Ridgehand block

Haitō uke, the ridgehand block is the defensive applications of the ridgehand strike, and superficially resembles the famous "karate chop," but it uses the other side of the hand.

To perform a ridgehand block, pull your elbow in, towards your center, to send your hand outward. The motion is similar to a cross-body block, except the impact is made with haitō instead of the meaty part of the forearm. Unlike a cross-body block, it is not necessary to finish with a vertical forearm, and your upper arm should be parallel to the floor, and a vertical forearm. Instead, the blocking hand should be at head or shoulder level, with its elbow a fist-width away from your chest, so the end result resembles a palm-up version of an outside shutō block.

[video or ridgehand blocks, fast and slow, from the front and side]

After performing a ridgehand block, you can easily seize your opponent by either quickly turning your blocking hand over into a grasping block, or hooking the opponent’s hand with a thumbknuckle block.

When performed correctly, ridgehand blocks will cut through the air with a gratifying “woosh” noise, as though you were swinging a large stick.

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