We actually do a lot of these types of blocks in Muay Thai, and they're all very effective. Anything that can redirect a blow and throw your opponent off balance or put them in an awkward position for a moment can be capitalized on. Karate is very mechanical in practice, but the applications are actually very effective and universal.
Advanced explanation and practical! Most people that make these comments aren’t experienced enough to make them! It’s never the style it’s the practitioners that make the basics work. Very well explained! Understand the basic and introduce it to your karate! OSS! 🥋
Thank you, if it’s above their level of understanding it’s easier and more comfortable for them to say I’m wrong rather than question their own karate.
There is an old saying "Blocks can be Strikes and Strikes can be Blocks" . Also blocks can deflect,trap, and/or directly control an attack. This being said you're showing good examples of what blocks can do and be. Too many people only understand the surface level uses for blocks. Keep up the good work on your videos.👍🥋😎
Correct. Technically there are no "Dedicated Blocks" in Isshinryu Karate. By the time you are brown or black belt, you have heard "blocks can be strikes and strikes can be blocks" hundreds of times in the Dojo.
@@mizukarate Yes. Of course. One of my favorite maneuvers is to open hand block my opponents hook punch and then grapple them and pull them down into my own punch, kick, or knee strike. It roughly doubles the force of the strike.
@@WadeSmith-oe5xd Wenn aber ein Block ein Angriff auf Vitalpunkte am Arm sind (Kyusho Jitsu) dann sollte man den Blockarm- Faust erst im allerletzten Moment drehen. Wenn der Blockarm mit 30 Km/h kommt und man die Faust mit 30 Km/h dreht, trifft man mit 60 Km/h auf. Physikalisch gesehen ist doppelte Geschwindikeit 4 x (Im Quadrat) mehr Energie.
The "fold up" at the beginning of the block is the actual block. The second motion is an attack that is a forearm strike, a lock, a throw, a limb control, a joint dislocation, etc.
Have you ever thought of learning a martial art that works out of the box, without having to daydream 'creative' stupid shit to patch it and make it at least somehow work? And are you not afraid that this 'creative' stuff you create can make you or somebody else suffer injury or death in real situation, because, let us face it, you pulled it out of your ass?
I think what i found very interesting was Ramsey Dewey, an ex pro mma fighter and now coach, showed karate blocks working to strip a collar tie, which was pretty effective for wrestling.
It’s all about reaction time. The so called experts say Karate blocks don’t work because they are too fancy and slow. Karate has practice and then there is practicality. The key is to know how to bridge that gap from practice to practicality. Thank for showing us some examples for our Karate blocks. OSS!
Well, that totally makes sense. That's why before making a block, we always have a preparing hand (to do what you did or grab the opponent's arm or leg) and then the block follows. I also learned that every block is also an attack, so I agree with what you say in this video. Osu!
Excellent brief explanation of some of the blocks, please please create a few more of these videos as there are so many Karate blocks which are misunderstood how they really work. Thank you, Sensei Gardiner🙏🙇
I tried the karate blocks that I learned as a kid in a jail cell. I didn’t have the option to bob and weave and slip to the side and all that footwork in that tight space. Not all of them worked, but yeah, they work. Maybe they won’t work against an amateur boxer or some trained fighter, but for sure they work for self defense against untrained nut jobs. Also, I’ve seen Muay Thai fighters and guys in bkfc use blocks and they do work there too. People who say they don’t work are people who never trained bunkai or kumite, and can’t use blocks cause they themselves suck at it. My first year of college, I tested a 4th degree taekwondo black belt who was my girl friend’s friend. Yeah, blocks work. Add them to your arsenal. They don’t work alone, as seen in this video. But, knowing them is better than not. It’s like having a knife and losing your fight and blaming the knife.
Thanks this is really useful, I’ve always considered why certain techniques weren’t effective in a practical sense, but rather it being the finished product of a move doing the block, the movement in between is actually where the action is taking place. I’m going to be using this in my own classes!
Thanks to John and nate for sharing this "masterpriece" of knowledge...The "interception in the middle", the different angles ...thanks a lot...I teach similar elements to my students here.
Excellent, concise breakdown of "receiving techniques". Thank you for sharing such important distinctions, such as these in your video, so that, at the very least, potential (or even current) students of Karate can see the true applications of various techniques throughout the curriculum. Well done, Sir.
Right on with this so often misunderstood because full range blocks are done in basics they seem to think that it applies to all combat situations,Well explained.
I start to learn blocks in proper way after ca 4 years of my karate way. I have switch from Shotokan to Shorin-ryu after a break and my Sensei has show me that in certain level of karate I won't use karate blocks to block. As you showed us - they are too slow. So instead I start to learn that fast "slap" with one hand and transition to block, which most often is a lock, not a block. And I belive this is one of true meaning of katas. There is also another aspect of defending - try to go aside while defending. NOT to back, but step next to opponent. This ads many more possibilities to effective defence - including throws, undercuts, elbow attaks, throat attack, etc. And I'm happy to see more often, there appears more videos with true defence karate content. Keep up with good work, you are showing to the world really great performance!
I like what you are saying. I’ve never seen anyone use a block in sparring. Yet so much of shotokan is built around blocks. Step kumite teaches to use the blocks, as well, blocks. So, unless that is all just BS that Japanese teachers passed to the west, something doesn’t align. This is the main reason I quit karate to go to other martial arts. Imagine, if you went to scuba diving school and they taught you something that would have you drown, just for practicing? But then, when you actually dive, you do something else. Something you’ve not practiced at all in the basics. That’s essentially step kumite vs sparring in shotokan. The link and progression, the building of one thing upon another is broken. Something was lost in translation.
The translation that was lost, is that uke means "to receive" - It is very clear that almost all uke techniques is for dealing in the clinch. I like the way it is illustrated in this video by ramsey Dewey ua-cam.com/video/f9y2rpbxfhI/v-deo.htmlsi=vrYsRJiPy7Kxgp6U
What happened was, as japanese karate morphed from southern Chinese kung fu into okinawan toudi, the Japanese already had jujitsu, so there's no need for a grappling based system. And it was called Chinese hand. The Japanese hate the Chinese, so it became empty hand. The Japanese ruined karate
It’s very interesting that one of my Sensei, who was trained on several different disciplines of martial arts including karate, teaches blocking exactly the same way you do, with an open hand, while the other, who is a traditional karate-ka, teaches blocking with a closed fist.
Closed fisted blockes you can do if you are gonnah hammer fist block with your forearm also but open hand gives you more control to guid the attack/parry and grab cause fingers are free and not closed , you can even block with front hand open to grab and back hand is closed to punch after the grab , so mix it up
@@crisalcantara7671 I'm not saying don't use open hand stuff, I'm just saying you have to watch your fingers more. And it's absolutely not just beginners, in fact probably beginners are safer since they don't go at each other so hard. It's not hard to break your fingers even with your fist closed.
Thank you soo much . I understood this a little bit but never knew how to connect the dots . Thank God for MMA , UFC and internet videos on pullups and handstand pushups ...
From my understanding ofbShotkan Karate practice for a few years now I feel like most "blocks" are actually counter attacks in someway and that most of them are actually used to grab, twist, pull and break the attacking arm, etc... or deflect the force of said attacks away from you as to gain an opening for your blows. I tend to mostly counter and strike in onen single motion and not rely solely on the blocking itself since the more you block the more chances you are sort of giving the opponent to get a hit in you. I always strive to keep in mind that Shotokan Karate is a martial art nit meant for a bunch of fance attacks but rather to end the fight in a single strike if possible or as quickly as possible. TY for your insight and knowledge as usual great video.
Karate blocks are legit, some years ago I sparred an old guy In kickboxing who was a goju black belt. He kept blocking my punches exactly as showed in this video. Was a real eye opener lol
Fantastic explanation and Why regular Karate works 🙂🙏 Everyone needs to show those naysayers that Dont know shit about Karate but praices MT/ Boxing etc! Im doing Kyokushin but we pretty much doing Boxing techniqs and blocks, as Mas was a boxer from the beginning and loved that style of strike/ block! Of course we also do Kata. It's the essence of Karate - something we should all respect and be Proud of! Karate is special in every way vs say Boxing / MT as it gives one so much more, in every plain IMHO. Nothing like Karate 🙌 🥋 Respect to you guys and keep up the Good Work! OSS!!
very good explanation of how "blocks" do really work. Unfortunately its often neglected in so called classical 3K Karate training. The standard forms like go-hon kumite or kihon ippon kumite and so on...all train this "demonstration" version and mentality of blocks. It took me a long time to actually really change my muscle memory to actively use both hands and use mawashi block and counter everywhere. I recommend studying things like Kakie and Renzoku waza to get used to close distances. And do sparring with/like MMA guys ;) The funny thing is, as soon as you add "contact" to sparring, two things will happen: 1. everything happens right in your face and much closer and 2. zukis/punches are loosing the "snapiness" known from Kumite, since now they are meant to hit, not just to score points. And suddenly all these block and grab things you described, start to work very effectively. For me it was an eye opener...thanks for sharing.
You are the first person I've seen in 20 years that actually understands the concept of karate blocking. Biggest mistake people make imo is not using their feet. If you put yourself on the outside, the basic karate blocks work pretty well. If you take the inside it can be a bit more complicated.
Nice you showed a block against a hook at the end. By far the commonest punch on the street is an overland right, and rolling with a covering block works but not palming.
Excellent as always. I tell students that Uke means to receive so like the parries you are doing, but also in Okaniwan Te they were Ate or smashing techniques taught as Uke to young people to make them safer as you describe.🥋🙏
Omg I’ve never heard this explained before this way and I’m forever grateful you just took my training to a higher level!!!! Osu!!! Thanks so very much!!!
I love when I watch a video - consume the content, appreciate it and they earn the like and subscribe. Osu Sensei! 3rd Kyu here training to earn the Shodan and beginning the Karate journey.
Good work. More importantly, alike a boxer, it’s about associated footwork, body evasion …etc. It’s not just about the block by and of itself. Keep them coming. 🦘🇦🇺👍
Yes, Geidan Barai and all the “Uke” techniques aren’t “blocks” and we need to stop calling them that. They’re combination techniques that may START with a block/parry OR a grab: the initial open hand reaching out at the beginning of the combo. But the rest of the combo is one or more strikes, joint locks, or takedowns
That was yet another great practical non BS video! Thankyou Sensei John (and Nate of course). Interesting how it starts to look a bit like Wing Chun (close body blocks etc.) that caught my eye. Not exactly, just some overlaps in efficiency of movement.
finally some sensible illustrative honest demo... the double touch here described is originally contained in the older Okinawan styles. Hidari Uchi uke always have a migi Soto uke movement before. It got lost in transfer from Okinawa to japan. Not so effective against punches is good against grabs, as said in the video. if you want to block effectively against western style punches, please analyse Kyokushin techniques. I started practising Shotokan when i was 11 yo. After nidan i moved to Shorin as i wanted to understand the roots of Karate. After many years and a rokudan, I moved again to Kyokushin (which I teach now). so at 62 I went full circle ;) and im please to see young sucessful Martial Artist asking the same questions I asked myself 45 years ago. Osu.
Very important point, very well explained. Osu. One other point is that strategy in consensual violence (kumite and combat sports) is different to strategy in typical ambush style self-defense. It doesn't matter whether you think blocks work in the street, your body will do it anyway. If a punch is coming your hand will flinch into some kind of primitive block position, probably age uke if your hands were down, and that's where you will start your counter from.
I think it was in Nakayama's Dynamic Karate book, that full range of motion in blocks is primarily used for training purposes and that in reality, there might not be enough time to execute full-range block.
Very realistic approach. most people don't have their karate work because of a very unrealistic approach. As for this one, I give it a 100% .. well explained sensei, ossu 🥋🤝🙏
What you've shared in this video reminds me of what my sensei taught in regards to using "small circle" movements.... movements better adapted for quick, close quarter engagement. Great video 👍🏾
I think most people would agree that you use the big formal blocks to build muscle memory, and during actual sparring, it becomes a short flinch movement. The latter is more likely to succeed if we actually drill using the more realistic scenario and smaller flinch movements. It raises the question of how necessary the large formal movements are. I'm not saying that they have no value, but that question of how much value is a valid one.
I am using the full block in this video with the middle part doing three deflection and the end part controlling the arm. It depends on the mindset when practicing the basic blocks. If you practice just to make shapes then that’s all it will be, but if you practice with intention then it can work. But as you say it is possible you could get that result without practicing the big formal blocks.. as a lot of other arts do.
there is also something to be said about the kihon being a formulaic way of learning how to master hand and eye coordination. Many of the kihon exercises have more of a biomechanical and kinesthetic function rather than a combative one (especially for lower grades). Kihon drills neurological pathways and builds body coordination to then be applied to kumite when you get a better understanding of karate and your own body. (I write this comment from a traditional Shotokan perspective)
Nicely done and well explained on your Uke applications as it can be done in endless variations, even from grappling situations. Thank you and keep up the good job and I will look into your Patreon site soon.
I teach full blocks at my karate, I teach them to full blocks against long range power attacks to which I instruct them to evade their body just out of range of the attack and then use the full block to destroy the attacking limb. Basically full blocks to me are attacks. close range blocks for me look similar to what you demonstrate but a lot less advanced than what you perform and do not create any opportunities as your do. The video has got me thinking now. Thankyou for uploading this great video
@@winge-dogjones2492 thank you, I also teach a few different ideas similar to what you described in your comment (blocks as attacks). I think it’s good to always think about how we can improve our karate and our understanding of it.
In the military I learned a very, very valuable lesson. When the SHTF you will fall back on your training. You will not even think about it, you will just do it. And the military has excellent training. Now, what if your training is on a bunch of things that don’t work, aren’t applicable, or just plain wrong. Like karate blocks. Well, you will fall back and do what you trained, in a stressful situation like an attack. Maybe that’s why so many black belts get their asses handed to them by untrained street fighters? Yep.
Hello. I'm from Spain. I don't speak English well. Congratulations on the magnificent work you do. I would like to ask you to make some videos about defenses in low attacks and in defenses against kicks... A cordial greeting
One thing Ill say us that the more you watch boxing the more you see them, especially in the older boxing eras. They simply arent as exaggerated as you see in Kata and are mainly used to take angles and reposition.
Any technique can be defensive or offensive. The division is only for educational purposes, but in the end, there is only the intent of the executioner that decides the purpose of a technique. A good exercise is to imagine how a technique works in the reverse direction. For example, an oi zuki in reverse is a hikite or grab. A gedan barai becomes an upwards block or a jerk away.
Very good video, I like the idea of every block being a doble block. I got my 1st dan back in 2006 but stopped my karate training some time after that due to some issue with my sensei (years later, everything is ok with him), now I´ve been training muay thai for a few years, and I have found myself doing some bocks more than a few times. Morote uke to open guards and sneak a mae geri, mawashi uke for the 1-2, jodan uke for the jab, or to get out of a clinch, even the passai dai kick grabs are a normal thing in muay thai. I think every karateka should REALLY cross train MT in order to internalize the karate techniques from another perspective, both drilling (it´s like drilling bunkai all the time, since we don´t do forms) and sparring practice. I would even dare to say that Karate should be taught the opposite way, bunkai first and kata afterwards, which is the natural order of things, but I don´t think any sensei would agree. Again, excellent content, new sub, Thank you.
Ultimately it ends up looking like wing chun blocks, which is understandable. In a street fight, you aren’t actually gonna block (unless someone weaker is attacking you, which is unlikely) and hence boxing is best, helps you avoid getting hit.
Great video, That is a great way to think about those techniques! Maybe you have similar thoughts about the application of attacks and wanna do another video about that too? 😊
I believe that patterns in martial arts-whether they are kata, poomsae, or jurus-are teaching tools rather than fighting tools. There is a certain amount of exaggeration expected
It's all about reflex movement. To get good reflex, you mut practice again and again until your body is able to move without you think about the movement.
I came to think that these traditional blocks don't work against fast strikes as interception. So I switched to using blocks as strikes aimed mostly at the guard/arms of the opponent. Hit the arm really hard and they will immediately drop their guard in pain. Curiously age uke which I thought was the most useless block saved my life on three occasions. Once in the forest chopping a tree a dead branch came down and I saved myself a cracked skull with the block. Twice working in a homeless shelter I was attacked, once with a log of firewood and once with an axe. Both time age uke saved me though I took horrible bruises on the arms
A closed mind prevents development. There are many ideas out there and not all will suit everyone one, but it’s worth hearing different ideas whether they work for you or not
We actually do a lot of these types of blocks in Muay Thai, and they're all very effective. Anything that can redirect a blow and throw your opponent off balance or put them in an awkward position for a moment can be capitalized on. Karate is very mechanical in practice, but the applications are actually very effective and universal.
Advanced explanation and practical! Most people that make these comments aren’t experienced enough to make them! It’s never the style it’s the practitioners that make the basics work. Very well explained! Understand the basic and introduce it to your karate! OSS! 🥋
Thank you, if it’s above their level of understanding it’s easier and more comfortable for them to say I’m wrong rather than question their own karate.
Thanks for taking on directly this frequently misunderstood aspect of karate training. Keep up the great content!
Yeah these guys are just awesome. So happy we have people like them for sure 👑
There is an old saying "Blocks can be Strikes and Strikes can be Blocks" .
Also blocks can deflect,trap, and/or directly control an attack.
This being said you're showing good examples of what blocks can do and be. Too many people only understand the surface level uses for blocks. Keep up the good work on your videos.👍🥋😎
Correct. Technically there are no "Dedicated Blocks" in Isshinryu Karate. By the time you are brown or black belt, you have heard "blocks can be strikes and strikes can be blocks" hundreds of times in the Dojo.
@@WadeSmith-oe5xd As I bet you know sometimes a block can be a grappling move too.
Blocks are very versatile.
@@mizukarate Yes. Of course. One of my favorite maneuvers is to open hand block my opponents hook punch and then grapple them and pull them down into my own punch, kick, or knee strike. It roughly doubles the force of the strike.
@@WadeSmith-oe5xd Wenn aber ein Block ein Angriff auf Vitalpunkte am Arm sind (Kyusho Jitsu) dann sollte man den Blockarm- Faust erst im allerletzten Moment drehen. Wenn der Blockarm mit 30 Km/h kommt und man die Faust mit 30 Km/h dreht, trifft man mit 60 Km/h auf. Physikalisch gesehen ist doppelte Geschwindikeit 4 x (Im Quadrat) mehr Energie.
"A block is a strike is a grapple"
The "fold up" at the beginning of the block is the actual block. The second motion is an attack that is a forearm strike, a lock, a throw, a limb control, a joint dislocation, etc.
Yes, that’s what I explained in the video. The “block” happens in the middle of the technique
Luckily more people are starting to teach real applications such as John Burke and Iain Abernathy (sure I spelled that wrong...).
A block is a lock as a blow is a throw. With creativity we can make anything work for something 🥋
jesse Kamp :)
Of course, they can be interpreted many different ways, and I also teach them in different ways at different times
Have you ever thought of learning a martial art that works out of the box, without having to daydream 'creative' stupid shit to patch it and make it at least somehow work?
And are you not afraid that this 'creative' stuff you create can make you or somebody else suffer injury or death in real situation, because, let us face it, you pulled it out of your ass?
@@jkgardiner not to mention the shoulder workout that comes with drilling blocks for hours 💪🏼
@@classified-rv7pp definitely, there is certainly a benefit to drilling loads of reps of kihon 👍🏼
I think what i found very interesting was Ramsey Dewey, an ex pro mma fighter and now coach, showed karate blocks working to strip a collar tie, which was pretty effective for wrestling.
ua-cam.com/video/f9y2rpbxfhI/v-deo.htmlsi=vrYsRJiPy7Kxgp6U
It’s all about reaction time. The so called experts say Karate blocks don’t work because they are too fancy and slow. Karate has practice and then there is practicality. The key is to know how to bridge that gap from practice to practicality. Thank for showing us some examples for our Karate blocks. OSS!
Nicely done, I've studied for over 40 years and not enough teachers instruct on that point... 🤙🏼
Well, that totally makes sense. That's why before making a block, we always have a preparing hand (to do what you did or grab the opponent's arm or leg) and then the block follows. I also learned that every block is also an attack, so I agree with what you say in this video. Osu!
Very insightful. Loved it.
Excellent brief explanation of some of the blocks, please please create a few more of these videos as there are so many Karate blocks which are misunderstood how they really work. Thank you, Sensei Gardiner🙏🙇
I like your videos. I started practicing karate again after 10 years. Channels like yours help me a lot. Thank you from Brazil!
I tried the karate blocks that I learned as a kid in a jail cell. I didn’t have the option to bob and weave and slip to the side and all that footwork in that tight space. Not all of them worked, but yeah, they work. Maybe they won’t work against an amateur boxer or some trained fighter, but for sure they work for self defense against untrained nut jobs. Also, I’ve seen Muay Thai fighters and guys in bkfc use blocks and they do work there too. People who say they don’t work are people who never trained bunkai or kumite, and can’t use blocks cause they themselves suck at it. My first year of college, I tested a 4th degree taekwondo black belt who was my girl friend’s friend. Yeah, blocks work. Add them to your arsenal. They don’t work alone, as seen in this video. But, knowing them is better than not. It’s like having a knife and losing your fight and blaming the knife.
Thanks this is really useful, I’ve always considered why certain techniques weren’t effective in a practical sense, but rather it being the finished product of a move doing the block, the movement in between is actually where the action is taking place.
I’m going to be using this in my own classes!
Thanks to John and nate for sharing this "masterpriece" of knowledge...The "interception in the middle", the different angles ...thanks a lot...I teach similar elements to my students here.
good explanation between kihon (training mode) and Kihon application. thx
Excellent, concise breakdown of "receiving techniques". Thank you for sharing such important distinctions, such as these in your video, so that, at the very least, potential (or even current) students of Karate can see the true applications of various techniques throughout the curriculum. Well done, Sir.
OSS Sensai really great technical detailing, your right it’s about receiving and giving. Keep up the good work.
Right on with this so often misunderstood because full range blocks are done in basics they seem to think that it applies to all combat situations,Well explained.
This is why i always focus on the middle action of my blocks,oss sensei thanks💪👊👏
I start to learn blocks in proper way after ca 4 years of my karate way. I have switch from Shotokan to Shorin-ryu after a break and my Sensei has show me that in certain level of karate I won't use karate blocks to block. As you showed us - they are too slow. So instead I start to learn that fast "slap" with one hand and transition to block, which most often is a lock, not a block. And I belive this is one of true meaning of katas. There is also another aspect of defending - try to go aside while defending. NOT to back, but step next to opponent. This ads many more possibilities to effective defence - including throws, undercuts, elbow attaks, throat attack, etc.
And I'm happy to see more often, there appears more videos with true defence karate content. Keep up with good work, you are showing to the world really great performance!
I like what you are saying. I’ve never seen anyone use a block in sparring. Yet so much of shotokan is built around blocks. Step kumite teaches to use the blocks, as well, blocks. So, unless that is all just BS that Japanese teachers passed to the west, something doesn’t align.
This is the main reason I quit karate to go to other martial arts. Imagine, if you went to scuba diving school and they taught you something that would have you drown, just for practicing? But then, when you actually dive, you do something else. Something you’ve not practiced at all in the basics. That’s essentially step kumite vs sparring in shotokan. The link and progression, the building of one thing upon another is broken. Something was lost in translation.
The translation that was lost, is that uke means "to receive" -
It is very clear that almost all uke techniques is for dealing in the clinch.
I like the way it is illustrated in this video by ramsey Dewey
ua-cam.com/video/f9y2rpbxfhI/v-deo.htmlsi=vrYsRJiPy7Kxgp6U
What happened was, as japanese karate morphed from southern Chinese kung fu into okinawan toudi, the Japanese already had jujitsu, so there's no need for a grappling based system. And it was called Chinese hand. The Japanese hate the Chinese, so it became empty hand. The Japanese ruined karate
It’s very interesting that one of my Sensei, who was trained on several different disciplines of martial arts including karate, teaches blocking exactly the same way you do, with an open hand, while the other, who is a traditional karate-ka, teaches blocking with a closed fist.
Closed fisted blockes you can do if you are gonnah hammer fist block with your forearm also but open hand gives you more control to guid the attack/parry and grab cause fingers are free and not closed , you can even block with front hand open to grab and back hand is closed to punch after the grab , so mix it up
@@crisalcantara7671 just a bit more danger of getting your fingers broken with open hand.
@ninjafruitchilled only beginners say that and have that problem , you don't know how parry kicks work? No offense but it's not with the fingers
@@crisalcantara7671 I'm not saying don't use open hand stuff, I'm just saying you have to watch your fingers more. And it's absolutely not just beginners, in fact probably beginners are safer since they don't go at each other so hard. It's not hard to break your fingers even with your fist closed.
I wish all sensei were like yours, i asked this days a dojo about how they teach traditional karate, the told me 0 contact in kumite
Thank you soo much . I understood this a little bit but never knew how to connect the dots . Thank God for MMA , UFC and internet videos on pullups and handstand pushups ...
From my understanding ofbShotkan Karate practice for a few years now I feel like most "blocks" are actually counter attacks in someway and that most of them are actually used to grab, twist, pull and break the attacking arm, etc... or deflect the force of said attacks away from you as to gain an opening for your blows. I tend to mostly counter and strike in onen single motion and not rely solely on the blocking itself since the more you block the more chances you are sort of giving the opponent to get a hit in you. I always strive to keep in mind that Shotokan Karate is a martial art nit meant for a bunch of fance attacks but rather to end the fight in a single strike if possible or as quickly as possible. TY for your insight and knowledge as usual great video.
Karate blocks are legit, some years ago I sparred an old guy In kickboxing who was a goju black belt. He kept blocking my punches exactly as showed in this video. Was a real eye opener lol
Fantastic explanation and Why regular Karate works 🙂🙏
Everyone needs to show those naysayers that Dont know shit about Karate but praices MT/ Boxing etc!
Im doing Kyokushin but we pretty much doing Boxing techniqs and blocks, as Mas was a boxer from the beginning and loved that style of strike/ block!
Of course we also do Kata. It's the essence of Karate - something we should all respect and be Proud of!
Karate is special in every way vs say Boxing / MT as it gives one so much more, in every plain IMHO. Nothing like Karate 🙌 🥋
Respect to you guys and keep up the Good Work!
OSS!!
These videos are so useful. Here there is a complete different perspective of what blocks are all about! I would say a modern vision.
very good explanation of how "blocks" do really work. Unfortunately its often neglected in so called classical 3K Karate training. The standard forms like go-hon kumite or kihon ippon kumite and so on...all train this "demonstration" version and mentality of blocks. It took me a long time to actually really change my muscle memory to actively use both hands and use mawashi block and counter everywhere. I recommend studying things like Kakie and Renzoku waza to get used to close distances. And do sparring with/like MMA guys ;) The funny thing is, as soon as you add "contact" to sparring, two things will happen: 1. everything happens right in your face and much closer and 2. zukis/punches are loosing the "snapiness" known from Kumite, since now they are meant to hit, not just to score points. And suddenly all these block and grab things you described, start to work very effectively. For me it was an eye opener...thanks for sharing.
You are the first person I've seen in 20 years that actually understands the concept of karate blocking.
Biggest mistake people make imo is not using their feet.
If you put yourself on the outside, the basic karate blocks work pretty well. If you take the inside it can be a bit more complicated.
Nice you showed a block against a hook at the end. By far the commonest punch on the street is an overland right, and rolling with a covering block works but not palming.
Excellent as always. I tell students that Uke means to receive so like the parries you are doing, but also in Okaniwan Te they were Ate or smashing techniques taught as Uke to young people to make them safer as you describe.🥋🙏
Omg I’ve never heard this explained before this way and I’m forever grateful you just took my training to a higher level!!!! Osu!!! Thanks so very much!!!
That was helpful. Thank you. Very clear moves.
I love when I watch a video - consume the content, appreciate it and they earn the like and subscribe. Osu Sensei!
3rd Kyu here training to earn the Shodan and beginning the Karate journey.
Thank you. I’m glad to have helped and I hope you find my other videos useful 👍🏼
Good work.
More importantly, alike a boxer, it’s about associated footwork, body evasion …etc. It’s not just about the block by and of itself.
Keep them coming.
🦘🇦🇺👍
started in karate, went to muay thai and boxing... found cross overs everywhere- great video
Yes, Geidan Barai and all the “Uke” techniques aren’t “blocks” and we need to stop calling them that. They’re combination techniques that may START with a block/parry OR a grab: the initial open hand reaching out at the beginning of the combo.
But the rest of the combo is one or more strikes, joint locks, or takedowns
That was yet another great practical non BS video! Thankyou Sensei John (and Nate of course). Interesting how it starts to look a bit like Wing Chun (close body blocks etc.) that caught my eye. Not exactly, just some overlaps in efficiency of movement.
Thank you, I always say there are more similarities than differences in the martial arts.
finally some sensible illustrative honest demo... the double touch here described is originally contained in the older Okinawan styles. Hidari Uchi uke always have a migi Soto uke movement before. It got lost in transfer from Okinawa to japan. Not so effective against punches is good against grabs, as said in the video. if you want to block effectively against western style punches, please analyse Kyokushin techniques. I started practising Shotokan when i was 11 yo. After nidan i moved to Shorin as i wanted to understand the roots of Karate. After many years and a rokudan, I moved again to Kyokushin (which I teach now). so at 62 I went full circle ;) and im please to see young sucessful Martial Artist asking the same questions I asked myself 45 years ago. Osu.
As usual, clear demos from Sensei Gardiner. Lot to apply in dojo with partners. Thanks for sharing the passion both
I like this content. Its like you linked the kenpo concept of "checking" with your own karate style. Looks great
thank you for keeping karate legit
I did Karate when I was a teenager, in my opinion Karate totally works. Have a nice day
Very important point, very well explained. Osu.
One other point is that strategy in consensual violence (kumite and combat sports) is different to strategy in typical ambush style self-defense. It doesn't matter whether you think blocks work in the street, your body will do it anyway. If a punch is coming your hand will flinch into some kind of primitive block position, probably age uke if your hands were down, and that's where you will start your counter from.
Definitely, this is the main thing people forget, MMA and arranged fighting is not the same as non-consensual violence
Very talented knows what he is talking about very educational 👍
Great insights! Thanks for sharing!!
I think it was in Nakayama's Dynamic Karate book, that full range of motion in blocks is primarily used for training purposes and that in reality, there might not be enough time to execute full-range block.
Very realistic approach. most people don't have their karate work because of a very unrealistic approach. As for this one, I give it a 100% .. well explained sensei, ossu 🥋🤝🙏
What you've shared in this video reminds me of what my sensei taught in regards to using "small circle" movements.... movements better adapted for quick, close quarter engagement. Great video 👍🏾
I think most people would agree that you use the big formal blocks to build muscle memory, and during actual sparring, it becomes a short flinch movement. The latter is more likely to succeed if we actually drill using the more realistic scenario and smaller flinch movements. It raises the question of how necessary the large formal movements are. I'm not saying that they have no value, but that question of how much value is a valid one.
I am using the full block in this video with the middle part doing three deflection and the end part controlling the arm. It depends on the mindset when practicing the basic blocks. If you practice just to make shapes then that’s all it will be, but if you practice with intention then it can work.
But as you say it is possible you could get that result without practicing the big formal blocks.. as a lot of other arts do.
Very thoroughly and clearly explained - great video. Thank you.
Excellent application demonstration; Thanks!
Best explanation yet and very useful
yes! very good, very important. absolutely true! thanks
there is also something to be said about the kihon being a formulaic way of learning how to master hand and eye coordination. Many of the kihon exercises have more of a biomechanical and kinesthetic function rather than a combative one (especially for lower grades). Kihon drills neurological pathways and builds body coordination to then be applied to kumite when you get a better understanding of karate and your own body.
(I write this comment from a traditional Shotokan perspective)
John, this makes so much sense. My blocks were always slow. Thank you! 🙏 just subbed 👌
Nicely done and well explained on your Uke applications as it can be done in endless variations, even from grappling situations. Thank you and keep up the good job and I will look into your Patreon site soon.
Nicely done. I really enjoyed this.
Awesome thank you for the class
Great stuff! We have a similar take in these karate blocks 😊
Your video has been helpful thanks
I teach full blocks at my karate, I teach them to full blocks against long range power attacks to which I instruct them to evade their body just out of range of the attack and then use the full block to destroy the attacking limb. Basically full blocks to me are attacks. close range blocks for me look similar to what you demonstrate but a lot less advanced than what you perform and do not create any opportunities as your do. The video has got me thinking now. Thankyou for uploading this great video
@@winge-dogjones2492 thank you, I also teach a few different ideas similar to what you described in your comment (blocks as attacks). I think it’s good to always think about how we can improve our karate and our understanding of it.
My Respects forwarded 🙏
In the military I learned a very, very valuable lesson. When the SHTF you will fall back on your training. You will not even think about it, you will just do it. And the military has excellent training.
Now, what if your training is on a bunch of things that don’t work, aren’t applicable, or just plain wrong. Like karate blocks. Well, you will fall back and do what you trained, in a stressful situation like an attack. Maybe that’s why so many black belts get their asses handed to them by untrained street fighters? Yep.
100%!!
Nice techniques John Sensei! Thank you Sir🤜🏽
Terrific insights! Thanks a lot for sharing!!
Thank you so much!!!
Keep it up ❤
I love this video.
As usual an excellent video..Very useful for my own training. Thank you
Did an update on my first Post. Forgot my thoughts on Kata. Everyone should respect and be Proud of it - the essence of Karate IMHO ❤
Kata is karate 👍🏼
@@jkgardiner Truly is and im proud to get to be a part of it :)
Karate For Life!
OSS!
Good educationals.Basics is for the body to learn. Regards
Hello. I'm from Spain. I don't speak English well. Congratulations on the magnificent work you do.
I would like to ask you to make some videos about defenses in low attacks and in defenses against kicks... A cordial greeting
I train shorin ryu and in this style it is obvious that we cross our arms when blocking.
Great video. Good ideas.
Very good, been thinking about this in my style too - Uiechi ryu
One thing Ill say us that the more you watch boxing the more you see them, especially in the older boxing eras. They simply arent as exaggerated as you see in Kata and are mainly used to take angles and reposition.
Love this
All those who will use this one day......owes you a life❤❤❤
Any technique can be defensive or offensive. The division is only for educational purposes, but in the end, there is only the intent of the executioner that decides the purpose of a technique.
A good exercise is to imagine how a technique works in the reverse direction. For example, an oi zuki in reverse is a hikite or grab. A gedan barai becomes an upwards block or a jerk away.
Very good video, I like the idea of every block being a doble block. I got my 1st dan back in 2006 but stopped my karate training some time after that due to some issue with my sensei (years later, everything is ok with him), now I´ve been training muay thai for a few years, and I have found myself doing some bocks more than a few times. Morote uke to open guards and sneak a mae geri, mawashi uke for the 1-2, jodan uke for the jab, or to get out of a clinch, even the passai dai kick grabs are a normal thing in muay thai. I think every karateka should REALLY cross train MT in order to internalize the karate techniques from another perspective, both drilling (it´s like drilling bunkai all the time, since we don´t do forms) and sparring practice. I would even dare to say that Karate should be taught the opposite way, bunkai first and kata afterwards, which is the natural order of things, but I don´t think any sensei would agree.
Again, excellent content, new sub, Thank you.
@@efficientguitar I do agree with that last part, sometimes I teach kata that way around 👍🏼
@@jkgardiner Awesome! I might go back to my kata practice more often to see what more I can steal and apply, have a nice one!
Can you please upload a video for effective blocks for kick and punches which work in kumite??
Ultimately it ends up looking like wing chun blocks, which is understandable. In a street fight, you aren’t actually gonna block (unless someone weaker is attacking you, which is unlikely) and hence boxing is best, helps you avoid getting hit.
Great vidéo
Shotokan is a ritualized style from Funikoshi's original Okinawa-te.
Great video, That is a great way to think about those techniques! Maybe you have similar thoughts about the application of attacks and wanna do another video about that too? 😊
thanks, from indonesia
I believe that patterns in martial arts-whether they are kata, poomsae, or jurus-are teaching tools rather than fighting tools. There is a certain amount of exaggeration expected
It's all about reflex movement. To get good reflex, you mut practice again and again until your body is able to move without you think about the movement.
I came to think that these traditional blocks don't work against fast strikes as interception. So I switched to using blocks as strikes aimed mostly at the guard/arms of the opponent. Hit the arm really hard and they will immediately drop their guard in pain. Curiously age uke which I thought was the most useless block saved my life on three occasions. Once in the forest chopping a tree a dead branch came down and I saved myself a cracked skull with the block. Twice working in a homeless shelter I was attacked, once with a log of firewood and once with an axe. Both time age uke saved me though I took horrible bruises on the arms
Yes! Marriage hands! You are a real martial artist
I've trained kung fu. I've trained jujustsu. Exactly the same as karate. Bridgeing techniques. Grappling techniques
In Okinawa karate all blocks are actually strikes to disable the attacker's limb or limbs ..
😁🥊🥋 Make Karate Great Again
Do you have any videos or plan to do any that look at the bunkai of various katas? For example, looking at some of the heian/pinan katas.
I have a couple of short videos on here covering it but I’m planning on more detailed videos like this soon.
a block is sometimes also an attack! for example uchi uke its not a silly block its also a armlever, etc
Yes I also teach this, these videos can never cover every angle of a technique so there will always be elements not covered, the subject is vast
I found out that one of the most important things in martial arts is to be open minded
A closed mind prevents development. There are many ideas out there and not all will suit everyone one, but it’s worth hearing different ideas whether they work for you or not
Great Krav Maga video, enjoyed it.
Punch flying, 200ms
Hand blocking, 200ms
Head movement to dodge, 100ms
@@eklim2034 if you watched the full video you will have seen that I prefer this idea for them reaching out to grab…