Tae Kwon Do >> Basic Forms >> Blocks
The key to performing effective blocks is to engage the shoulders, while keeping them relaxed. Blocks are traditional elements of tae kwon do. They are not taught as part of modern-fighting or -sparring technique.
In basic forms, the student executes the blocks while stepping into either a front stance (down block and high-rising block) or into a back stance (knife-hand block). In all cases, the block and the step finish simultaneously.
Think: All of the effort is concentrated in the final movement with no waste in order to maximize the force of execution.
When preparing for the block, both hands are held in fists, the blocking hand crossed under the other hand, up over the shoulders, close to the neck, palms facing the body, shoulders relaxed. The block is frequently performed when moving into a front stance, same leg forward as hand blocking. In the finished position, the fist is palm down, one to two inches over the over the leg.
During basic form, the move is executed when changing directions prior to making a low punch or high punch. The movement should stop cleaning in the same plane as the leg, about two inches from the knee. The down block also occurs during the traditional forms with stances other than the front stance. The finish should still be sharp and clean.
As with strikes and punches, it is important to engage the shoulders when executing the block. This means creating a distinct "twist" of the upper body when the body's direction of movement is in the same direction of block; when changing directions, the change in movement direction naturally creates this "twist."
Knife-hand block is executed from a back stance. The front hand prepares up, over the opposite shoulder, palm facing and in front of the ear. The elbow should remain low and the shoulders relaxed. The back hand prepares palm down, at and just behind the waist. This placement creates a gentle twist of the shoulders as the hips remain square.
When executing the block, the front hand generates power from the torque of turning the shoulders, the lever of the arm as it travels forward, and the torque from turning the hand. Similarly, the back hand generates its force from the turning of the hand and its movement forward from the waist to the torso.
In the finish position, the arm of front knife-hand is bent at a 90° angle, approximately 45° from the body. The student looks at and over the back of the fingers of the knife-hand. The back hand is palm up, in front of the solar plexus. Shoulders should remain relaxed.
In the finish position, the student holds his front hand (blocking hand), held in a fist, above and just in front of the head, with the arm at approximately 120deg from the shoulder and palm facing out. The arm is just forward enough to be seen in the student's peripheral vision. The arm should remain straight through the wrist and hand. The back hand, also held in a fist, palm up, is held at and just behind the waist.
When preparing for the block, the front hand turns, without changing elevation, so that it is perpendicular to the ground, palm toward the face, arm centered in front of the body. The back hand is pointing to the ground, palm toward the body, in line with the front hand, fists in the same plane.
When executing the block, the lower hand comes up for the block, and the blocking hand comes back to and just behind the waist. If just executed from the arms, without engaging the shoulders, the block will be ineffective. Unlike the other blocks, this force cannot be generated from angular displacement of the shoulders. Instead it is generated from the linear displacement of the shoulder as the blocking arm moves up.
To see how this is accomplished, consider the "prepare" position. In this position, the distance of the fists, in a line perpendicular to the ground, creates a slight differential of the shoulders from parallel. When blocking, the shoulder traverses this distance. As the arm moves up, the shoulder of the blocking arm pushes up just past parallel when it finishes the block. After the block, the shoulders need to relax back to parallel.
updated 27 April 2013
Tae Kwon Do >> Basic Forms >> Blocks
