Blocking in Kata

I feel sorry for the majority of today's karateka. Since many of them, (at least in the schools I have visited) dont realise that their blocking techniques are actually strikes or throws. I'm certainly no expert, and nor will I claim to be an expert, especially in Japanese Martial Arts, but after reading some stuff from Iain Abernethy, and asking a karateka in China (Yes there are a few, not many, but a few), to try it (even though he got pissed off and wanted to beat my head in), we found that under the right conditions they can work. However, that is only a small part of kata application, and I'm not a JMA stylist, so don't quote me on it.

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"You must be brutalized to become brutal." - ClaytonOT

Most people only see what seems obvious as their mind can interpret the motion they see.
In many cases you cant blame them, you have to blame their teachers because they were not trained to think freely or creatively. Only to mimic movement, not understand motion.

I dont get it because one of the funnest things I do in class is teach a segment from form then before explain some of the applications I ask the students what they see. We go through it and see how it works in application. The I expound on it.

I guess one important question is when is a block not a block?

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One hit, see blood.

It's not enough to just not get hit

Offence is defence, defence is offence. That's how I see it anyway.

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"You must be brutalized to become brutal." - ClaytonOT

I don't feel sorry for them. Advantage:me.

If a MA student sticks around long enough, he'll learn about it. Beginning students need to learn how to do the move correctly, then worry about its additional possibilities later.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

I'm not talking about beginners. I've seen some "advanced" karateka, who wouldn't know that an upper block could be used to take somebody out or that a lower block can be used to throw somebody after they kick instead of just smashing it into somebody's leg.

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"You must be brutalized to become brutal." - ClaytonOT

"Advanced" is entirely a state of mind.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

I know what you're saying, but I don't think they would.

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"You must be brutalized to become brutal." - ClaytonOT

They might not. I don't worry too much about others; I have enough to work on myself.

But to venture an opinion, I think the number 1 problem with MA students across the spectrum (myself included) is lack of practice. I know an instructor who constantly tells students, "You have to practice the move you just learned 50 times before you have it right." Most won't practice it more than 10 times before they decide they've mastered it and start asking for more moves.

But 50 times is a minimum -- it's just enough to get accustomed to a new motor skill. It's the countless repetition and practice after that which begins to develop understanding of the skill.

I don't know how it is with karate schools in Australia or China, but in the U.S. they start handing out black belts at 2 or 3 years of training. While most traditional kung fu schools (and most judo schools) consider someone of 2-3 years experience still a beginner in most aspects.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

lol Gm Pai used to tell people "You have to practice this 52,000 timese before you have it right"

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One hit, see blood.

It's not enough to just not get hit

LOL, and 10 yrs for a reverse punch!

I think often people underestimate not only how long it takes to truly remember a move,
but also how important learning it the correct way the first time is.
People in a hurry often miss details that make or break a technique, in order to "progress" to something else.

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

What is this "else" that people want to proceed to? A different technique? A fancy-looking technique?

Basics are what makes or breaks a fighter.

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“	Originally Posted By: KungFuMan I also learned a praying mantis fist style from watching the actual insect itself. This was before I actually learned some seven star mantis.	”

Well i guess what i'm trying to convey is even between basic techniques, i see errors in beginners that are best addressed early on, before they become set in the neural pathways. It seems to take at least 1000 reps to break a bad habit, what a waste of time!

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

Anyone can remember with a little effort. It takes time to really know.

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One hit, see blood.

It's not enough to just not get hit

In Australia, you can get a black belt in 2-3 years if you do TKD, or if you go to a McDojo. However I've seen students in GKR Karate in Australia get a blackbelt in 6 months. Go figure... I've been practicing WC for 5 years and I'm still not in any hurry to become an instructor. I want to make sure everything is as close to perfect as I can get it.

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"You must be brutalized to become brutal." - ClaytonOT

In my classes the word “block” is strictly forbidden. Instead we use the words control and re-direct. The difference is more than semantic, it stops people from thinking this move = this application and starts them wondering what other applications can this move be useful in.