do blocks work in martial arts?

Question

if someone throws a flurry of punches could you block them
i would like to thank everyone who awnserd my numerous questions and even the jerks,

Answer 1

As I write this, five people have answered before me.

calmman7, Father, BArneyfro, and spidertig.. each have a piece of the answer and I will add another piece in a minute. hutmikttn also has a piece of the answer, but I have a mild philosophical dispute with going to ground early. Who knows whether the attacker has a friend around the corner?

Here's the added piece.

Class is class. Real life is real life.

In real life, you throw the counter-attack maybe a tenth of a second after you throw the block. In other words, the attacker doesn't get a chance to get off five punches that you have to block. The attacker gets off 1.5 punches and the second one doesn't land, because you are punching and / or kicking back. Or taking him down.

You can practice this in class, by slowly speeding up your response, until the instructor says not to do that. After that point, it's practice at home that will help you to put the response within a tenth of a second of a block.

Do Blocks work? A well-timed block can take an attacker off his center of gravity, or turn him, and you will have the advantage.


One more thing... a brief word about the people you call jerks. Let me put what they say in a positive, constructive light.

You have just started Taekwondo, or the equivalent. Presumably, you are taking instructions from an instructor who has been at it for years, and believes in his system, and who teaches well.

You go to class, and then come back to Yahoo.answers, and ask a bunch of questions that all sound like "Does it work?", or "What happens if it doesn't"?, or "Am I taking the right style?". You don't go to class and ask "HOW does the work?", or "Does it work in other situations?".

For a while, say a year, take instructions, and believe what the instructor believes, that the system works if you do it well. And practice. A lot. You will be surprised at how everything works out, and how much you learn, and how fast you are promoted.

Answer 2

A block is a set up for an attack or retalliation... to just block means you are playing with someone. To be more correct a parry is often more successful then a block. Against a flurry of blows you can block or what is called shield block, check out boxing and kickboxing (any), and if you don't move, will get you into trouble.
Having said that I've met some preying mantis stylist who you just can't hit with any power and they block and parry the best that I've seen.
Against a flurry of blows, I'm more apt to deflect 1-2 will angling inside of the person or moving away from the person usually in a circular motion.
As far as going to the ground, I do not recommend it in a group situation or if you were going one-on-one with many people around that may join in... better to be able to get away.
It is good to train to do multiple blocks as it sharpens your reaction time and strengthens your arms.
Best of luck.

Answer 3

This is the main problem with people recommending systems. In any real martial art they never block...let me explain. A simple slapping away of an attack is a block or a parry. I have studied Karate now for over 30 years and about 15 years ago I went to Okinawa and learned that all those blocks we learned are not blocks but rather ways to strike an attack to either break the arm/leg or to immobilize it. I can recommend Karate to you but only if you find an authentic dojo with a truly qualfied Sensei...I would not recommend Tae Kwon Do because they rarely train to block anymore but if that is the route you go find an ITF school instead of a sport based mcdojang like the WTF or ATA associated ones.

Answer 4

proper training promotes muscle memory where you are not thinking of your next technique.A proper block can and has deflected blows. Don't misunderstand there is always someone more skilled no matter how long you have been training. And don't let looks deceive you. You can't judge a book by its cover. Yes speed can surprise many boxers. And yes proper training increases speed and muscle memory. I know of blocks that have stopped kicks flurry of punches. Keep up your training find your center ground your chi and become a dynamo

Answer 5

Create space.
Most street fights are exactly that - a flurry of wild punches.
If the guy is bigger and stronger, you're blocking effectiveness will be limited.
Create space (dodge, shuffle back) , find an opening and strike.

Answer 6

Personally, I would not stay in a stand up fight with a skilled or even a wild puncher. Instead of blocking I would recommend a take down, turned into a ground fight where they are placed in a submission hold. Neutralize their punches by taking away a dimension and keeping them close.

Answer 7

It depends on the situation. blocking indefinately like we see done in chop socky movies is choreographed and not real. if you are just blocking the other guy (assuming the type of "blocking" you are doing is even effective in the first place) without attacking or pushing him to react, you will loose eventually.

What is harder to do, Act or react? Blocking is generally reacting. No matter how good you are, no matter how quick or how much of a height advantage you have or how strong you are you are eventually going to fail to react properly and your blocking would fail.

Answer 8

there have been many good answers here, and I can't begin to tell you how many times a blocking technique has saved me.

the blocking techniques are designed to counter th opponents attack, often leaving them open for a quick counter attack, or if used properly to redirect the opponents attack for a grappling technique, or even a submission hold.

it's all in how you train, as you learn how to use your blocking techniques you might be able to see what we're all talking about.

it comes down to timing, distance and your speed; all of which comes from your training, as well as the ability to apply the grappaling or trapping techniques.

but by learning how to block and do it properly, it'll become natural and then later adding any other techniques for countering.

Answer 9

You can't hope to block them all.

The best way to keep from getting hit is just "Don't be there!"
Back up, duck, move.

Or get in so close that the wild swings go beyond you or are too close to be effective.
Get close, shove and trip at the same time.

Answer 10

Blocking will only work for so long, you must get them to the ground, or step off and start over.