Why Karate Blocks DO Work

**xWJTx** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 1:20pm

Was reading this article and thought I'd share it with the Traditional Styles community.

http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/20...s-do-work.html

**1point2** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 1:30pm

Boy, that article was a lot of bullshit theory.

Plus, he doesn't know what the word uke means. http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E5%8F%97/1314017 and http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%97

And his videos are of compliant people--students I bet--letting him apply his technique; this proves nothing.

Does this guy want to prove his blocking techniques in an MMA match? Him or a student? Or does he want to keep making silly theories about technique that are proved with compliant demos?

Ugh.

**Ming Loyalist** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 1:35pm

Originally Posted by xWJTx

Was reading this article and thought I'd share it with the Traditional Styles community.

http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/20...s-do-work.html

you need to do more work than this starting a thread.

you need to have a position as relates to the link, state your position and *then* invite discussion.

have you read the stickies around here before posting? it doesn't seem like you did.

and for the record, i agree with 1point2 on the quality of the article.

**xWJTx** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 1:38pm

Originally Posted by 1point2

Boy, that article was a lot of bullshit theory.

Plus, he doesn't know what the word uke means. http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E5%8F%97/1314017 and http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%97

And his videos are of compliant people--students I bet--letting him apply his technique; this proves nothing.

Does this guy want to prove his blocking techniques in an MMA match? Him or a student? Or does he want to keep making silly theories about technique that are proved with compliant demos?

Ugh.

"A lot of bullshit theory"
So now simple physics is bullshit theory?
"Does this guy want to prove his blocking techniques in an MMA match? Him or a student"
Yes, cause MMA proves everything. Have you ever even seen a real fight? I'm sorry but people just don't circle each other probing with jabs to start a fight. They don't have a referee. They don't have mats. They don't have rules. MMA proves nothing.

**1point2** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 1:57pm

Originally Posted by xWJTx

"A lot of bullshit theory"
So now simple physics is bullshit theory?

Yes. In martial arts, theory is not much to speak of. It's easy to test his (silly) assertions in hard, broad-rules sparring. His rambling about chudan uke and how MMA fighters with fingerless gloves something something proves precisely jack ****.

Originally Posted by xWJTx

"Does this guy want to prove his blocking techniques in an MMA match? Him or a student"
Yes, cause MMA proves everything. Have you ever even seen a real fight? I'm sorry but people just don't circle each other probing with jabs to start a fight. They don't have a referee. They don't have mats. They don't have rules. MMA proves nothing.

REALLY!

HOLY ****!

GUYS, THIS GUY JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW!

Please lurk around the site before posting any more.

MMA would prove or disprove this guy's (ridiculous) claims about karate blocking. It doesn't have to be a professional match. Just get someone with fingerless gloves to punch him in the face without being compliant about it. Someone who isn't a student or co-practitioner of his.

**CannibalCrowley** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 2:25pm

Originally Posted by xWJTx

So now simple physics is bullshit theory?

I didn't make it past the "boxer" who learned by watching Gladiator twice. What are his physics arguments for blocks? Please tell me that his arguments include a lot of vectors and deltas, I do so enjoy those.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 2:36pm

Originally Posted by xWJTx

So now simple physics is bullshit theory?

No, people's application of physics leads to bullshit theories.

**Madcap8** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 3:14pm

In an effort to further a sort of discussion over this:

If these blocks are contained within studies of kyokushin, why are these blocks not prevalent in sport kyokushin?

Also in those videos, the 'boxer' throws one clearly telegraphed jab with no follow up. The karate practitioner focuses on the one (left) arm to 'set himself up to strike' whilst leaving himself open to a combination of jabs.

All I've learned from these videos is that karate blocks work with a slow single strike. Whether these blocks leave the user in a position of detriment or advantage...

OP says there are 'no rules' in a street fight, and that is what makes it a real test as opposed to a mma fight. In that 'no rules' contest, the assailant surely would not adhere to throwing a single strike.

**Madcap8** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 3:29pm

P.S.

Oh my, I did not see that sparring video until I took another look at the page. I didn't watch more than the '93 and '96 sections at the beginning of the video, but there sure are a lot of single legs available in the slap fight that is '93.

On a side note, I find it rather amusing that he lays out his article in sort of scientific method format. Then his theory in practice is a controlled experiment - and attempts to relate it to a natural setting which would have been easily emulated in experimentation.

P.S.S.

I'm visually stimulated and apparently skipped over the answer to my own question:

[As an aside, one of the few exceptions to the "faux boxing" model would be Mas Oyama's kyokushinkai karate competitions, where a distinctive style of kumite has developed independently of Western boxing. However the particular rules employed in those contests (specifically not punching to the face) also do not favour/necessitate the use of blocking.]

**Dirty Rooster** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 4:55pm

Originally Posted by xWJTx

So now simple physics is bullshit theory?

Yes.
See?;

Originally Posted by yourArticle

Simple physics should tell you that blocks can beat jabs. If you have your arms up in a guard your arm will only have to move about 10cm to deflect a jab. The guy throwing the jab has to move half a metre. Even taking into account your reaction time you have the advantage (provided your handspeed is similar).

Complete bollocks.
He is NOT taking into account reaction time or confusion.

...or are you talking about a different 'simple physics' explanation buried in the article...?