Lesson 4: White Belt

Requirements a white belt needs for promotion to yellow belt.

Guard

A guard provides protection to vital areas of the body. The arms and hands are primarily used for a guard but a leg may also be added to provide additional protection.

Basic Guard. The basic guard is the most commonly used guard. It protects your upper body and midsection from attack. Using the basic guard, all vital areas on the front and sides of the head and torso may be protected while still permitting the hands to quickly attack.

• Stand in a ready stance with one foot a step in front of the other foot.
• Hold both fists high with the palms toward the face with the middle knuckles just in front of their corresponding cheekbones. The hands protect the face but you still must be able to see over and around them. Also, keep in mind that if a hand blocks a punch, it may be knocked backward into your face.
• Hold forearms vertical with elbows pulled together as much as possible to protect the midsection. From this position, elbows may then be moved outward, upward, or downward as necessary to block.
• Scrunch midsection, round shoulders, and keep chin tucked.
• Basic guard is a "turtle" defense. You are pulling in the arms and chin, and tucking everything behind them similar to the way a turtle pulls into its shell. However, it is still easy to keep the opponent in view and block or attack quickly as needed.
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