The Outward Block of Tae Kwon Do

Without a doubt, one of the most important and sometimes overlooked techniques is the outward forearm block. It is this block that is commonly used as a means of defending against punches and kicks, but there is much more to it than simply swinging the forearm. There is a great deal of precision required for the block to work properly and paying attention to some of the finer points found in the form will reveal many of these details

First, the context of an 'in to out' forearm block needs to be clarified. While many books and magazines depict this block as a means of defending against a straight punch, its primary purpose is to deflect attacks that come from the side flank or at a diagonal angle. Part of the reason for this is that the block can complements the direction of the attack in order to move its trajectory away from an intended target.

This can be seen further in the classical performance of the block. The block is initiated at roughly waist level with the palm facing down. As the block rises from the inner middle torso to the side of the body the downward palm will rotate to an inward position. Such a movement is very important because as the block makes contact with the incoming attacking limb, the rotation will help deflect the limb off its target. So, even if the block does not completely work due to improper timing, posture, or simply not seeing the attack in time, a partially deflected blow will not hit a vital point squarely. Hence, the damage it can cause could be limited.

In terms of the mechanics of the block, the hand of the block should be about shoulder height. It should not be too high above the shoulder since this would expose the lower body area to counterattack. Also, it should not be too low since this will leave openings on the high line. The block should also not travel too far beyond the torso region because the further the elbow drifts from the body, the weaker the arm becomes. Additionally, if the attack is a fake or feint, over committing on the block will leave openings that can be exploited.

Under certain circumstances, the block can be delivered with a great deal of aggressive force. In this manner, the block becomes a strike when it hits the opponent's limbs and can collapse his arms and break his entire body structure. But, in order to achieve this, proper body mechanics of the strike must be performed. If you practice the movement diligently, such skills will prove easy to acquire.

Tony Mills is the Chief Editor of online Content for The MMA Zone. Tony is an expert in the field of martial arts training and conditioning.

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