Yellow Belt – Blocks
Low Block – Gedan Barai – 下段払い
As the name implies, this block is used to defend against low attacks like a kick or a low punch. To perform it, bring one of your fists to your opposite shoulder, above the other arm. This will be your blocking arm. Bring your non-blocking arm angled down and across your torso so that the fist is in front of your opposite side hip. This is the preparation stage. To execute the block, simultaneously extend your blocking arm down along the line of your non-blocking arm, retract your non-blocking arm so that the fist ends at your same-side hip, like in a reverse punch, and rotate your torso out. Like with the other blocks, this will create a push-pull sensation, which will give more strength to your block.
Mid Block – Chudan-Uke – 中段受け
This block is used for an attack coming anywhere towards your abdomen or chest. Its path of travel is from the inside of the body (the opposite side of the blocking arm) towards the outside (same side as the blocking arm), hence its name. To perform the block, make an ‘X’ with your arms, fisted fingers pointed down and your arms angled down so that you make about a 60 degree angle with your arms and your body. The arm on the bottom of the ‘X’ will be your blocking arm. Once prepared, forcefully bring your top arm to the same-side hip with the hand clenched in a fist and the fingers pointing up, like with a standard reverse punch. At the same time, rotate your lower arm out so that the fisted fingers point up and bend at the elbow while forcefully rotating the arm out so that it is in the same plane as your shoulder (chambered) …