Hard blocks
Introduction I have made my views very clear on this blog that I believe "blocks" (better termed "deflections") work . However, now comes the hard question: How should "blocks" be performed? Many karateka and other martial artists (in fact, some of my most esteemed friends and colleagues) believe that the "hard" block is the "mainstay" of their art. I find this view particularly common in the various shorin ryu karate schools. However I disagree. I adhere to the view that the majority of blocks - whether from karate or the Chinese arts or whatever - should be "soft". In fact, I believe that "hard" blocks are rarely useful - so rarely useful that this is part of what accounts for the fact that blocks are very seldom even contemplated in combat sports. Yet I see no reason why they should not be used in that arena. It seems to me that relatively few martial artists today practice "soft" blocks; ...