Hey.
Ando here from SenseiAndo.com and Happy Life Martial Arts.
Two questions I get all the time.
#1: Dear Sir--what's the best way to block a punch?
Question 2: Hey, bro--how do I get better at dodging punches?
Good questions.
Today, I’ve got a short answer and a long answer for both of them.
The short answer--forget about blocking and dodging.
That's not the best way to survive a attack.
The long answer--coming up right now.
Believe it or not, the secret to self-defense is not defense.
The secret is offense.
If you find yourself blocking and dodging in a real-life fight, hey, man--you're losing.
No one can block and dodge forever.
That means your goal in training shouldn't be to get better at blocking and dodging.
It should be forcing the bad guy to block and dodge.
And the sooner you do that in a self-defense situation, the better.
So, my advice: if your life is in danger, don't be a blockhead--attack.
But wait--what about all those cool traditional blocks that we practice in the martial arts?
Well, come on.
By now, you should already know that those movements are not blocks.
They may look like blocks, but they're really attacks and counterattacks.
I’m talking strikes, grabs, traps, locks, and breaks.
I mean think about it--do you really think after hundreds and hundreds of years of battles
and fights, the great Karate and Kung Fu masters would lie on their death bed
and tell their students--
If someone tries to punch you in the face, put your arm up to stop it.
Gee—thanks, Sifu.
Usually I just try to catch those punches in my mouth.
Now, am I saying you should never block or dodge?
Of course not.
I block and dodge all the time.
But I don't focus on it.
I mostly trust my body to protect itself automatically.
I mean, did anyone ever teach you how to block your groin if someone kicks at it?
Heck, even a little kid will put his hands up if you punch him in the face.
Trust me on that...
I punch a lot of kids.
So, how do you get better at blocking and dodging punches and kicks?
Well, the best way is to have a partner throw some punches and kicks at you.
But remember--your goal isn't to get better at blocking, the goal is to get better at protecting
yourself while you're fighting back.
If you have to block and dodge while you're on the attack, well, then do it.
With experience, good habits like keeping your chin down, hands up, and not flinching
those things will make it a lot easier.
Even when you practice alone, do the same thing.
Don't just stand there thinking block... block... block.
I mean, unless you want to die.
Instead, follow up every defensive movement with an offensive movement.
Block and punch.
Slip and kick.
Just imagine that you're in a real fight for your life.
I mean, in a real fight, you would never just stop on a block, right?
Right?
Again, I'm not saying that you shouldn't care about defense.
I'm saying you should focus on attacking with good habits and intelligence so that your defense
takes care of itself.
And just to be clear, if you're sparring for fun or competing in a combative sport, then sure,
you may block and dodge as part of a larger gameplan, or maybe just to stall
and catch your breath. That's fine. But in self-defense, you don't have time to play games.
If you're fighting for your life, you have one choice--go down swinging or go down blocking.
Me? I'm training to go down swinging.
How about you?
If you liked this video, thank you for giving it a thumbs up and hitting subscribe.
To keep up with everything I'm doing, please find the link to sign up for my free email updates.
Until next time, stay on the attack, my friend, and keep fighting for a happy life.