Blocking Techniques
Blocks may be initiated from almost any arm position but they are usually initiated from a guard.
In Taekwondo, blocks are usually performed with a closed fist on the blocking arm, but other hand positions may be used. Most blocks are hard with the forearm making primary contact.
Types of blocks
- Knife/Ridge Hand. Same as with a closed fist except hand is held in a knife hand shape or a ridge hand shape. Hand still does not make primary contact.
- Open Hand (Palm). Open hand makes primary contact with the attacking limb. Used to defect or push the attacking limb. Some people prefer open hand blocking but it is dangerous even when everything goes as planned; the fingers or wrist may be sprained to broken.
- Double Bone. Outer (top) of forearm makes contact. So named because the impact is taken by both the radius and the ulna long bones in the forearm.
- Hooking. After the block makes contact, open or closed hand continues over or under the arm or leg hooking it and deflecting it.
- Grabbing. After the block makes contact, open hand continues over or under the arm or leg hooking and grabbing it.
- Braced: Trailing fist is placed against elbow or forearm of blocking arm to brace it and give it extra support.
High Outer Forearm Block
- Movement. Lead forearm moves upward and over just past body centerline (to cover a larger area in case intended target is misjudged) and then moves straight upward (similar to an uppercut) as fist rotates clockwise until outer forearm and knuckles of blocking hand face backward.
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of forearm, which is now facing upward.
- Position. For a high section block, fist ends up about 4" from top of forehead, just past side of head opposite the blocking arm, and higher than the elbow, so a downward strike will slide off the forearm.
- Used. Used against high downward attack or a high straight attack.
- Example. Use to block a stick being swung downward to the head or shoulder.
Outer Forearm Block
- Movement. Lead forearm moves forward and over just past body centerline (to cover a larger area in case intended target is misjudged) and then moves outward as fist rotates clockwise until outer forearm and knuckles of blocking hand face upward.
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of forearm, which is now facing outward.
- Position. For a high or middle section block, forearm is angled forward at about 45°. For a low section block, the forearm is almost fully extended. Outward movement stops when arm is just outside edge of body.
- Used. Used against high, middle or low straight or angled attacks.
- Example. Use to block a trailing hand (reverse) punch to the solar plexus.
Inner Forearm Block
- Movement. Lead forearm moves forward and over just past body centerline (to cover a larger area in case intended target is misjudged) and then moves outward as fist rotates counterclockwise until inner forearm and palm of blocking hand face upward.
- Contact. Contact is made using inner edge (thumb side) of forearm, which is now facing outward.
- Position. For a high or middle section block, forearm is angled forward at about 45°. For a low section block, the forearm is almost fully extended. Outward movement stops when arm is just outside edge of body. This ensures the attack will miss your body.
- Used. Used against high, middle or low straight or angled attacks.
- Example. Use to block a trailing hand (reverse) punch to the solar plexus.
Inside Forearm Block
- Movement. Lead forearm moves inward and across body as fist rotates counterclockwise until inner forearm and palm of blocking hand face upward.
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of forearm, which is now facing inward, across the body.
- Position. For a high or middle section block, forearm is angled forward at about 45°. For a low section block, the forearm is almost fully extended. Inward movement stops when arm is just outside edge of body.
- Used. Used against high, middle or low straight or angled attacks.
- Example. Use to block a trailing hand (reverse) punch to the solar plexus.
Layered Block
- Movement. Both fists drop so lead forearm rests atop the trailing forearm. Fists palm up near elbows. May also be used with the hands open in a ridge hand shape.
- Contact. Contact is made using top side of trailing forearm. This is a double bone block.
- Position. Arms finish with one forearm rest atop other forearm.
- Used. Used against low attack moving upward or a high attack moving downward.
- Variations
- Double. Forearms finish side-by-side. If a low block, lead forearm is in front. If a high block, lead forearm is in back. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of both forearms.
- Reversed. If fists on rotate 90° toward the thumb side so thumbs so hands finish with palms down near elbows, the contact area is the bottom side of trailing forearm. May also be used with the hands open in a knife hand shape. This is still a double bone block.
- Example. use to block a front kick.
Wedge Block
- Movement. One fist opens and hand grips other fist. Forearms angle outward at a 45° angle so arms are in shape of a wedge. Arms are thrust upward wedging the two attacking arms apart.
- Contact. Contact is made using tops of forearms.
- Position. Arms finish in same wedge shape as in the beginning.
- Used. Used against twin high straight arm attacks.
- Variations
- Twin Fists. Instead of one fist gripping the other, both fists are used side-by-side. Not as strong a block as with gripped fist.
- Example. Use to block a two-handed front choke.
Spread Block
- Movement. Both fists rotate 180° inward until thumbs face each other, as fists are thrust upward and forearms rotate outward pushing the two attacking arms apart,
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of forearms.
- Position. Arms finish in twin outer forearm blocks.
- Used. Used against twin high straight arm attacks.
- Example. Use to block a two-handed front choke.
Twin Forearm Block
- Movement: Both fists rotate 90° inward until thumbs face backward toward head as both forearms thrust into the attack.
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of forearm, which is now facing forward.
- Position. For a high section block, fist are over ears about 4" above head with forearms angled forward and downward. For a middle section block, forearms are vertical or angled forward. For a low section block, forearms are horizontal or angled downward.
- Used. Used against high, middle or low straight or angled attacks.
- Example. Use to block a round kick to head.
X Block
- Movement. Both fists perform low punches, with lead fist crossing over the trailing fist, ending with the forearms crossed in a X shape trapping the attacking limb in the V shape of the block.
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge (little finger side) of forearms.
- Position. Arms finish crossed in a X shape.
- Used. Used against low attack moving upward or a high attack moving downward. Easy to rotate the hands to grip the limb.
- Example. Use to block a front kick.
9-Shaped Block
- Movement. As the opponent punches to the your middle section, you perform a low outer forearm block with the lead arm across the middle section in a downward motion against the attacker's wrist, while simultaneously snapping the trailing fist upward under the attacker's elbow and toward your opposite shoulder. Arms make a scissor motion.
- Contact. Contact is made using outer edge of leading forearm and with inside edge of trailing forearm.
- Position. If performed without the attack, the trailing fist will stop at the opposite shoulder.
- Used. Used against middle section punches.
- Example. Use to block a trailing hand (reverse) punch to the solar plexus.