Defensive Tactics
Page 4 of 6
Blocks
- Always keep elbows and arms close to the body, do not flap them a bird. Michelangelo once said that a sculpture should be able to roll down a hill without anything breaking off. Likewise, do not leave things sticking out while sparring.
- Never block past the outside edge of the body. It is unnecessary and wastes movement and energy.
- Always use the quickest, most powerful, and most effective movements; you need every split second in your favor. The quickest blocks are hard blocks, but they are hard on the body of the defender as well as the body of the attacker. Soft blocks are easier on the body, but they take more time to execute. Use principle of Um-Yang, the harmonious action of opposites. Hard and soft techniques are opposite in application but they work together to defend the body. Soft blocks are effective against hard attacks, and vice versa.
- Block with power. Block with enough power that the pain will cause the opponent to think twice before attacking again. A block is not just contact with the attacking limb, you must block with enough force to stop the attack.
- Remember, blocks are useful but you do not get points for blocks. You must also attack successfully.
- When contact sparring, do not kick at the opponent, kick through the opponent to insure there is enough movement for you blast through any block and score.
- In modern competition, blocks are small and fast. In Olympic style Taekwondo sparring, blocks are losing favor in favor of attacking strategies. The advantage of economical blocks is that rapid recovery may be achieved so there may be an immediate counterattack, which is crucial after blocking.