The Worst Techniques I've Ever Been Taught

**Ignoscant** · Posted On: 3/08/2013 11:44am

Originally Posted by Cuddles

It works? WTF

On knees and kicks too?

While the physics behind this are theoretically correct .. it is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of attempting to do. You'd have to strike with your forehead I guess and what if you missed? You might as well just double the force of his punch to your face.

In *theory* entirely this would be similar to brick breaking. The force of a strike on bricks only travels so far. As long as the force exerted is enough to shatter the entire stack there is no damage to the striker. If the force exerted isn't enough to break the returning force causes damage to the striker.

The same occurs here, if the head is traveling fast enough and impacts at a greater force than that of the fist then theoretically the fist would take more damage than the head. Of course then there is the fact that you're likely intercepting the attack inside of it's power arc so there are numerous different physical forces being applied. (this is why if you hit your head against a wall it hurts but practitioners can break ice with their heads)

... but seriously ... practicing to block punches with your head. That's like practicing to shoulder barge a dump truck.

Edit: Now that I think about it though - I'm starting to wonder if this isn't a wide spread technique. It would explain a lot ...

**Krijgsman** · Posted On: 3/09/2013 2:14pm

Originally Posted by aznraven

I was taught at a recruitment booth for a Judo club, catching a punch midair into a ippon seoi-nage, it was also taught in the army.

I don't know what exactly they were arguing about the viability of that, but that is very close to how ippon seoi nage is done in Nage No Kata. That is probably where they got it from.