what are ways to block kicks in martial arts?

Question

I'm 5'1 and I spar with my 5'10 friend.... any ways to block the kick or make use of it? I've been blocking with my right fist and lower arm, which is now pretty bruised up. thanks

Answer 1

You can block with hands, arms, legs and feet.

Try not to block with anything else, especially your face. ;-)

Answer 2

There are so many possibilities. If you guys are doing set drills where you have to stand at a certain angle and position each time and have to move in a certain way and sequence, then tough luck. There isn't much you can do but to endure the pain. Otherwise, move out of the way by shifting to the side, back, forward, etc. Anything to make the kick harmless first, then you can follow with strikes to the shin, knee, ankle, etc., to make the kicker think twice before kicking again. Alternatively, ignore the harmless kick and attack the vital areas of the body straight if you are within range. Are you faster than the taller person? If so, you can sweep the standing leg, catch the kicking leg, or try kick blocking. It's a lot of practice but if you are faster, you can kick the lifted knee or shin before the shin and foot snaps forward fully in front snap kicks. Same technique can be used to kick the rising thigh, butt, etc. in those reverse kicks.

You can check out this video for some of the applications that I've just mentioned, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjq-4ptpR3M Look closely, it's got kick catching, kick blocking kicks, sweeps, hooks, and just plain side step and step in for the kill.

Answer 3

Hi there

This all depends on the style and skill of the practitioner. There are lots of different ways you can block, evade, absorb or strike the kick. It also depends on the type and direction of the kick. Personally blocking is waste and if you are going to block any from an unarmed attacker its far better to turn the block into a strike and block at the same time. Sorry if its a bit vague but soto uke or uchi uke just wont cut it!

Regards

idai

Answer 4

In Muay Thai Kickboxing, kicks from the waist down are usually blocked with the leg(either the shin or the knee, depending on your timing) while kicks from the waist up is blocked by the arms. But I wouldn't really recommend blocking kicks as legs tend to be stronger than arms so naturally, you get bruised. Try to parry and dodge instead to minimize bruising. How? By entering into his centerline. If he throws a right roundhouse kick to your head for example, you step to the right into his face instead of stepping back away. And parry his kick near knee not near his foot. This minimizes the impact of his kick and gets you nearer into punching range. Remember, you should avoid blocking the instep of his foot, it's the last thing you want to come in contact with since that's where the full momentum of the kick is. So you only have 2 choices, avoid the kick by stepping out of range or enter and parry. You only block as a last resort, usually when you're too slow to move out of the way.

Answer 5

if your right arm is bruised then start to block with your left arm it will help you by first of all strengthening that arm and second of all less pain. You need to learn to start guarding yourself with both arms. If your 5'10 friend is kicking to your head then you can either duck or back up or you can use like a high block or something to block it. If she's kicking to your stomach then just keep your hands up and keep switching stances also every now and then put a couple blocks like down block but not down. If she's kicking to your shins you can down block or you can simply back up and then come in as fast as you can with a kick or a punch to score a point...good luck with your arm

Answer 6

You should think about changing styles if you are taught to block kicks with your arms/forearms. to use your arms to block you must still have your body in the same spot the kick was aiming at.

if its a push kick get offline from the kick and attack the attacker. if its to the head I wouldnt even worry about it and just get offside and kick the attacker straight away. muay thai leg kicks need you to use your shin to block it (aim your shin into their tendon that joins the shin and top of the foot).

w could discuss this all day, but never stay there and use your arm to block a kick. or if you must, stop blocking the shin, and start aiming for the tendons above the foot.

Answer 7

In general, hands take care of hands, legs take care of legs.

most times it is better to block, or wedge a kick. there are exceptions- you can learn to wedge a kick with your hands in certain situations, but they are followed by a kick and there is a purpose. Normally blocking a kick with your arm, or forearm will possibly do much damage and possibly break your forearm. or allow the kick to slide up to your head.

except for really low kicks usually roundhouse kicks delivered by a muai thai boxer, charging into a roundhouse will nullify the kick and leave them open and off balance.

the problem with most kicks is that the person kicking, will be off balance if you close distance. the beauty of the low kick is that you aren't and are close enough that you still can utilize your hands.

you might be able to get away with "arm blocking" in light or medium contact sparring, but try it in hard contact and you will wish you didn't FAST.

Answer 8

They use the usually helpful blocks and counters of Muay Thai and Western boxing. I easily have taken classic Martial arts besides as Muay Thai and BJJ, and used to combat in MMA. i can allow you realize first hand that distinctive classic martial arts blocks and evasions are geared extra for the two combating a guy or woman who's a similar if no longer the comparable paintings as you, or against an unskilled opponent. classic Martial arts developed those innovations to handle bandits and the extra effective and better, yet much less experienced authority classification of their respective lands. A measured experienced attack is in simple terms distinctive, and distinctive, say Kenpo which grow to be my first paintings of learn, innovations are go away you out of place to guard stick to united statesand take down attempt. additionally distinctive classic martial arts instructors have fallen into the "in the event that they do this" sort of coaching. in the event that they do A, you counter with B. This grow to be a brilliant area of Bruce Lee's project with classic arts that had grow to be extra stylistic than helpful and functional.

Answer 9

That is basically how you do it, make sure though if its a high kick, you block with your forearm close to your face, this way it will actually block the kick, as opposed to you hitting yourself from the impact. If its a body or leg kick, raise your knee up to block with your calf, and bring your elbow to your knee, while using the forearm block for your face. Otherwise you can try to speed up your reflexes and grab the opponents leg and sweep them off their other leg. Just always hang on to the leg, even when they are on the ground.

Answer 10

I go to a karate class so i can help. This is the exact words my sensei said to me, i will expalin afterwards because he is hard to understand. " when kicks are thrown through the air like a bull charging at a person, you must block like a turtle does when a falcon attacks" i finally understood it after a long time, the best way is that when someone kicks you, bring one knee up because the knee has more defense than the arms so the opponent will get recoiled after the hit and that will leave him/her vulnerable for an attack. The most important thing to remember as me sensei said is " Lock on to your opponents eyes" The eyes can tell you what the opponent will do next and you can tell how he/she is going to dodge and do other moves.

Answer 11

The best way to block a kick is to practice getting out of the way. If you move in and to the side when your friend kicks, you can use that as a chance to land a kick. When you get in, stay in.