What are karate blocks for if they’re not really blocks? Bunkai I use in MMA & other combat sports

[@KARATEbyJesse]

A block, is a lock, is a blow, is a throw! 🥋😄👍

[@matthewbailey9405]

I completely agree. I always found the best way for me to understand this is with etymology. Please do correct me if I am wrong but the word used (uke - 受け) actually means 'to receive' rather than simply block. So if one thinks of it as how to receive attacks using various aspect of your own (and your opponent's I guess) body mechanics then the techniques end up with so much more versatility.

[@rubenrelvamoniz]

Hello!There you are,did you see part 1?

[@MP-oj6zo]

Jesse you are everywhere karate shows :D you should do a video about karate applications in mma sparring

[@OsRaunio]

Isn't upper block used in karate to block Bo strike or with Sai or Tonfa against a katana? You had video of Karate having common origins with Kali. Is there similar block in Kali with sticks?

[@MP-oj6zo]

@@OsRaunio or if you have philly shell block then you avoid the strike, catch the hand and hit the elbow

[@mervinmarias9283]

That is the problem with many traditional martial arts. Passing information through generations without distortion is not easy.

[@The-Travel-Man]

Distortion or change is inevitable. Martial arts evolve and are adopted by individual styles. One example: BJJ. Another example is one given kata "Seisan", that is very different from style to style. The interpretation of a form or a technique will be subjectively different. Many masters have historically changed forms or created their own.

[@captaincompound5703]

The up block isnt a block, we always used it as a strike under the chin/throat in the clinch, a bit like an upper cut but different

[@amurape5497]

Yep, I don't do karate, but the high block always reminds me of "shield bash", which is basically a forearm cross face...

[@SteveShearn]

I interpret as pull the guy's arm down (grab his sleeve) and bash under the chin or into the throat with your forearm. Works best on his blindside, your right arm grabs his right arm and pull it down and towards you and then bash up and out over his arm. I've been trying to interpret "white crane spreads wings" the same way in TaiChi, but I think that's more of a split apart the arms or break balance when he's grabbing you both arms.

[@periodic98]

Would it be more like an elbow to the chin?

[@landonalger6633]

Yup, and the final position is just to protect your face from any wayward punches from your opponent

[@lilalmonds4595]

Yeah that’s the only I’ve seen it used, and it definitely hurts, although I’ve never seen it used with a gum shield on

[@BigSlanko]

I’ve used most of the karate blocks in sparring. The ones I had the most difficulty with where shuto (open hand) techniques until my master explained they are mostly grabs for throws and grappling and that changed my outlook on them big time. Cool video coach.

[@kingkazuma2239]

I've always thought of it as sort of "framing" for an opening like in boxing

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

@@kingkazuma2239 I think framing or breaking grips is probably the best application of these too. If you think about it, karate is supposed to be have come from Okinawan sumo wrestling and Southern Chinese kung fu. So what other reasons would these "blocks" be for???

[@glennnolasco2475]

People not fond of striking will grapple, and those who are not proficient in grappling will resort to striking. A lot will tend to forget old-school parent martial arts as a mix of grappling and striking, like Karate and your demonstration of those blocks that can be used for grappling, I do them now in my shadow wrestling thanks to you, coach Ramsey 🥋🤼🏻‍♂

[@rafaelbabar3494]

As a black belt in Kung Fu I took your advice and started to learn jujitsu. You are so right many of the forms / patterns I learned especially at brown and black are obviously releases from grapples. I feel let down that even my excellent high degree instructors never realised this essential fact.

[@temmy9]

There was a medieval swordmaster named fiore dei liberi who wrote a manuscript called flower of battle, where he set down his entire art, from grappling, to dagger, to spear, to sword, to pollaxe, mounted and unmounted, armored and unarmoured. His entire art can literally be broken down into his 4 grappling guards and his three ways of stepping and the transitions between them. What is in one context a block, becomes a swordstroke from below, becomes the setup for an armbar. The difference is not technique, but the application of his basic principles to the weapon and task at hand. I was watching some karate guys do their kata, and afterwards I showed a friend how much of their kata could be broken down into combinations of those four postas and three ways to step.

[@danielsmith5664]

As a fiorist, this

[@Mendrawza24]

This is budo. Taking the basic movements and finding the applications everywhere.

[@joethesheep4675]

as a general rule: Everything thats complicated doesnt work in a real fight. I havent practiced every martial art ever but i guess that, in all martial arts that are effective you will, at some point realize that everything you learned is basically the same but in different clothing, if you will. For me it is the "kihon happo" (basic eight) and the name already tells it all. XD (we use to say that you only need to turn the 8 by 90° to see what you can really do with em).

[@robbybee70]

is this manuscript available online somewhere I'd read it

[@danielsmith5664]

@@robbybee70 yeah totally! You can find a free version on wiktenaur.com (which actually has translations of basically all the medieval manuscripts) I personally bought a hard copy of that version and you can find that on amazon I believe

[@torinslik6577]

In my own personal experience, I've used the Upward Block in sparring to jam into a person's shell. A momentary distraction before throwing body hooks or upset punches.

[@MountainEvanChang]

Torin Slik uses SHIELD BASH. It's super effective!

[@periodic98]

Ahh that actually makes sense.

[@kingkazuma2239]

In the first Heian kata it's used as an arm break into an elbow smash. The arm break might not seem practical but it could also be a way of shoving your forearm into the person's face and then grabbing their head and pulling them into your elbow

[@JonathanJimenez_metalriff6]

u frame with it nice

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

I've considered that too. Or even when someone has you in a collar tie or the Thai clinch.

[@ShinFahima]

The high block is there for when you're being assaulted from overhead with like a chair, all WWE style.

[@sensam6155]

6:34 perfect example

[@azurebadger]

No it isn't. It also is wrestling. It also can be used for many things, but traditional okinawan karate where it began drew directly from shaolin kung fu via chinese ambassadors to the Ryuku kingdom, and the traditional wrestling art of the island that existed for much longer before that. That is precisely what Naihanchi kata is rooted in, and it is the oldest kata tradition. Its judo before that was a thing.

[@davidrichardson3001]

@@azurebadger I found the high block useful against TDK types trying to drop an ax kick on your shoulder, it also used in armed combat to move a weapon upwards to create an opening for a body strike of some kind. It's also what you do with a shield to smack someone in the head lol.

[@catocall7323]

Do you remember that Brazilian MMA fighter who got put in the hospital by a bunch of guys in a gas station for being a duck to ladies? He definitely needed an upper block.

[@azurebadger]

@@davidrichardson3001 nice. what I was trying to point out is that many people do not know its use. The fact that people can only imagine using it to block things coming down from above shows how many karate teachers failed to understand it along with many aspects of the art. Shotokan itself did. many of the applications of karate were lost generationally. I practice Shorin Ryu Seibukan in its original form and what I find interesting is that some of the things that were taught historically weren't passed down. The traditions in okinawa continue but it was how it spread that did it. The forearms are basically shields and are hardened. its an in close art and features tons of judo like content in its oldest katas. one of the teachers in Shorin Ryu chotoko kyan, was famous on the island for beating a judo campion at the age of 60 by grabbing him by the cheek and throwing him to the ground and smashing him with ground and pound basically. Pretty impressive stuff but it also demonstrates that many of those defensive manuevers contain wrestling elements, and are poorly understood because of the way they are taught.

[@tjbjjtkd]

High block can be used to frame! I've used it in the stand up portion of Jiu-jitsu during clinching.

[@justaregularguynamednoah1581]

I was taught in kempo that every block is a strike every strike is a block, and seen these being applied in a grappling scenario is quite interesting to me I actually love it

[@ressque]

(For background's sake, I've been in Shorin-Ryu Karate for almost 20 years, and I've even had the privilege of studying under Tadashi Yamashita.) I was always told the reason for moving your hands through the "X" position was for two specific reasons. 1. The first reason was to ensure that if you are grabbed, your assailant can only get a good grip on your lead hand leaving at least one hand free to defend yourself. 2. Secondly and much more important. In Shorin-Ryu at higher levels, all blocks are also considered "Strikes to the limb" with the intent of either breaking the attacker's limb or causing extreme discomfort in the same offending appendage. Passing through the X position creates a circular motion to build momentum almost like a whip cracking at the very end of its length. It's also why we rotate our wrist at the end of our blocks and punches (for maximum impact). Ideally, you hit your opponent's limb with the strongest part of your arm and that limb then becomes much more difficult to use or damaged to the point that the fight is over quickly. I was told it's also why we sometimes practice breaking boards and blocks. Boards and blocks don't hit back, but it's important to know which part of the arm to hit with, so we break the opponent's arm or leg and not our own. Hope this helps and doesn't come off like some damn know-it-all.

[@Doug_M]

It's interesting how to interpret kata. I remember as a kid going into dojos and wondering what the purpose of doing all that stuff was. Most teachers at that time(80's-90's) could not even give you an answer because they didn't know either.

[@shinjig]

It was practice chaining one move into another. You spent part of the class practicing the moves by themselves in repetitions, and then kata's for practicing going from one move to the next and then sparing for "real-world application".

[@BL0HARD]

Thank goodness for the UFC. I remember in the 80’s the only thing we had to watch that showed us what a martial art fights looked like was a JCVD film.

[@geoffseymour8801]

funnily enough that block saved me from a bottle over the head in a pub when it all kicked off, the idea of bending the wrist up is to catch what ever was coming over head then slide down the forearm away from your head

[@catocall7323]

This! It's for the common armed fight situation of having something swung at your head. Which is an angle that's almost never used unarmed.

[@ok-zombie4286]

I used a high block to stop a stick to my head. The stick broke. Albeit a weak stick as I’m not very strong lol. Block was more a strike where arm and stick met rather than wait for stick to land.

[@Boomstck]

The upward block is an uppercut, then turned to jam a person in the neck/throat to create space. This is what I was told when I took karate quite a few years ago.

[@zenshinacademy4096]

the best and real explanation I have ever found for an "upper block".. imagine or actual have someone grab your wrist. from there the "chamber is you drawing that person in, from that grab. The "upper block" is a forearm to the chin, face or neck.

[@adrianpetyt9167]

Having practiced both western fencing and traditional Tae Kwon Do, it certainly occurred to me, and I have taught my students that the traditional blocks are based on parries with a sword. Oddly, I did once stop an axe kick with a rising block during a tournament. It was an unusual enough technique to get a big cheer from the audience. (I still didn't win the bout).

[@yakbutter27]

I fenced for years, and started taking karate about six months ago, and I had the same realization! You would rarely have an attack coming from that angle if you're fighting hand to hand, unless it's an axe kick, but if you were fighting against someone with a weapon I could definitely see needing to protect against an attack from above

[@ulisesruiz3732]

The upper “block” I believe is kind of a frame/parry for close range, circular punches that people with no technique tend to use. Since usually that kind of punch is slow in motion, the idea is to parry it and then do a straight punch. Curious enough, old black and white mexican movies always do that choreography: the bad guy trows a circular punch, the good guy postures up, blocks the punch with his forearm and punches the bad guys face with the other hand. If I find a clip of that, I’ll send it to you

[@richardmcallister460]

I've never used the high block in any empty handed situation in my life, but when I started doing HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), I started using it a lot! (With very slight modifications for positioning.) It's definitely ideal for weapons like the sabre and cutlass, where when executed it blocks the "Number One" line of attacks, an overhand slash from your opponent's high-right to low left, aimed at your head/clavicle region.

[@wintyrqueen]

Ageuke, (the rising "block") is often used as a forearm strike under the jaw, whilst pulling the other person's hand down. Often the pulling hand is the one actually doing the blocking. The most effective way I've used it though was against a wide swinging punch (like an untrained haymaker). Deflected the angle just enough that the strike went over my head, & kept the attacker's rotation going, so they ended facing away from me, letting me wrap the other arm around the neck, & apply pressure with the "blocking" arm in a sleeper hold. The X block is typically taught as the second half of two movements. With a lower X "block" first. If someone is holding your left wrist, place your right fist between your left fist & their forearm (a low X position), then raise both hands up. It strips the grip, very effectively.

[@stephanwatson7902]

3:18 Maybe this is barring the throat, where you push someone's neck to create space? Idk

[@IbrahimKhalil-bt9yh]

Yes that is one application you see it a lot in boxing

[@jakelewis676]

Was about to comment the same thing that's what I think

[@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935]

Like a frame or even a reverse collar tie.

[@Ilethsamael]

I think this is the most reasonable application. A forearm with short leverage is very strong and pushes nicely the enemy high away from its center of gravity. Kind of a "pushing clinch" that has the goal to destabilize the enemy form so even if he reacts hitting his hits have not as much grounding power. By contrast the same way Capoeira has all those kicks where your head goes away or towards the target before kicking either to escape a clinch or to engage in a tackle changing levels. There is so much misunderstanding in martial arts due to lack of sparring.

[@IbrahimKhalil-bt9yh]

@@Ilethsamael there's more than 10 ways to apply this "block" realistically, in some of them you're just supposed to execute them in a split second while other applications its more of static holds or set up for throws and more. I agree to a certain extent but from my research the kata (forms) were taught many times without the applications/bunkai especially since the watering down era of karate. Karate has the formula kata/form ---» kihon (isolate training of single technique) ---» kumite (sparring). So there's not really need of reinventing the wheel what's needed is explaining correctly to the people how to use the wheel. Imagine you come across a bicycle but you had no prior knowledge of what a bike is or how to use it and no one to teach you how to apply it. Bunkai/applications were taught in secrecy and still is to a large degree, and just like you mentioned capoeria, karate has a similar history of fighting against suppression, both capoeria and karate has a history of hiding martial arts form in dances to keep it a secret from oppressors/colonizers. I think what contributes to the misunderstanding is the sediment of the uneducated narrowminded thought that the white belt kid/mc dojo application is the real bunkai.

[@denant2582]

Been studying karate for a long time and I've never seen a more satisfactory display of some of the 'block' techniques in practical terms as now!!! Thanks, Ram the Man!

[@RamseyDewey]

Well, I’m only showing you the ones that I actually use in sparring.

[@dakotalandreth]

3:06 the high block is clearly for fighting Nephilim

[@Aritokamaru]

Ramsey, you surprised me with this video. It is very refreshing to see you not making fun of this techniques and actually put them in application. Very good applications especially with the gedan-barrai (low block)

[@javgoro]

Very good video, Ramsey. According to Funakoshi (who said it explicitly), the role of the hikite, or "pulling hand" (the hand that you pull to your hip) is to pull from your opponent (Ian Abernethy has a pretty good video about this), as you show halfway through the video. About the high block, I've used it (on rare occasions, and never as a full-on block, i.e. not executing it all the way) in sparring. If I'm spitballing, I could see it being used to grab a hand before you transition into a fireman's carry or to push it out of the way upwards, if you ever have a need for that. How effective that would be, I'm not sure.

[@jhernandez7144]

The pull back also helps generate more power in your punch. Great video.

[@diphyllum8180]

When you say tradition is the reason for something you should smash cut to a clip from Fiddler on the Roof of someone singing "tradition!"

[@JosephKerr27]

I'm glad you mention the hikite (translates as "pulling hand" AKA "pocket"). I suppose it could be useful with a leg trap, but its main use is the second example: grabbing a hand and pulling them into a strike.

[@yenel1843]

i Love the overdramatic advertisment

[@Thiago-lg8sp]

For real, it's awesome

[@karljans4807]

I love your photo

[@boxingforselfdefence7620]

The front rising block is used in boxing by guys like Andre Ward, also used with a little more shell to it by guys like Geln Johnson and James Toney. It's in old school boxing too.

[@casparbosch5615]

I was taught to do the high "block" at the same time as the reverse punch when going in to protect getting hit simultaneously. But that might only work in point sparring.

[@M_K-Bomb]

It was great to see the punch combined with pulling his wrist to the hip in a combat sports context. That's how I have heard it was meant to be used and has just been kept without knowledge of its rational.

[@felipearevalo6792]

In wushu too there is a lot of movements that seems, in first sight, no clear use, but had more sense in the grapling field, not as blocks or strikes. For example the tiger hands, are more for grapple than for strikes, but the móvies show you that are strikes, even is posible, Is more effective in a clinch situation to reléase from the clinch. Another, the famous snake finger to the face, another misconception, Is not a block neither, and so on and so on. The forms (katas, taolus, etc) had many aplications, think about in old times, even in the xix century and early xx century, you cant film the techniques, and these was past to the next generation in the forms, but, unfortunatly, the real aplications, the purpose of the movements begun to get lose and now we get all that fancy movements, the form is here but the aplications arent, and became just a coreography, this had been bad for wushu and Tai Chi, You can do the fancy moves but you never realise what the heck are you doing and for what, and your teacher says "its tradición, do thousand of times the form, and in a miracle, you Will learn to fight in sixty tears", thats a real big failure. Thanks for all your videos coach.

[@arx3516]

What about illustrated manuals? They existed at the time, and are much more effective in passing down techniques than kata. The manual's illustrations depict both the user of the technique and its opponent, and the text explains the context.

[@felipearevalo6792]

@@arx3516 Do you refer to these old scrolls and painting, or the magazine pictures like black belt publications ?, yes, of course is true, in both cases, but think about the oral transmition generation to generation that is more related to eastern culture. And of course this is a hypothesis, to be proved, that could explain the use of katas and taolus to keep and pass the knowledge and why many moves and techniques does not fit with the aplications because the original use of the forms was too different that today teachings, its like the history of Tai Chi, the chinese goberment allows the forms but not their real use, and we have another kind of Tai Chi, a censored and cancelled one vertion. But, as I said, this is only a hypothesis that why many complex techniques seems to be useless or not proper to use in a sparring scenario. Thank you for your comment.

[@HamannGeorg]

@@arx3516 Think of HEMA. Even as there where many manuscripts, it was difficult to reconstruct and actually use the technique. The Problem is, that though you can picture and explain a certain technique many details of how and when best to apply are just not there. It took years and years of experiments to get a functional martial art again and many things are still not clear (look at the infamous pommel "to end someone rightly").

[@aryaarjomand7348]

Nice one as always Ramsey. In regards to the 'up block' I can only give my take coming from a Silat style background. Our instructor taught us this move with one hand more as a deflection/riposte than a block, particularly for strikes that come from 'above'. Above can mean two things: a) actual type of strike like a vertical-ish neck chop, or hammer fist or haymaker or any kind of motion that is striking vertically, or for b) regular straight punches but due to extreme height difference the punch comes from above you. In context of Silat which they sometimes have very low stances and historically fighting against much taller European combatants there is some plausibility in justifying its existence. Now the actual thing that happens (at least what I've understood from our training) is not that you try to stop the strike dead on the spot. But rather 'catch' it, feel the pressure, then immediately riposte with lifting your elbow (kinda like a elbow strike) to 'deflect' the strike, redirect the attacking hand by letting it 'slide off' so it can continue its motion downwards, catch it and counter strike immediately. Sorta like a 'sticky hand' trapping kinda situation. The best analogy I can think of is the actual riposte/counter in HEMA like for example this clip the first technique shown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH29kpmXoa16Z6c Now about ever having seen it used? Sure sometimes in sparring. Have I seen it being it performed cleanly like how it should in theory? Of course not but that's with all techniques I suppose. I've occasionally used it as a set up as well where I purposefully keep a low stance to invite a downward strike then use it to 'trap' the hands for a split second and move in for an elbow strike. But I will admit, the timing for it is insanely difficult and application situation for it is relatively niche and its specially hard against fighters who retract their arms fast and have a good guard. But it is still possible in theory and definitely in practice, and quite fun to pull off! But I can't speak for other Styles of course. For us definitely not an Axe kick block!

[@xabierpascal7548]

The high block maybe is a frame when clinching

[@danger_design]

The ad was the best part of this video. It actually made me laugh. The rest wasn't bad, but the ad was actually funny.

[@jasonroberts8206]

I was taught that the high block was to block an axe kick or someone swinging a weapon like a stick downward. Never actually used it tho in anything other than demos.

[@leoprzytuac3660]

Heey! The coach analyzing karate bunkai? What a treat!

[@davi1492]

U should really search for vinicio antony in youtube, he's the coach of lyoto machida and one of the guys that are trying to bring back the grappling moves of karate

[@onimekyo7633]

I think real karate is dead, no one teaches complete karate anymore I mean no one teaches everything from footwork, grappling, blocking, striking, joint lock, partial body hardening, to weapons in karate anymore

[@onimekyo7633]

@OWL Delta Khz 98.3 yeah, but usually it's very hard to find in real life It's still easier for to find the complete system in silat, kungfu, systema, or hapkido than in karate. In the end, they're just different names with slightly different details, but the overall concept remains the same

[@onimekyo7633]

@OWL Delta Khz 98.3 don't worry, I already chooses a kungfu school that allows you to spar with instructors if you ask

[@davi1492]

@@onimekyo7633 I agree but I think the situation is getting better and with more and more people trying to bring back real karate

[@jc-kj8yc]

Iain Abernethy showed a couple of applications for the high block, that looked practical. For example he uses it as a framing device whilest shifting angles, so he can set up flollow up strikes. Or he uses it as an actual strike in an infight situation. So the hand that goes to the hip, pulls down the opponent's guard to make way for the forearm to land. Another thing I haven't tried yet, but that might work is breaking a plum clinch or a head-arm control. One hand pulls the opponent's arm holding your neck down and the forearm goes under the chin to break the posture.

[@bongkem2723]

the high block can be used to break the elbow join, one hand immobilize the wrist and twist while the "block" hand attack the elbow, just an idea ;)

[@Das_Pepe]

Did you ever made this work? I find this quite difficult, since the rest of the body is still very mobile if you just hold on to the hand and you get an elbowstrike in the face ...

[@bongkem2723]

@@Das_Pepe i can make it work if i intend to do it but it doesn't come up naturally very often, maybe when i slip to dodge a punch and capture that hand, timing is key here !

[@Das_Pepe]

@@bongkem2723 i didn't ask if you could. you stated that you think that you could. I want to know if it ever happened. Does it work against an resisting opponent? the theory doesnt matter if the praxis doesnt work.

[@douglasmacneil4474]

I have rarely blocked a strike the way they do in demoes. But i have used karate blocks REGULARLY for posting as well as securing the clench inside of punches

[@alLEDP]

Try the X block out of a grappling position when you have your grips on your partners arms

[@Karatekasgr]

Very good analysis, with lots of respect for the ancients arts. It's true that there are a lot of Formists (practitioners of "dance" movements that went far from original techniques that were meant for applications) and many people express disrespect for traditional martial arts. But there was an original meaning for those techniques and if you practice them right you can find many useful things to add to your personal style. By the way, one explanation for "Age Uke" or "Karate High Block, and other moves like that, is that those movements originally were meant for close combat with a lot or grabs of the wrist (like the ancestors' arts of southern kung fu , like tiger kung fu and white crane) so that move was not a block but an escape from someone's grip on your wrist, in close combat or after a punch that went wrong and someone grabs your hand. That's why the "spiral" motions of the arms. a practical way of execution was in combination with a side step "Kuzushi" so you extend the arm of the opponent as you bring your own close to your body and taking distance as you break your opponent's balance. Try to look at the "bridge hand" of "Hung ga" for similar ideas.

[@goodfortune5480]

Forget the blocks can we talk about the suplex in the beginning, that was nice! 🤙😈☠

[@0713mas]

Way back in the 1980s in the hight of the karate kid fandom. I was about 9 years old and after seeing the movie me and my friends wanted to train karate. My parents said we couldnt afford it, luckily my friend and I began training under his sisters boyfriend, who had studied Ryukyu Karate, while stationed in Okinawa. We learned very different bunkai and techniques than the modern version of karate. We were immediately taught that blocking patterns were intentionally cookie cutter for armed sword and sheild or empty hand close quarters grab defense. Stripping grips as mentioned, the high block is both a sheild block for weapons and a frame/ elbow attack under the chin against a clinch. The block and punch is shield and then stab under over around. Actual punches were taught to us typically with inverted fists, more like old bareknuckles boxing, kicks were not as chambered used as snapping or stomping, and the roundhouse was more of a chipping leg kick. So much so that we only trained this way for a few years before moving on to JKD because we saw it in the movies. Thankfully, I found MMA after UFC 1. but I appreciate all my training experiences.

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

I use age uke as a frame against someone in a deep top side control. But that's the only good application I can think of.

[@patrichausammann]

But it is also intended as a technique to break your opponent's elbow.

[@Horus-Lupercal]

@Patric Hausammann Lol O.K mate.

[@johndrake5467]

@@Horus-Lupercal Actually that could work. If someone was going for a collar tie and one hand pulled down trapping the arm while the other hand went upwith the block.

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

@@johndrake5467 "Could" isn't the same as "will most times than not". The only way to know for sure....is to try it in a live roll.

[@johndrake5467]

@@alittlepuertoricanboy1993 Yes. Note that I never said "will most times than not." And you don't want to actually break your training partners arm in a "live roll" or you won't get many more training partners. Once when testing an empty hand vs knife disarm I locked out my partners elbow, careful not to break, but it bothered him so much that he asked me not to do it again so I didn't. Joint locks when you're on the ground and you can slowly apply more pressure until your partner "taps" are one thing. Joint locks when both of you are standing are something entirely different. It's difficult to thread the needle between what is the acceptable amount of pressure and what is abusive.

[@radianttakanuva8388]

This actually made me remember. As a kid growing up doing shorin-ryu, my senseis actually taught and drilled us on escaping different positions like a front choke or headlock, using karate techniques. Like for a front choke, you'd raise your arms up from your hips like an overhead block before bringing them down on their arms. Then bring both of them in like a forward block, to strike their wrists and weaken their grip. Before grabbing them and then catching them in the stomach with a knee strike. It's still ingrained in me, years later. That's exactly how you show "slipping the grip" in this video

[@duyvominh9403]

The upper I was taught to shove my forearm into the other guy's throat, would that make sense Coach?

[@zachariaravenheart]

There is another comment by a “Stephen Watson” saying that’s what he thinks. Others say it’s used like that in boxing, but I can’t confirm, or deny that. It does make sense though.

[@mickthecat1]

My take on Agai Uke. Assuming both fighter are right handed ( obviously adapt to suit ). Low stance & moving “ through “your opponent. Left arm attack to the throat. Right arm grabs behind the left knee of opponent. Push under throat, pull opponents left leg to hikite position , take him down onto his back.

[@danielschulz7391]

Coming from judo/mma I use the upward block to bind both arms of the opponent while pushing into him when he has a boxing guard. Opens up for body shots and helps closing the distance.

[@tprnbs]

high block is a forearm strike or frame on the neck

[@Xantalos]

I typically use a high block (I’m tall, so more like a knife-hand/shuto, but same deal) as a frame in the clinch or when ground grappling. Hard2hurt has a few videos where he uses pretty much the same technique to do some tricky clinch stuff against taller guys. The X-block ... you can use it as a way to pass the arm around, but mostly it’s just an analogue for cross-collar chokes, head-arm collar ties, and sometimes holding the opponent’s arm after a footsweep so you can punch them with the other hand without them shielding their face. Tricky to do, but I’ve pulled that one off a few times.

[@goodbuy7556]

5:34 man isn't it obvious that that is a cross collar choke xd

[@bongkem2723]

exactly !!!

[@goodbuy7556]

@@bongkem2723 Only way that I see karate resurrecting from it's ashes is to someone like Iain Abernethy or Patrick McCarthy get to a JRE podcast and spread the word!

[@goodbuy7556]

@@bongkem2723 or some future karate jutsu(naha-te) UFC champion

[@alittlepuertoricanboy1993]

@@goodbuy7556 If only I had trained MMA while I was training Goju ryu... Now I just focus on Muay Thai and BJJ, and suddenly, it's all starting to click...

[@goodbuy7556]

@@alittlepuertoricanboy1993 It is not your fault, it shouldn't be student's responsibility to "click" the real application of kata. That is something that every real karate trainer should teach you, and not to teach you how to jump around and scream like a madman, and pull your hand to the hip for "power generation" oh my God such a nonsense!!!

[@deanjohnson2377]

Rising block is a great self defense move. Stepping in, do rising block to opponent's chest or under his chin. Very powerful and takes opponent completely off balance. Great video. Use of "inside block" to back of elbow really works. Came close to breaking a 7th black belt's arm with that move. Use mawashi-uke to deflect incoming punch and grab wrist, then inner block on elbow.

[@kenkongermany7860]

4:40 Middle, Low, High block in a blocking sense : There are only two real blocking circles in karate. 1. The low circle (your middle plus the low block). That goes in and down and can cover everything from head to groin. Every time you scoop a straight and answer with a jab from that inside scooping position, you've used a part of the low circle. 2. The high circle. Clavicle to head. Goes up and out. Good in sucker punch situations. In kata you seem to do punches only halfway. That goes for blocks too. Your rising block would continue it's outside movement till it ends in a straight body "uppercut" position. Trying to catch the other arm on the prolonged moving connection. Real "sticking" comes from movement. In Sucker punch reflexes you throw both arms up and adapt when you feel/recognize the actual attack. Most Karate blocks start with two arms ("throwing out the net") that divide on contact. Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu make it much easier to recognize the two main circles and their use. And so on. This stuff took me 30 years in 5 karate styles.(And 40 years in more... practical MAs). Just pointing into the right direction. By far just scratching the surface.

[@Das_Pepe]

Thanks Ramsey for the quick follow up. Love your content. Keep going. For the Age-Uke all i can thing of is a frame ...

[@cafecitoconazucar]

That moment you said "tradition" I instantaneously heard in my head the song 'Tradition' from 'The Fiddler on the Roof'.

[@calebleich1613]

I have done Karate and I have taught karate. Lots of comments on high block so I will skip that. I really like the X block. You have to think about when it makes sense to have both of your hands only engaging one of your opponents hands. To me that’s only when you are blocking a weapon. It’s a pretty dangerous position so in real application you have to be moving or you may become a target. Loved the video. In my opinion the only improvement would be to show the striking opportunities right after the movements. In my karate experience, grappling was used to create opportunities to strike. The best time to strike is when your opponent has bad posture. Loved the video as always.

[@guillermozepeda9967]

In the style I study we call the "middle block" you are using an "outside cross block". Our "middle block" starts at the opposite hip and come across the inside (fist facing up). We also have a "forearm block", where the fist is prepared at the opposite hip, and comes across and ends up with the fist and shoulder at the same height (fist is positioned almost like a vertical punch). Of the three, I like the forearm block; because it allows me to come in, and at the same time"press" an entire side over, and get that chance at centerline. Those are all "hard" blocks; we also have a set of "soft" blocks that look like a more traditional Chinese set (palm pushes, plum hand strikes, and open hand catches). In application, we use the hard blocks to attack striking limbs of our opponent; and for the more violent break locks. Soft blocks are used more to deflect, redirect, and exploit imbalance of the stronger techniques an opponent might throw at us. My skinny arms preclude me to the soft block set, but I can still bang arms with the best of them!

[@ruiamaral9118]

Rising block: hit your opponents throat/under the chin with your forearm, pushing his head upwards and back while you step foward. Hold the opponents forearm under your armpit with your hiki-te (grab just above the elbow, near his triceps).

[@ianoji]

I wrestled in high school, there is a time in hand-fighting when the "rising block" is ducking under an arm and the "follow up punch" is shooting for a single leg. Requires combining with some footwork of course.

[@makenjikarate]

Very good points. Karateka tend to think these are blocks but they can be used to strike, lock out whatever. We use the high/riding block as as strike to the jaw/throat.

[@UNSCSword]

My favorite High Block Application: Smash forearm into throat or face/aggressive framing. Also, when you’re doing the crossing motion with your arms; you could very well be wiping a strike away then countering with an uppercut. Have to test that one out more though.

[@pattyorigami]

What you called the "middle block" in the old tkd book it's referred to as a front block. The application I was taught is similar to what you were doing with the arm lock, except in our technique it wasn't meant to hold the opponent in an arm lock. It was meant instead to be a quick strike to the arm to hyper extend the elbow and be released. The way it worked is that we would do an inside hooking block against a straight punch like a jab or cross, like a basic parry in boxing except that you would use the "wrong hand" (left hand to left instead of mirroring, for example). But that parry would hook around the wrist, trapping the punching arm, but only for a brief moment while that front block attacks the arm at the elbow. It's done very quickly and simultaneously with a snapping motion. It might not be enough to "break" someone's arm, but the effectiveness of it lies in the fact that you are attacking the joint right at the moment of the arm being fully extended which makes hyper extension easy. It's a small move that doesn't risk much because you're not relying on it to end the fight or to hold and control, it's done quickly without compromising position, and you're still on the move, blocking and countering after doing it. Like a war of attrition, doing little bits of damage at a time, but in this case it's to the elbow. This works well against jabs, especially if they are tired and throwing lazy jabs. The way my teacher explained it, a lot of these traditional blocks are meant to "attack the attack". Each of these things on their own won't necessarily end the fight, but the intent is to punish the attacker a little each time he attacks (kind of reminds me of "defanging the snake" in kali). And this is coming from a legit fighter who fought golden gloves back in his day. This is one of those moves you probably don't want to use against your training partners at the gym though since the intent is to injure. I have to be careful saying that, though, because I try to avoid falling into the "This technique is too deadly to use in the ring" trap! lol!

[@jbc175]

An inward block to an extended arm with the wrist held in place, especially while moving away or pulling the wrist away from the opponents body. This next part is a little tricky to describe, but easy to show. The inward block needs to apply pressure in a certain direction to work. It depends on how the shoulder is rotated. You can see based on the hand and elbow. Hand palm down and elbow out. If the hand were flat apply pressure to the wrist towards the direction the elbow is pointing while putting pressure about an 1 1/2 inch(maybe 4cm) behind the elbow. As the arm straightens it will reach a little further from the person's body and you need to pull away from their body to account for this. Retreating from them may give you enough movement to do this, but I'd suggest pulling towards yourself slightly. Another easy to show, hard to describe detail. Works best while you are retreating, baiting them to get them to extend their arm, and pulling towards yourself. The most difficult part of this is the timing. At one point I could work this off a grab where someone was overextending, but it's a bit dangerous to practice since there's a lot of movement and the amount of extension between catching this and hurting an elbow is small plus the resistance is dependent on how close you catch it to full extension (how successful you are at baiting them) and if they react to try to pull their arm back. _If_ you can bait them, time it right, and control the distance you can pull this off from a punch. I knew someone that could, saw how it was done, but couldn't do it myself. From a push mabye, someone reaching to grab while I was retreating yes, arm drag while pulling away maybe. Also I prefer the portion of the palm closest to the wrist to put inward pressure to an inward block. The importance of being able to bait the person into extending their arm while you are looking for it and timing, well, you just aren't going to pull this off without doing both of them. I think that there's higher percentage movements that don't depend on catching your opponent doing exactly what you want them to do, but I enjoyed seeing how it could be done. Hopefully if anyone is interested they can figure it out from this. Do be careful though since if you time it exactly right it doesn't take too much to hyperextend an elbow this way vs almost right it takes a lot, and you aren't getting this at all without being almost spot on. It's more practical and easier to learn to counter punch or any number of more versatile and higher percentage skills.

[@glenbowden7334]

Soto ude uke (outside to inside block) & Agi uke ( rising block) have many obvious & many hidden effective applications but they must be done with an emphasis on snapping hip powerful movements to make those blokes,holds,strikes etc truely devastating in the right situations! 🥋Oss 🙏 Great vids Sensei

[@blackmantis6443]

That middle block we use it in muaythai when a teep comes in. Nice teaching bruh. Love your videos

[@nealaikin5973]

Back when my oldest son friend was his bully, my son used a High X- block to defend himself from a 12 / 6 attack made with a textbook, followed by snatching the book, stepping into fighting stance, Ki-aing as loud as he could, effectively ending the confrontation.

[@andrewgstewart1794]

Classic practical session... Reminds me of what you've said before, the importance of a blended approach. Never, ever seen cross block either ;-)

[@manticore4952]

I stopped using my karate blocks early on against kicks and punches because they were too slow. This is a great practical application for them.

[@AdrianHoyle]

I have found that the upward block has it's uses as being part of other movements, or rather what I tend to call a transitional movement, but should generally not be used as a singe technique. Although I remember using it once back in my early 20's. I was taking a self-defense class taught by my Aikido Sensei(who has also trained in other styles). There was this guy that always bragged about some sort dragon rank in something I never heard of and don't even remember what he called it. I volunteered to be uke for the students to practice on. This guy decided to adlib, and then bragged about how could have broken my spine if he wanted to. I turned toward my sensei, and asked if I could teach this guy a lesson. My Sensei didn't say a word. So, I turned around did the basic attack so that this dude could try something. I remember using an upward block, punching him in the ribs, getting behind him, and I put him into a choke hold, I then seemed to have moved backward, and ended up keeping him in that choke hold until I heard my Sensei bark this command; "Yamero!". It's like I was in a trance or something, but that drilled in Japanese command might have save that braggarts life. The guy started showing up less, and less, until the point where he wasn't around at all. So, only once have I ever used it as a single move.

[@patrichausammann]

Nice video! Keep in mind all blocks can be used as an attack too. 0:55 Gedan-Barai 1:46 Soto-Uke 2:59 Age-Uke 3:26 Gyaku-Zuki (not really a block) 3:28 Oi-Zuki (not really a block) I missed the use of Uchi-Uke and Shuto-Uke in this video.

[@RageYourSoul]

please i hope you are not learning "karate" from this low quality clip

[@patrichausammann]

@@RageYourSoul I don't think the purpose of this clip is to teach proper Karate techniques. Therefore, I would not recommend doing this on a Karate exam. But modern sport Karate and real self-defense or a street fight are completely different things. The right Karate techniques never really worked for me in situations like this. Only adaptations and improvisations helped me, for example, to survive a knife attack. For such circumstances there exist better fighting styles. If anyone wants to learn the correct Karate techniques online, which is much more difficult without a teacher on site, I would recommend taking a look at the "Karate Dojo waKu" channel. His videos on Karate are technically correct and well explained.

[@littlegiantrobo6523]

This is good old-school stuff. Much of it is forgotten in the West as many practitioners don't see it as effective for the sport version and so discard it...if they ever knew it.

[@hngryviirider8710]

As we are taught by some bunkai... The "age uke" upward block is more like an attack to the jaw or with the "hikite" pull hand it can represent a shoulder throw just the turning worn out as most of these movements original form.

[@anftrew3775]

Around 3:20 about the high block. I figured this out while larking about with my very big friend. In the version of the block I trained, it's very much a counter motion, as all blocks are in the particular flavour of karate I trained. Let's say it's the right hand that is doing the 'block', then the left hand comes up and out, right hand does the block as left hand comes down and in. Almost always practiced with a step, and always with a twist in the body. So we tested it. My mate pins me against a wall in a threatening way. Left hand comes under his arm, pulls downward on his elbow, while the right arm comes up, pushing his other arm up. Body twists, helping to break his force sideways. He's very strong. Once he knew what I was trying, he resisted. Second time, I wasn't strong enough to pull his right arm down with my left, but between both arms and the body rotation I was still able to break his grip. Would it work if my mate really intended to beat me up? I doubt it. If he was going to strike first ask questions later, I wouldn't have had time to do anything. But in the context of self defence, where there might be pushing and shoving and threats before it all kicks off, I think this is one option for creating an opportunity to escape, which is really the ethos of karate.

[@varanid9]

Ramsey, I believe you are right about the "high block" being a weapons movement; as you pointed out, that is a Sai move and, apparently, many moves in Okinawan Karate were actually meant to be done with Sai. I'm pretty sure it was meant to be a block against the typical overhead/diagonal cut of a Samurai Sword. Also, I've read that the Okinawan Kata "Bassai" was meant to represent moves using fore-arm guards made of strips of wood. In my Southern Mantis boxing, a similar overhead "block", done with the outward meaty part of the fore-arm, is meant to just cover the head from blows raining down on you when beset by multiple opponents as you turtle up. I was once told that it was done at an angle that goes INTO the arc of a downward staff blow so that it will be deflected down the slope of the arm rather than bang against the opposite arm that would be up at right angles to the blow.

[@Slothclawcolseslaw]

In my style of karate we perform the high block with a much greater bend in the elbow, and we use it most often as a rising elbow.

[@honigdachs.]

Ramsey is totally on point with this stuff here. Most karate sensei will never show you this because they don't know it themselves. It's been so long that all these funny little moves have been practiced as aesthetic solo routines only and the result is that you've got several generations of black belts who never understood what you're supposed to visualize while memorizing the forms. Regarding the high block: the crux here is that the way it's taught in the kata and basic training is that you're raising the forearm right in front of your face. Many karate coaches will explain that you're catching a straight punch from beneath and chucking it over your head before it hits your face, which is ludicrous. You'd have to have cat-like reflexes and speed to pull such a thing off, it would still be an insanely risky way of blocking a straight with no additional reward and there's a dozen way more practical ways of not getting clocked in the face. The way I learned it that it's actually a good ol' fashioned defense against a brawler's haymaker or a bottle swing, where perhaps you wouldn't want to "telephone-block". It's that move you used to see in older action movies - you're not putting up the arm in front of your face, but actually more to the side and slightly forward, so you jam the circular attack that's about to hit the side of your head. The other thing I know is that it's also pushing your forearm into the throat when you've got a guy against a wall.

[@RamseyDewey]

I finally figured out what to do with the high block: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmfKiGycYtamkNU

[@honigdachs.]

@@RamseyDewey It makes total sense, the whole video does. I did Shotokan 17 years ago or something and after a few years went on to study traditional Okinawa karate in a different dojo. Their approach to interpreting and practicing those "block" oriented pockets was completely removed from the modern sport karate and is very much in line with your applications. Yours being even more to the point through your obviously more extensive knowledge of different arts and grappling methods in particular. Turns out it takes a modern martial artist to teach people old school karate, haha!

[@felixtraore3569]

In boxing and muay thaï, the high block allows you to lift the cross (or the jab in an orthodox vs southpaw scenario) when you use the long guard or when the opposent counters your jab. Wing Chung avocates often see this as a practical application of the bong Sao. They are also effective against overhand hooks if you slip inside at the same Time (the slip Aline wouldnt be enough).Thompson does it in MMA, thaï fighters use it to enter the clinch. Anyway great video as always

[@dlowone]

One of my favorite videos to date!! Love this video! One of your best I really appreciate how your videos are getting better

[@energyfitness5116]

High Block(as i understand): Vs big Overhand Right - blocking hand can grab attacking hand, or if you stepped in and 'stuffed' the attack, cup the back of attacker's head and counter. Vs Punch at range - you 'catch' the punch at mid or end, step in hard, and jam your forearm hard into attackers armpit as you step into him. Hes off-balance and you can counter or grapple. X-Block is to shiv attacker's neck and get his head to pop up hard. Opening for an Underhook could appear.

[@Domzdream]

Man! I LOOOVE !!! that move you do at (3:56). Thanks to you, I use this all the time.

[@jimdgrousedogs]

I was in a martial arts seminar several different styles got together and shared techniques from their style. One of the teachers spent his hour discussing the low block and hit is more than just a block. I was a lot of fun to see how other styles from stick fighting to Jiu Jitsu use the low block technique (both offensively and defensively).

[@IbrahimKhalil-bt9yh]

As for juji-uke (X-block) there are many applications, the basic application you can see in bareknuckle fighting and 52 blocks. It's great to use when you're either trying to crash in or enter on opponent. And great for giving you options how you should clinch up or armbar when you bridge against opponent's arms/guard.

[@camilobrokaw769]

Hi Ramsey, great video. I can't say for karate, I practice a kung fu style. Level changing is key to the high block in my experience. While either taking the center or stepping off line, taking a low stance with a high block allows you to keep the opponents guard higher while you strike or strike and then shoot. Low stances likewise are a way to keep posture while level changing.

[@dysphunc]

Upward rising block into the side of the jaw, preferably while holding onto your opponents wrist. Downward cross block, to stop knees. Upward cross block, either initiating a standing arm bar or grabbing for a lapel takedown.

[@Kokorozashi]

The upper block with one hand (Age uke) Is good to walk in under an axe kick before It start to come down: you protect the head and push out of balance. Or you can use It at 45° against wide hooks. About the X block and the others double hands block: usuallly One han block or grab or collect and the other One hits. Nice video!

[@MrHFam-st4ni]

Sometimes I use the upper block as a transition stage. I remember doing a throw-by. The motion we were taught for the upper block (which is lil bit different than what Coach was doing) helped.

[@conradjonsson]

In five animals we use something similar to the "high block" to basically get a fram across the chest and hit the opponents chin at the same time. grappling.

[@ForestTekkenVideos]

Excellent video! 👍 Practical application for the upwards blocks: if you're a 4 foot 5 Japanese guy up against a 6 foot 2 westerner in a fight.

[@Archone666]

I've used the high block in the ring, as well as elsewhere. Only... I don't know if Ramsey is doing it "correctly," it's certainly not how I was taught. The way I was taught was to start with an uppercut motion, punching straight up, then twist the forearm so that the vertically upward punch turns into a 45 degree angle up and to the side. And that's a very useful movement for at least three things: 1: it's a CROSSFACE. It's perfect for pushing a guy away when he's trying to rub his cheek against your hip or stomach while he's angling for a leg takedown. Or when he's up higher and grappling. Just a nice powerful movement. 2: it's a choke - I didn't realize it until much later, when I started learning about grappling. But it's a perfect movement for getting at the carotid. If you can just get your hand on a stable point (like grabbing his shoulder or shirt), you can press your wrist/forearm into his throat. 3: it's a top notch defense against straight kicks, be it a push kick or sidekick. If you're a little slow then you'll catch their foot in the crook of your arm or on your bicep... as you then lift your arm up and twist; their leg goes up and then slides off, leaving them off balance and open. But if your timing is right, you catch their foot with your hand... and then you lift and twist and it is DELICIOUS when they go tumbling backwards and land on their butts. (it's also pretty useful against high circular kicks like a roundhouse to the head. The idea being that the kick glances off your arm and goes over your head... which, again, leaves them off balance and open)

[@florentarlandis1209]

Very interesting video. It's nice to see those traditional moves applied to real/modern fighting. Regarding the x block in taekwondo you mentioned at the end of the video: even though those moves also exist in Taekwondo, you need to keep in mind that the version you see at the olympics is quite different from the traditional martial art, or may also differ from what is taught by some teachers. You basically see a sport where speed and counter attacks are the main focus (hence the silly stance). You'll almost never see a taekwondo fighter blocking or punching at the olympics, but these stuff may happen more often outside of competition

[@yingjow7917]

You crack me up dude! Thanks for the video.

[@lesterhenriquez2547]

Hola, apenas se quién eres, pero me agrada la forma en que enseñas contenido en tus videos, soy aficionado de las artes marciales y he aprendido bastante, lamentablemente he tenido que pelear en varias ocasiones por mi integridad, así que gracias por compartir "cuestionando" técnicas y su aplicación en situaciones reales.

[@JdawgMMAblog]

Both the X block and the Upward block, I use it in the throat in a clinch situation to push the head back. Also it is a similar position to the arm movements required to set up a Fireman’s carry.

[@JeepNCrowd1]

Late comment. Korean Karate (Tang Soo Do) guy here, (though also train Judo & BJJ). I do find that I use the hikite (Pull back chamber)fairly often in Judo/Jiujitsu mostly as grip breaks or to pull an arm from armbar/triangle. You are right we don't use the high block often, but I did find myself using it once about 15 years ago while training for an overseas tour. We were training on Prisoner extraction from a cell. Completely unbeknown to our team, the "detainee", had a sharpie used to simulate a shiv. We had no idea that weapons were going to be involved in the training. Anyway he caught be off guard and did some sort of overhead strike, (coming down to the neck area), and somehow I did a text book high block. It struck his forearm/wrist area hard enough that the "knife" flew across the cell. Apparently it surprised him. Now granted this was not a real knife, real life and death situation. But it did, whether by chance or design, work for me in that instance.

[@Sharikacat]

One of my favorite applications of the high block is as a guillotine choke or standing arm bar. In that application, your arm won't make it above your head, but the movement is still the same.

[@michapolak2349]

exactly!

[@justina4265]

and I learned some years ago that every movement can be made with a weapon...!from blocks to attacks eetc It blowed my mind back then...so much knowleage put is one (simple) movement !!! ITs ZEN beauty !. P:S: I always tought Karate was missing moves to combat grpling.. so now here they are THANK YOU FOR CHARING !!! FOR REAL BEAUTIFUL

[@BellowDGaming]

Time to break the tradition then on blocking 😄

[@douglasmacneil4474]

A high block IMO, is best used as you blitz in. Watch Wonderboy for reference he does it a ton. But also it is a frame on the neck to get into the bodylock as well as getting inside of a strike and framing on the bicep. Which can easily go into the plum. I also use it a lot if i notice a guy uses a stiff jab to get into the clinch

[@KC-vq2ot]

For Age Uke, try using it from inside the Thai clinch. I use very similar movement to break my partner's grip and unbalance them by pushing them diagonally in the chin