi (belt). A combination of pulling the obi forward with the chambered hand and pushing backwards with the high block breaks the attacker’s balance. If you can hook the attacker’s rear leg, you can drive him and the weapon to the ground where you’re less likely to be injured when dealing with a clubbing weapon. Striking high under the bicep makes extension of the weapon difficult without the attacker hyper extending his/her elbow.

The timing of this technique to stop an overhead blow must be practiced by the karateka in a one step bunkai format until the karateka understands the timing and can read the attacker’s body language. During training, Uki must deliver the blow from a ready stance, so Tori develops the ability to read Uki’s body mechanics to know when the blow is going to be delivered.

No one in my thirty years of martial arts has ever tried to strike me using a downward motion, but if this block were to be used as a true defensive block, the karateka must first move to the side and forward on a 45˚ angle to avoid a head-on attack. If a weapon is ached downward, the forearm can be used to deflect the attack. Your forearm is more likely to survive a glancing blow from a weapon without fracturing than a direct strike. After writing this, I’m sure to be attacked in this manner.

In my opinion the real value of the block is as a strike with the forearm. As uki punches step sideways and forward. Step outside the shoulder of the attacker’s punching arm, so his/her back and side are unprotected. Begin turning your hips towards the adversary as you parry the punch with the rear hand. Grasp the attacker’s wrist, with your parrying hand, and pull his/her hand into your rear hand chambered position. Drive the forearm into the attacker’s head or throat. This technique is executed so that the strike and hip rotation are simultaneous to generate maximum power. Transfer your weight from the rear leg to the front leg to increase the power generated by the technique. Once the strike has landed move behind the attacker and attack the kidneys and spine with a side or back kick and run away.

Do not show this to children. Teach this application to trusted adults only because it reflects the real nature of life preservation technique. When karate was taught in Okinawa in the grade schools, this technique was referred to as a high block, but as they grew older and became trusted by their teachers, the real nature of the technique would be taught. Children need to see it as a simple block that is practiced over and over until it is executed without thought.

Isshin-ryu Low Forearm Block [Gedan-uke]:

This block traditionally was used to stop kicks, but the uniqueness of this block is that it attacks the kicking leg. The knuckles strike the Tibial and Sciatic nerves in the thigh. At minimal it leaves a deep thigh bruise. In the more traditional low block the side of the fist or forearm is used to attack the kicking leg.

Kicks below the waist should be blocked with a knee block. The palm heal pressing block is a quicker low block for kicks above the waist. To thwart a kick use a crossover heel kick to the attacker’s hip as he/she begins to kick to break their rhythm and shutdown the kick

Isshin-ryu Outside Middle Forearm Block [Uchi-uke]:

The middle forearm block starts at the hip as if you were drawing a sword and arcs across the upper torso. The fist is even with the top of the shoulder and the elbow is a fist and a thumbs distance from the ribs when it stops. This block is not unique to Isshinryu schools, but again the nuances of delivery are very different. The Isshinryu characteristic of this block is that the trauma is taken on the musculature of the arm instead of the bone. This block is a force-on-force block and gives the user a padding of muscle to protect the bone and nerves in the forearm.

This block stops just outside the shoulder because it is only necessary to push the attacker’s punch past the side of the body, and to move it further uses energy and takes longer to react if another technique is employed by the same blocking arm. The elbow is tight to protect the ribs. Economy of motion must be employed in all blocking and striking techniques. All middle outside blocks push the attack outside the centerline of the body.

Later we will show the inside middle block and outside middle block used in the majority of Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean’s systems. Those blocks use the bone-on-bone method for blocking purposes, and correct delivery can stimulate pressure points. The traditional block in many systems is made with the muscle of the forearm and rotates after contact is made allowing the bones of the forearm to cut into the opponent’s attacking limb. Pressure points are hard to hit during a fight and in many cases need to be rubbed before they’re fully effective, so the muscle on bone alternative remains a solid part of self-defense. This block can be used to deflect any attack between the waist and head utilizing the block’s circular motion.

Because of the bone-on-bone trauma of these blocks many schools go through hours of arm pounding drills. These drills can and do strengthen the ulna and radius bones by creating calcium deposits on the bones. This is a great drill for young men but can cause injury in older practitioners as mentioned previously. Some would say that bone-on-bone contact is improper application of the block, and that the forearm rotation to the novice would look like bone-on-bone contact, so as the old masters died the bone-on-bone blocks became the norm.

This block can also be used to remove a grab. If the attacker has grabbed the lapel you can remove his/her hand with this circular block by striking the attacker’s forearm with yours. Once the grip is broken you should immediately follow with an attack of your own. This is demonstrated in Isshinryu upper body number six.

This block can also be used to remove a cross body wrist grab. The circular motion will attack grasping hand’s thumb, which is the weakest part of the attacker’s grasp. Once the grasp is broken you should counter with an attack of your own.

Still another use for this block is an elbow lock. If an attacker grabs your wrist, pull your wrist to the chambered position on your hip and roll your hand over to trap his/hers. You should do this while pulling backwards into a back stance to break the attacker’s balance. The attacker’s arm must be pulled so the elbow is exposed. Drive your forearm just above the attacker’s elbow and push down with your other hand. If the attacker bends his/her arm pointing the elbow upward, push the arm backwards and twist him/her into a bird wing lock behind their back, or of they bend the arm with the elbow down execute a figure-four elbow-lock and spin 180˚ throwing the attacker to the ground.

The best use of this technique and is the bunkai found in most kata is as an elbow dislocation. If the attacker throws a round punch, or what is commonly referred to in America as a Haymaker, block the punch with a lead hand shuto strike and grab the attacker’s wrist. Pull the trapped arm to you obi and rotate the elbow until it points to the side. Execute the middle outside block just like you’ve practiced. Strike with the forearm behind the elbow joint above towards the bicep muscle. Push the hand that has trapped the punch in the opposite direction of the circular forearm’s motion to maximize the affect.

Isshinryu Open Hand Scissor Block, or Seisan Block:

The Scissor Block can be used to redirect or block kicks above the waist. As the attacker kicks both hands move to cover your vulnerable centerline one high and one low. Parry the kick sideways with the lower shuto. The lower shuto block then grasps the attacker’s kicking leg. A natural response to having the kicking leg trapped is to lean forward and grab you in an effort for them to keep their balance. Your upper shuto block removes the attacker’s grasp as the kick is pulled past your body. At this point the attacker is balanced on one pin. You can take him/her backwards or pull them forwards.

Open hand techniques allow for trapping and grabbing after the block is delivered. If the attacker’s leg is trapped, never hold onto the leg long enough to allow him/her to regain balance or strike you. After removing the attacker’s grasp with the middle ridge hand strike, follow this technique with a sweep or sidekick of the attacker’s supporting leg.

In practice on the mat, Tori controls Uki’s fall after sweeping his/her supporting leg. In a real self-defense situation, the karateka would pull the attacker’s leg upward with the hand behind the buttocks, and push their chest backwards with the upper hand, breaking the attacker’s balance, so they strike their head on the initial impact with the ground. Impact with the ground can knock-out the attacker and potentially kill them when their head hits the floor. If you follow the attacker to the ground, drop your body weight on top of him/her to increase the impact. Remember, before taking an attacker to the ground, the karateka must be skilled in ground fighting.

This technique has many uses. It also can be used to clear a double lapel grab. One hand strikes downward on one of the attacker’s wrists while the other strikes upward simultaneously. This scissor like motion is also the introduction to many standing jujitsu arm-locks and is part of our non-Isshinryu Fish Tail Escape Series.

Isshin-ryu Open Hand Scissor Block, or Seisan Block:

Isshin-ryu Closed Hand Crossing Block, or Sunsu Block:

This block is found in many different kata. In Shotokan it is in Bassai while in Isshin-ryu it is found in Sunsu. This scissor motion is made with fists closed and looks like a middle block and low block executed simultaneously in both directions.

It can simply be a middle block and punch to the bladder or solar plexus when done once. If it is done twice, or right and left, it is to remove a lapel grab or choke by a physically strong attacker. The middle block strikes between the attacker’s arms while the low block strikes downward on the other wrist. The first scissor strike gets the attacker thinking in one direction and when the motion is quickly reversed can catch him/her thinking and facilitate the removal of the attacker’s hands. This technique should be followed by a strike and escape.

Isshinryu High Shuto Block [Jodan Shuto-uke]:

The high shuto block starts at the waist and travels upward with the back of the forearm forward at the very end of the technique the forearm twists to create a cutting action with the bone as contact is made. It finally stops above the forehead on an angle. Again, beginners are taught it is to defend against an overhead strike mainly from a weapon. This block utilizes a bone-on-bone method differing from the muscle-on-bone principle used in the high forearm block. The idea of using a shuto is that it enables you to grab the weapon or the attacker’s arm. Remember to control that weapon if you’re attacked by a weapon. Again, this block can be used to deflect any attack between the waits and the obi.

All the nuances of the high block are in place with this block too. Again, the difference is that the open hand allows for grabbing. One can either grab the adversary’s arm to control the weapon or grasp the weapon itself. Striking with the blade of the arm to an attacker’s throat or the Brachial Plexus can end a fight quickly.

In reality do not try to stop a blow from a weapon with your forearm. Many systems teach arm-pounding techniques, but these forearms of steel are to make the technique more effective, not to give you the ability to stop an arcing steel crowbar. Old men should not engage in arm-pounding drills but learn to be like water and adapt with age and still utilize this technique.

This movement can have many uses too. It also can be used in a preemptive attack, or to grasp an attacker’s lapel in an attempt to perform a single forearm choke while grasping the obi with the chambered hand pulling backwards breaking the attacker’s balance and enabling you to take him/her to the ground. A more direct use of this technique is a strike to the attacker’ throat with the blade of the forearm. It can be used to drive the blade of the forearm into the nose, so the arm can be wrapped around the attacker’s head for a guillotine, or reverse choke.

Isshinryu Mawashi-uki, Circular Middle Knife-hand Block:

The Mawashi-uki (Open handed circular block) starts at the hip as if you were drawing a sword and arcs across the upper torso in a circular motion. When the block stops, the Fingers are even with the top of the shoulder, and the elbow is a fist and a thumbs distance from the ribs. The elbow is in tight and protects the ribs. This technique exposes the underside of the wrist and is used for grabbing to facilitate a locking techniques.

Most systems have this block, but there is another component that is rarely taught and that is the incorporation of the parry block. A circular block can be slow in developing, but if you parry the attack first and then execute the circular block this reinforces the stopping and trapping power of the technique. After the trap one can use a jujitsu lock, knee, elbow strike, or any other offensive attack to complete your response to the attack.

This block can be a method of intercepting a punch. It can also be used to remove a wrist or lapel grab. If the attacker grabs the wrist execute the block attacking the adversary’s thumb. As the circle is complete and your hand is free grasp the attacker’ arm. The open hand gives the karateka the ability to maintain the close contact needed for applying jujitsu locks by holding onto the attacker. Once the arm is in your grasp you pull or push the attacker to set up your counter lock, punch, elbow strike, or kick.

Let’s examine the elbow lock. If an attacker grabs your wrist, pull the trapped wrist to the chambered position on your hip and roll your hand over attacking the thumb and grasp the attacker’s wrist. Do this while pulling backwards into a back stance to break the attacker’s balance. The attacker’s arm must be pulled so the elbow is turned downward. Wrap your forearm CCW around the attacker’s arm and tie off with the open hand to his/her arm or shoulder. Push down on the attacker’s arm placing pressure on locked elbow. Again, if the attacker pulls away take what he/she gives you and place them in another lock.

A more direct technique is after trapping the attacker’s wrist to go over the attacker’s arm and break his/her collarbone with a shuto strike. It takes eight pounds of pressure to break the collarbone.

You can also hook the attacker behind the neck and pull him/her sideways breaking their balance. After the attacker’s foundation is broken one can drive a knee into their groin area or execute a hip or leg throw. Be creative.

Isshin-ryu Shuto Block [shuto-uke]: Chart-1 or Upper Body Technique-13

This block is made with the shuto or side of the hand. It looks like a diagonal strike with the blade of the hand. The other hand is chambered on the hip or stops in line with the solar plexus. The elbow is a fist and a thumb from the side of the body while the fingertips of the lead hand are a hand’s height above the solar plexus.

The reality of this technique is the attacker’s punch is intercepted and pulled to the hip while the shuto strike is made to break the collarbone or used to hyper extend the elbow. Note that as the attacker’s arm is being pulled backwards it is being twisted so the elbow is between 90˚ and 45˚ upward. Hip rotation and the circular nature of the strike is where the power is generated. This too could be a wrist and elbow jujitsu lock.

Note: In upper-body-13 the Shuto strike is made to stop an attacker’s blow and is followed by a palmup shuto to the side of the attacker’s neck.

Isshin-ryu Chinto X-block:

This block may have had its’ origins in the Cat Stance. You can also deliver a Front Snap kick from the knee block before placing the foot or toes back on the ground. The forty-five-degree blade kick is another potential weapon utilized after the block.

Remember in kata when one sets into a Cat stance it usually implies that you’re pulling someone backwards. The balance in a Cat stance (Nekoashi dachi) is a combination of your rear foundation leg and the opponent’s resistance. Pulling the opponent towards you causes him/her to bend at the waist. This opens them up for a snap kick to their mid section. The chudan level X-block is a trap of the punch. In Chinto the weapon strike is trapped with the chudan (mid-level) X-block, and the opponent is pulled towards you. In Chinto control is established by the rear hand so the lead hand can strike. The attacker’s momentum carries him/her into your attack.

One problem with this block is that you’re on one leg while making this block, and it can become habit to stay on that one leg. A clever opponent will spot this weakness in your defense and will break your balance backwards and take you to the ground, so the leg needs to be placed back on the ground as quickly as possible to maintain the fighter’s foundation.

Block an opponent’s low kicks with knees. Blocking kicks with the arms opens up the upper body for attack. Yet, if the kick is above the waist, it must be blocked with the upper body blocks. Parry blocks, Elbows, and Palm-heel pressing blocks are good choices. Anytime kicks are above the waist grab the leg if possible and pull the attacker off balance. Once the leg is brought above the waist it begins to lose power, and it takes longer to develop the strike. To maintain power and speed Korean martial artists utilize jumping.

Isshin-ryu Low X-Block [juji-uki]: (Chinto Kata)

This block is primarily used to stop a knee strike but can be used in other scenarios. The Japanese karateka is taught that it is to stop a front kick. The Japanese go on to say the technique should be delivered from a Zenkutsu-dachi, so the karateka does not have to bend over.

In reality to execute this technique the karateka would be bent at the waist and his/her elbows would be almost parallel with the horizon. By pushing the elbows out the width of the blocking area is greatly increased. If one elbow is pointed downward, and the attacker tries to knee you, the point of the elbow will be driven into the to the top of the attacker’s thigh, and this will shut down his/her leg. Try it on a student that does not believe.

Note: In Javier Martinez’s book on Okinawan Tuite, he notes that when this block is seen in kata it also represents a thumb and finger lock on the opponent’s hand. The opponent’s hand is palm down, so you finger lock to the little finger with the right-hand and administer a thumb-lock with the left-hand of the x-block.

To execute this bunkai make the lapel choke by sliding the thumbs on each hand inside the attacker’s collar as your forearms cross creating a scissor action. The collar is pulled tight around the opponent’s neck stopping blood flow while the wrists twist and your knuckles are pushed into the sides of the adversary’s throat. Stepping across in front of your opponent and turning 180˚, while maintaining the choke, will throw the adversary over your hip or legs. Pushing back on the choke to start the technique breaks his/her balance, and when the opponent pushes forward quickly yank them in the same direction pivot 180˚ and pull them over your hip. As the attacker is falling push the “X” block downward driving the adversary to the ground.

Twin Forearm Block:(Seisan Kata)

This technique is a simultaneous block and strike. Both hands are pulled to the obi and thrust forward. Elbows point out and the vulnerable inner forearms point inward. The contact area is the musculature of the forearms.

If an attacker grabs both lapels or tries two handed choke, this technique can be driven between the arms breaking the adversary’s grasp and striking below his/her jaw. If the adversary’s arms are too close together to go between them then go around the choke and strike directly under the attacker’s chin. You can also strike directly under the attacker’s armpits, or to the biceps just above the elbows. After a double strike to the chin, your elbows can be driven downward into the attacker’s forearms or wrists to help break the grasp.

Another use for this technique is defense against a Bear-Hug. As the attacker reaches around, drive this block forward pushing his/her arms away while thrusting your buttocks into the attacker’s stomach. When the attacker is push backwards spin with a horizontal elbow to clear your circle of defense. If he/she remains close the elbow will be effective. If they’ve moved into another range use the weapon most effective for that range and still inside your circle of defense.

This like any high block is a good defense if the attacker is larger than you. When the larger opponent reaches for you drop your centerline as your centerline drops the block goes up inside his/her arms. Once the attacking arms are pushed up over your head the ribs, throat, liver, spleen, collarbones, and solar plexus is exposed. Americans dismiss this technique because they seldom fight men larger than themselves, but in Okinawa all instructors were shorter than their American students, so this became a very viable technique.

L-Block: (Seiuchin Kata)

This block is executed like middle outside block, but from a Seiuchin Stance, or “L” stance. This block is often interpreted as a middle block when it is demonstrated in kata, but it has a multitude of applications as well. The first of these techniques is a simple cross-body arm-bar. With the lead arm go under the attacker’s arm and tie off to his/her collar while pulling the trapped arm to your obi. Turn the attacker’s elbow so it points to your chest and apply pressure to the aggressor’s elbow with your chest by pulling backwards on the trapped arm. A variation of this technique is to go under the attacker’s arm and behind the neck grabbing a hand full of hair. Another use is to throw the aggressor over the lead leg facilitated by an elbow to the solar plexus or forearm to the face.

Double Shuto X-Block: (Seisan Kata)

This block is practiced by stacking the hands on one hip pushing forward and up with the wrists touching. Traditional philosophy teaches that this is a block of a downward strike by a blunt weapon. To block a strike like this would certainly break your wrists. It could be used to block an overhead shuto strike, but I’ve only seen one person in thirty years of training deliver and overhead shuto. Its’ main purpose maybe lost to antiquity, but it still can be used as an introduction to a jujitsu lock.

My favorite bunkai for this move is in Chinto kata. The “X” block is more to the side of the body than directly in front of the face. As the attacker punches your drop back into a cat stance to increase your distance from the attacker, and the parry the punch and grasp the attacker’s wrist after making the interception. Grasp the attacker’s wrist with the top hand and follow with a back-fist to the attacker’s nose.

This like any high block is a good defense if the attacker is larger than you. To deploy this block, your centerline must be lowered. As your centerline drops the block goes up. Once the attacking arm is pushed up over your head the ribs, kidneys, armpit, or solar plexus is exposed. Americans dismiss this technique because they seldom fight men larger than themselves, but in Okinawa all instructors were shorter than their American students, so this became a very viable technique.

High X-Block: (Seisan Kata)

This block is practiced by stacking the hands on one hip pushing forward and up with the wrists touching. Traditional philosophy teaches that this is a block of a downward strike by a blunt weapon. If this were done in that situation, the wrist s would most likely be broken. It can however be used to remove lapel grab followed by a jujitsu locking technique, or it can be an offensive cross lapel choke. Remember that all blocks can also be utilized as strikes.

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