Blocking Discussion video

[Guird]

Yeah I saw that video a while ago, it was pretty dumb. Seemed to just be banking on the popularity of criticizing TMAs, but without a real point to make. Traditionally done karate 'blocks' are bad mmk sure, but parrying is a pretty basic defensive concept, so even if you don't want to count covering as blocking (and in my opinion the term 'block' is actually more suitable for covering than for parrying, as parries don't directly block the force of the strike but simply change its direction) it's still BS.

Then add in the fact that most TMA (or at least karate) instructors wouldn't argue you should do the full traditional blocks in practical application(with various proposed (*cough-bs-cough*)justifications for training them anyway) and you can add a straw man to the pile.
Turn shotokan's soto uke into a short movement from a guarded position, remove hikite, and it becomes a fairly respectable forearm/elbow parry in the vein of UltramanG's Bas Rutten video, which is what most karate schools would teach as the application of the technique.

[RynoGreene]

Boxers catch punches all of the time, as was evident in the video someone linked. It's fine if you're at long range, and in striking match. Ditto for checked kicks. Extended blocks can happen, but it does usually take a skilled fighter and proper spacing.

As far as his covering, I'd consider that blocking as well. You're putting something between you and an incoming strike to minimize damage or intercept before impact. That sounds like a block. He's just keeping it compact.

For situations like he is dealing with, with striking that collapse to grapples/restraints, I can't find too much fault with his approach. A cop's job is to get guys on the ground quickly and get cuffs on them. If they have space, they can utilize other options to keep themselves safer. (pepper spray/tasers) Cops will not want to stay at extended striking range, and kickbox with someone. They just want to get people on the ground and under control. His Crazy Monkey-esque approach to block/cover then off angling makes perfect sense for this. Really for anyone without much striking skill, and even basic grappling ability, this whole approach is not a bad one.

[Eddie Hardon]

My sound is very slow (computer problem, but I dunno). Anyway, he talks too much (I do the same) but at 5mins I'd had enough. Just before this point, he cheats in as much as he blocks and then rotates his arm to give him position so as to demo Strikes. Sorry, mate, that would very hard to achieve pragmatically without a lot of training and people hitting hard. The odds are that by the time you'd got out of the crouch, he'd have withdrawn his Right Arm for more striking. I hope that makes sense. It's dynamic and movement is driven by adrenaline and Anger etc.

I agree the KFM comment above, cos' that's what it looks like but then again, when offering his Archie Moore Cross-Arm defence (cf Big George Foreman) unlike the latter two Champions and exponents, he's covering his eyes....A bit of an error there.

Really, the simple extended Arms in a position of apparent Passivity give Space (the 'Fence' concept) and time enough to react, say, Hand up to Temple to 'comb your hair' or down to cover your Floating Ribs to 'check your pocket'. None of this is new.

Then again, a Block is just another Strike...but as another comment above has it, he's got 'something to sell' and where better to demo than by hiring a well-respected MMA school venue cf the 'Extreme Couture' banner...but that's not what you'll be buying from this bloke....

[Kin Kong]

Hmm I agree that he's probably referring to karate blocking -- or "active blocking" as someone else mentioned -- but it's funny because when I think of covering, I often refer to that as blocking.

Parrying as others have mentioned is active in that you reach to meet the oncoming blow. I think it's a lot harder than covering and it takes a lot more time to learn to do effectively, despite yielding better results (more disruptive, sets up a counter) when it works.

On my blog (shameless plug) I discuss the hierarchy of defense which is footwork, head movement, parrying, and then blocking from the top down and how the efficacy of these techniques are in direct proportion to their difficulty.

So while footwork uses the least of your resources and is the most disruptive to your opponent's attack, it's so difficult to employ actively. At least compared to blocking (covering), which is as simple as putting something between your face and the punch. Of course the downside to that is that blocking doesn't disrupt your opponents attack nor does it do a ton to open up counters. But it's easy and when you're in danger, easy > hard.

For law enforcement, who aren't striving to be great prize fighters and won't usually be subduing great prize fighters, the lowest hanging fruit and best investment of their limited time probably is to get good at covering against strikes and crowding the suspects into a clinch scenario.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I generally agree with the premise, even if the communication and terminology was a bit sub-optimal.

[ksennin]

not drilling hours of air blocking trying to reach out and intercept.

I still get pissed when I think of all the hours doing those damn useless air blocks in karate when I could have been doing more useful/rewarding exercises, like the sort of hand drills HM prefers. Even most of the blocks that do work, as Omega and others point out, were framed in completely stiff and counterproductive setups and body dynamics. Hell, half the damn "blocks" in karate kata only make sense as hold releases or grip reversals anyway.