The Silk Thread of Gorindo - Ottawa - Canada
Issue 14
- Middle Block In-outside - Uchi-uke
- Downward Block - Gedan-barai
Photo cover Roxanne Standefer sensei, December 2011, by Claudio Iedwab
Middle Block In-outside - Chudan Uchi-uke
The ideal middle punch is directed to the solar plexus and the ideal chudan uchi-uke, middle block, protects this same target area.
Training in this technique gives us the principle of controlling the bilateral body motion and also protecting the center line.
From the heiko-dachi, parallel stance, (feet shoulder width apart pointing forward), bend the arm that you will use for blocking and bring it directly across and close to your body, placing the fist just above the belt (beside the floating ribs), on the opposite side.
Extend the other fist out in front of your solar plexus to protect your body during the intermediate time (between two consecutive blocks).
The fingers of your blocking arm are in a fist, beginning with the back of the hand up, permitting the twist of the forearm during the defensive trajectory. This helps deflect and avoid the absorption of impact in only one area.
From this position draw an arc out and across your midsection until your elbow and fist are vertical and almost in line with your profile, with the back of the hand to the outside. Maintain a 90° angle in the bend between upper and lower arms and the distance of a fist from the elbow to the ribs, in the final position.
At the same time that you are executing the block, bend the other arm straight back in an elbow strike to the rear. Finish with this fist beside the body at the belt level, with theback of the hand down.
When you execute the uchi-uke start twisting the fist and forearm before the impact. Use the tensed muscle of your forearm to make contact, not the wrist or bones because they are very sensitive to bruising or injury and can be broken if the impact is very strong.
Imagine that you might have to block at any point across your chest. Don’t stop the attack with a collision, try to ‘go with’ the direction of the strike and deflect its trajectory. Exhale your air when you do the block and tense the muscles in your body completely for good kime at the moment of contact. Keep your body relaxed until this point. Maintain the shoulders in a straight line and facing forward.
Don’t block with the arms only, use the muscles of the back to improve the power available, feeling that the back is ‘closing’ and the chest is ‘opening’. Ensure that your body stays in a vertical position throughout the movement, the eyes looking forward and the knees slightly bent.
You can improve your blocking speed by practicing repeatedly, bringing the outstretched fist back to the hip (from the start position which is one fist forward and the other beside the hip) and trying to finish the blocking motion within the same time.
Common Corrections
• Starting the movement with theback of the hand down, you can’t twist your fist and distribute the impact across a greater area.
• Starting the blocking above the opposite arm, not from under the arm at belt level.
• Too much tension in the shoulders; reduces speed and can cause problems in the neck.
• Finishing the block past the profile line; inefficient (you don’t need to block past your body) and leaves your center open to attack.
• Incorrect angle of the arm; reduces strength and lead time.
• Using the bone area for contact; it hurts.
by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
Originallly published in the Gorindo Student Manual by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
©2011 Illustrations by Claudio Iedwab
- Middle Block In-outside - Uchi-uke
- Downward Block - Gedan-barai
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