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Karate Blocks Part 2These karate blocks include defenses against a left hook, a right fist, a low right hook, and a kick to your groin.Are these blocks complete self defense techniques? Hardly. Rather, think of them as small building blocks in your martial arts arsenal. With appropriate training and experience, these small building blocks will eventually integrate into effective and automatic self defense techniques.
Karate Block Against a Left Hook
Picture this: Your opponent delivers a left hook—and it has your jaw written on it. But you can intercept the blow if your natural reflexes are sharpened and honed by Karate practice and conditioning. Remember, your first line of defense is your natural reflex. As a serious student of Karate, you will be amazed how almost automatically — as if your opponent's punch hit a radar warning screen — you bend your head to the side and back and slash up and right at an angle.
You have cushioned the blow with the side of your hand or forearm.
Karate Block Against a Right Fist
If an assailant uncorks a corking right towards you, you ward off the blow by grasping his wrist with your left hand, or slashing up and left and striking with the side of your hand or forearm.
Easy to do? Only if you practice a lot, and do some sparring.
Karate Block Against a Low Right Hook
There are times when your opponent tries to get you off guard when attacking. So he feints with a high left, to throw you off guard, and comes in with a low right hook. This is a tough one to defend because you must outwit or anticipate the strategy. What should you do? Defend against the high left or the low right hook? An unwritten rule in Karate is to play it smart and safe . . . you defend against both blows! Yes, as he feints with the left, you raise your right hand to cover your face. When the "surprise" right comes your way, you slash down on his wrist with the outer edge of your left hand, but hard!
Even if you can't stop both blows, you will have slowed down the impact at least.
Blocking a Kick to the Groin
Your opponent has a kick—and it's coming your way. He sends a mean left foot to your groin. How do you defend?
Quickly you swing the fist of your left hand diagonally downward to deflect the kick.
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