Block Softly

As discussed in a previous blog post, I believe that learning to block effectively is the most important thing to do as you learn how to fight. When students begin to fight it is natural to be tense, nervous and unsure. It is normal to learn your blocks and attack every strike as if you are trying to destroy it. This is not wrong. There are times when you will want to block hard to damage the opponent's attacking arm or leg. What I find is that students do not remember that you only need to block hard enough to prevent the strike from hitting them. Not every block should be hard. By blocking softly and guiding the strike past them the student is set up to control the attacking appendage or counterattack the opponent as their momentum continues in the direction of the strike. A strike that has been blocked hard sends a signal that it is time to throw the next strike or prepare to defend. By not sending the signal, the defender has the opportunity catch the opponent off guard. This is the reason we practice softer blocks that cushion or deflect instead of stopping a strike suddenly.