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By Clement Sequeira Published on: Wed Apr 6, 2022
Blocks are used to defend against arm or leg attacks and sometimes against blunt weapon attacks, using a closed fist or an open hand. Learn about the Down/Downward Block, Upward/Rising Block, Inside/Inner Forearm Block, Outer/Outer Forearm Block, and the Knife Hand Block.
National-level medallist and authorised instructor, your sensei has over 25 years of experience in this martial art form. Clement is a 4th Dan Black belt and also holds distinguished positions as a national level judge with Karate Association of India, and a continental referee with the World Union of Karate-Do Federations.
The previous blog was on Punches and their Application in Karate Practice. In this blog, we will be looking at blocks. There are six kinds of blocks in Karate which are explained below. Read on and improve your understanding of this martial art.
Blocks or Uke in Karate are used to defend against arm or leg attacks and sometimes against blunt weapon (stick) attacks. Most Karate blocks are arm techniques done with a closed fist or an open hand and are used in self-defence, Kihon, Katas, Kumite, etc.
The Gedan-Barai or down block is used to block or deflect attacks from low angles like an opponent's kick.
The Age-Uke block or rising/upper block is used to block or deflect attacks from high angles such as a club or a stick swinging downward towards one's head.
The Uchi-Uke block, or the inside/inner forearm block, uses the forearm to block. The hand moves from the inside to the outside. The Uchi-Uke block can also be used as a strike because the Karetaka is striking/hard blocking an opponent's attacking arm.
Soto-Uke, or "From the Outside Block", also "Outside Block", is the arm movement from the outside to the inside. The Soto-Uke block is very versatile, and can be used to block or strike. As a block, it can be used as protection against a forward strike to face, a forward strike to the chest, a forward strike to the stomach area, or a round house kick to the head. As a strike, it can be used to target areas such as the head, neck, or ribs.
Shuto-Uke, or "Knife Hand Block", uses an open hand (fingers together) versus a closed fist. The rigid open hand of the Shuto-Uke (or knife hand block) extends the reach of the block (versus the slightly "shorter" reach of a closed fist block). A knife hand block can also be executed more quickly and be turned to grab an opponent's arm or clothes. Karate blocks are used in self-defence, Katas, Kihon, etc.
Karate, while a complex art, is a good one to learn. We hope this blog series makes it simpler for you to understand. Our next blog will be on Basic Stances in Karate Practice.
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