Why Blocking Doesn’t Work

When I started training in martial arts I believed that I would be able to identify an attack and correctly block the attack with one of the several blocks I practiced day in and day out.

But when I sparred I noticed that I didn’t use any of the blocks. I would simply move my head or parry the incoming kick or punch and use distance to move in and out of range.

So why was I wasting my time learning how to block?

I was told by my instructors that the blocks were for SELF DEFENSE.

So I continued to train my blocks and teach them for over a decade. Believing that I had the ability to actually “block an attack”.

Unfortunately I was wrong, my instructors were wrong.

This assumption is not just a little FALSE, but it’s IMPOSSIBLE because your eye, brain and hand don’t work that fast – check out this video from the show “Brain Games” it illustrates my point perfectly.

This is NOT a trick or an illusion. Later in the segment a little girl was able to perform the trick herself against adults flawlessly!

The reason this guy can’t snatch the dollar…is the same reason you can’t block a random attack in the street. 

Because ACTION IS FASTER THAN REACTION!

The split second it takes for your eye to tell your brain to move your hand is way TOO LONG.

And in self defense, you’re not playing some parlor game — you are facing someone who wants to hurt you…BAD.

Even more to consider…

The person in this case knows exactly that the person is going to snatch the dollar and they know it’s going to happen now.

In the street you don’t know how or even if the threat is going to attack. This results in even MORE time it takes for you to react.

Oh, and that’s just one attack you’re defending against…in the street you will face a barrage of attacks from someone who is intent on hurting you.

You may be able to COVER – but it’s still over. In a real fight you’re either getting hit or hitting, you’re being attacked or attacking.

Look, you don’t know who you’re facing in the street. It could be an ex-boxer or a really good street fighter and one or two shots is all they need.

Blocks in the dojo appear to work because…

You and your partner both know the attack since you practiced it 100 times before.

Even if it’s “random”, your partner is going to telegraph their attack and let you block it. 

They’re not REALLY trying to hit you – subconsciously they pull their attack.

“Blocks” in sparring work because…

You know that the person standing in front of you is going to fight you, so you can draw them out by adjusting your distance. In the street you have know idea if you’re even in a fight (most times it’s an argument or they’re using a dodge to set you up). If he makes the mistake of putting his hands up…LOL, he’s done (refer to SDTS Module 1 or the Combatives FAST COURSE).

Blocks in sparring also work because you know he’s going to use a “set number” of strikes that can only generate from his shoulders or hips. Now the same is true in the street, the big difference is that you’re not sure he’s going to attack and you don’t know if that attack is a strike, or a stab.

The NOT KNOWING if they’re going to attack you is HUGE and something that can’t be over looked. In the dojo you know, in the street you don’t….and this is why blocks don’t work. 

I understand that this is a hard pill to swallow, especially if you’re like me and have invested countless hours learning how to block. But facts are facts and science is science and you don’t need blocks for self defense.

Control the pillars, control the fight.

The pillars of self defense are Poistion, Distance, Momentum and Balance.

When you take the position of advantage and use the FORWARD DRIVE to control distance, balance and momentum you negate any assault he’s planning…BUT YOU NEED TO GO FIRST!!!

When you attack, use the EDGE OF HAND combined with keeping your CHIN DOWN and your ELBOW UP to provide cover, protection and destroy’s your attacker’s advance – By keeping your chin down and your elbow up on your attack, the only time you’re “exposed” is when you strike – and this happens with ANY STRIKE. However — when you’re on the attack – you don’t need to keep your hands up. This is an observation that most martial artists make and its WRONG.

“There are two people in a fight – the one attacking and the one being attacked.”

Once you attack – keep attacking, take ground and move forward. Your body mechanics demand that your put everything into your attack. This is natural, it happens all of the time and no one notices it…it’s crazy.

When you’re attacking and taking ground…he can’t set his feet, he’s trying to move, slip, and cover…NOT strike or stab. If he tries to attack, if he has the presence of mind to attack, it won’t have the power or accuracy needed to cause injury. Truth is, you probably won’t feel it. 

The forward drive, with your chin down and elbow up, actually provide much more cover than traditional sparring or boxing style hand position. 

You can’t hit something that’s not there…

Your relentless assault disrupts your attacker’s balance, increases power in your attack and keeps you moving into the target (in most cases your head) – since you’re constantly moving the target, he will most likely miss or graze you with a strike because when his brain makes the calculation and tells his fist to strike. In that split second, you’ve already moved and he can’t adjust the trajectory of his punch because it’s already launched. This puts hime one critical step behind you…and that is HUGE.

We cover this in Module 1 of the Self Defense Training System HERE <<

This is a day one, core principle stuff of the SDTS.

If you’re waiting to block, you’re waiting to get hit, bludgeoned, stabbed or shot and you will lose.

Train Honestly,

Damian