Blocking Drills

[Whispers]

What kind of drills and training do you guys do to learn how to block other than sparring? I've found that when i was helping alot of white and low belts that they were very concerned that they might not be able to block effectively durring their first sparring match. Not only that, but a number of people sparring with contact for the first time after training alot without it find it difficult to block or that their timing is off.

What I have these people do to help them learn to block better is take up a stance across from their partner and have their partner very slowly(in the beginning) throw punches at them. This gives them alittle bit of time to recognise the incoming attack and figure out which block covers the area that is being attacked. As the person gets better at the drill, the attacker speeds up. Also in the beginning the person blocking can only move backwars and forwards, but as they get better they are allowed to move side to side or to dodge attacks rather than block them. Alot of people who have tried it said that they can recognise incoming attacks better and have less problems defending. Try it and tell me what you think.

Also, share any drills you have to work on defense. I'd really like to know more about how other people train.

[Spookey]

Step and Model Sparring...

Wispers,

The same types of reflex training will occur with the proper practice of step sparring and model sparring. Step Sparring allows you to know what technique is coming while forcing the defender to react against attacks with progressive speed.

Model Sparring allows for one single undetermined attack. This forces the reflexes to step it up a notch and deflect or dodge the attack!

TAEKWON!
SpooKeY

[tomjfd]

We do several drills.
-line sparring- the class forms into two long lines ach student facing another student. The aggressor uses whatever attack techniques they want and advances all the way across the gym while the defender blocks those attacks. At the opposite wall, they switch and travel back across the gym. this is not "scripted" attacking, the student may use any kick or punch.

-partner blocking- this teaches full power blocking and gives each student the "feel" for actual full power contact. Two students face ech other and full power block into the others block. (ie meeting down blocks, meeting inblocks, ect.) this does hurt quite often, but it gives the student an understanding of what type of force will be needed to actually BLOCK a puch or kick. This is lost in sparring sometimes because our techniques must be softened or "pulled" just before impact.

-ones steps- scripted attacks, but unscripted blocking. It teaches the student to think quickly and react.

[HtTKar]

I think a lot of white-belts and lower ranks get caught up in using a rising block, inside block, or outside block, etc. Before they walked in the door, if someone threw a punch at them, they would just block. Now they have all these new names and blocks to learn. When really its just names for things they would have done naturally anyway. Blocks are just natural movements used to strike, absorb, or deflect a strike. One way is to let the students know that they are just names. There are many, many ways to block, and the student should do what feels the most natural. Whatever they do has a name anyways and you're just teaching the names. Show them they can use their hands, forarms, elbows, wrist, whatever to block; because it doesnt really matter as long as its blocked. Most people will find a couple types of blocks they like the most and use them all the time. The focus should be on proper on-guard position, and returning to that position as quickly as possible. Everything else will come.

Now in order to get a student used to blocking, parrying, slipping, and proper reaction time, there really isn't anything other than sparring. Speed and balance should be the main focus at first, then timing and power. It will all come, but only through experience. One way to minimize injury is to just make the ring smaller or limit tools...Make them stand with their front feet touching, or limit the use of hands or feet. But I think it is important that both students should be able to attack and defend at the same time or proper timing just wont come. It's hard to practice stop-hits or destructions of your only allowed to block. It's hard to recognize feints and draws if your only allowed to attack, etc.

[Bigoldandslow]

blocking

I know this is an old post but thought I would put my two cents in. From the very beginning once a student has learned a basic block (even students as young as 3 to 4 up to seniors, they never know when I am going to nail them on the top or side of the head with a focus pad. Right from the beginning it helps them to keep their head up, their hands up, to be alert and to watch me rather than "focus" on the focus pad. Someone mentioned xrays. I only use those with children under 6 during their first few weeks of class. The kids think it is a fun game having to avoid getting whacked with the focus pad. Their reflex's are getting good.

[gong fu]

i think just blocking alone isnt very good, a good offense is a good defence so to speak. i do train alot while sparring to block strikes, but also it is best to not be there when the strike is comming, sidestep it or just step back, but while you block, sidestep or move back/evade the strike always counter attack, never just block always block and counter, sidestep and counter, step back and counter etc, block drills are good for training with a sparring partner, just experiment with realistic situation with sparring partners and its always productive if you keep the sparrng realistic.

[Hardball]

Good katas/forms have several blocks in them. Do your katas everyday.