Types of Blocks

Blocks may use one arm, two arms, a leg, or some other body part. Blocks may be divided into three categories according to the body section they protect: high, middle, and low. They may also be classified by the direction in which they are applied: upward, downward, inward, or outward.

• Guard. A guard is the positioning of the hands and arms that is used to protect your upper body and midsection. The basic guard has both fists held high with the palms facing the face with the middle knuckles just in front of the respective cheekbones. The forearms are vertical with the elbows pulled together as much as possible to protect the midsection. Shoulders are rounded and chin is tucked down. From the basic guard, all vital areas on the front and sides of the head and torso may be protected while still allowing the hands to quickly attack.
• Hard Blocks. Hard blocks use force against the attacking force. The attacking technique is struck with a forceful blow to either, stop, delay, or deflect the attack. Hard blocks are quick since they use minimal blocking movements and require minimal body movement. However, they may be painful or injurious to the blocker as well as the attacker. Under the right circumstances, a hard block may also be considered a counterattack. If the block is powerful and correctly placed, it may not only stop the attack but also may injure the attacker enough to convince him or her to discontinue the attack. 
• Soft Blocks. Soft blocks use grabs or relatively gentle force to delay or deflect the attacking force. Soft blocks are generally slower than hard blocks since they require more blocking motion and more body movement. Since there is no forceful contact, soft blocks are not painful to the blocker. Depending on the block, such as a grab with forceful twisting of the attacker's arm, the attacker may experience pain or injury. Since soft blocks require greater blocking and body motion, the blocker needs more time to perform the blocks, and as such, they must react quicker to attacks than is required for hard blocks.
  
• Forearm Blocks. Forearm blocks impact with either the top, bottom, inside or outside of the forearm.
• Wrist Blocks. Wrist blocks impact with either the top, bottom, inside or outside of the wrist.
• Palm Blocks. Palm (open hand) blocks impact with the palm. Palm blocks make it easy to grab after a block.
• Bounce Blocks. Bounce, or beat, blocks are just a way to use blocks in a manner that aids counterattacks. They are merely hard blocks that bounce off the attacking arm or leg and move into immediate striking techniques. Practically all blocks may be used in a bounce manner. For example, when using a middle outer forearm block (knuckles upward, arm moving outward) to block a fore fist punch coming straight at the face:
  • Immediately after the block makes contact with the attacker's arm, bounce off the arm with a straight fore fist punch to the attacker's unprotected face.
  • If you had to block the punch, it meant the attacker was in punching range, and, since the attacker's arm is extended, he or she has no defense against the counter punch.
  • A bounce block makes the block, and following attack, a single movement. A bounce block may continue to block even as it is attacking. For example, using the above example, as the blocking arm bounces moves into the counter punch, it continues to block the attacker's arm to the outside to prevent the attacker from hooking it at the end of its motion in a last effort attempt to strike the head.
    
• Slide Blocks. Slide blocks are a way to counterattack in combination with most any type of forearm block. As the blocking forearm makes contact with the attacking limb, it stays in contact and slides along the limb into an attack toward the opponent. For example, as a inner forearm block impacts a punch coming toward the head, the forearm slides down the attacking limb into a back fist strike to the opponent's face.
• Hook Blocks. Hook blocks are blocks that hook the attacking limb and lift it upward or move it outward. For example, after making impact, an inner forearm block may extend over the attacking arm, hooking it and carrying it outward; or a high forearm block may hook a high punch and carry it upward or outward.
• Parry Blocks. A parry is a redirection of an incoming force. It is very efficient since you may attack simultaneously with another part of the body or the parry itself may become the attack. When the parry becomes the attack, it is referred to as a riposte. This is a term from fencing where you deflect an attack with the weapon and immediately slide it into an attack.  
• Pressing Blocks. Pressing blocks are used to press an attack upward or downward. For example, a pressing palm block may be used to hold the foot of a chambered front kick down so the kick cannot be completed.
• Scooping Blocks. Scooping blocks are used to scoop an attack upward For example, a scooping palm block may be used to scoop the foot of a front kick and lift the leg upward until the kicker falls backward.
  
• Grab Blocks. A grab block is a modification of a standard block. A standard block is performed in its normal way, except, at the finish of the block, a grab is used. As the block finishes, the hand grabs the attacking limb. For example, when using a middle outer forearm block to block a punch coming straight at the face:
  • Immediately after the block makes contact with the attacker's arm, open the fist, drop the wrist over attacker's arm, and lower your arm until the hand makes contact with and grabs the attacking arm.
  • The attacker may then be pulled or pushed into a counterattack, throw, choke, sweep, etc.
  • The blocking arm may have a closed fist or an open hand. The open hand may telegraph your intentions if you normally fight with closed fists. The closed fist protects the fingers from injury in case the block goes wrong. Even if the opponent cannot be pulled or pushed into a counterattack of some type, he or she may be off balanced enough by the grabbing and holding of the arm to permit a counterattack.
• Layered Blocks. Layered blocks are when one block is applied atop another block and make it stronger. For example, a pressing palm block may have another pressing palm block applied atop it to reinforce the first block.
• Braced Blocks. Braced blocks are when a block is reinforced by the other arm to make it stronger. For example, the fist of the other arm may be pressed against the inside of the elbow of an inner forearm block to make it much stronger.
• Double (Twin) Blocks. Double blocks are blocks where both arms perform blocks at the same time to make the block stronger. For example, twin inner forearm blocks to stop a powerful round kick.
• Wedge Blocks. Wedge blocks block and wedge between two attacks aimed at the same target. For example, if the attack is twin punches to the face or a two-hand throat grab, a wedge block uses two arms to come up between the two arms block them and wedge them apart so neither reaches its target.
  
• Spread Blocks. Spread blocks block and spread two attacks aimed at the same target. For example, if the attack is twin punches to the face or a two-hand throat grab, a spread block uses two arms to come up between the two arms block them and spread them apart so neither reaches its target.
• X Blocks. X blocks are blocks where two limbs are crossed in a X shape that catches and stops the attack in the V of the open end. It will be almost impossible for an attack to break through the block. For example, if the attack is a middle section front kick, a low X block may be used to trap and stop the kick. 
• Jam Blocks. Jam blocks trap a chambered attack and prevent it from firing. Examples are pinning an arm to opponent's chest with a palm block, using a side kick to the shin to prevent a chambered front kick from firing, or closing the range so closely that the opponent cannot punch or kick.
• Leg Blocks. The legs may be used to block kicks. A leg may be chambered into a position where it blocks a kick and then fires a counter kick. For example, a side kick chamber may be used to block a side kick, and then fire its own side kick; or a waving check kick may be used to block a kick to the groin.
• Knee Blocks. The knees may be used to block kicks and sometimes punches. A knee may be pulled into a high front kick chamber to block a kick or punch to the lower abdomen, and then the leg may be used to fire a counter kick.
  
• Foot Blocks. The feet may be used to block kicks and punches, even high section attacks. For example, a crescent kick, inside or outside, may be used to block a punch to the head. I once trained under a Korean master who would use a lead leg outside crescent kick to block a punch, and then use the toes of the foot to grab the opponent's lapel and then pull the opponent forward into a reverse punch.
• Elbow Blocks. The point of an elbow may be used to block a kick. It is dangerous to use in that the narrow surface area of the elbow makes it easy to miss the leg entirely, but if the elbow makes contact it will probably cause serious injury to the leg.
• Shoulder Blocks. A shoulder may be rotated toward the inside to block punches or kicks.
• Hip Blocks. A hip may be rotated toward the inside to block kicks.
• Target Substitution. Although not actually a block, a less desirable target may be substituted for a vital target to minimize damage. For example, if a kick is aimed at the lower ribs, the resulting impact could cause broken ribs. If the body is rotated so the impact point will be upon locked down lower abdominal muscles, where the impact will probably only cause bruising.