Downward-fist block - Revision history

YellowHatGuy at 18:25, 7 February 2021

2021-02-07T18:25:50Z

YellowHatGuy at 04:21, 19 January 2021

2021-01-19T04:21:29Z

YellowHatGuy at 04:03, 25 July 2020

2020-07-25T04:03:07Z

YellowHatGuy at 01:35, 25 July 2020

2020-07-25T01:35:40Z

YellowHatGuy at 23:58, 8 March 2020

2020-03-08T23:58:35Z

YellowHatGuy at 02:41, 24 March 2017

2017-03-24T02:41:43Z

YellowHatGuy: Created page with "Gedan-barai uke (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the downward-fist block is used to literally sweep aide punches and kicks to the Kyūsho#A..."

2016-09-14T10:42:38Z

Created page with "Gedan-barai uke (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the downward-fist block is used to literally sweep aide punches and kicks to the Kyūsho#A..."

New page

Gedan-barai uke (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the downward-fist block is used to literally sweep aide [[Punches|punches]] and [[Kicks|kicks]] to the [[Kyūsho#Abdomen|abdomen]].

Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up by the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.

[front-view photo of gedan barai chamber]

Pull the elbow of the blocking arm down diagonally as far as possible, then thrust the fist straight downward. Do not lock the elbow -- instead, keep it slightly bent to draw upon the relaxed tension of the [[Ki|Unbendable Arm]] technique. The opposite-side hand pulls across the abdomen into a chambered position, [[Reciprocal_action|setting up a counterattack]].

[video of gedan barai, from the front and from the side, fast and slow]

This must be practiced slowly until it becomes one fluid motion, then that motion is gradually sped up. ''Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.'' It is tempting to be lazy, and to just swing one’s arm in a large downward arc, but there is no power behind such a block; it would be no different than trying to smack an attack aside with a spaghetti noodle.

[video of a swinging gedan barai, from the side, failing hard]

When performing downward-fist blocks, do not cross the arms in an X-shape across your chest. If you do this, an opponent can trap both pushing on the outside arm to trap them both.

[front-view photos of improper gedan barai, and trapping the arms. ]

Do not use downward-fist block to defend anything below the waistline. These attacks are too low for downward-fist blocks; they can only work by leaning forward, compromising one’s stance and stability. In addition, leaning involves additional and unnecessary energy expenditure to right oneself. Instead, attacks to the [[Kyūsho#Groin|groin]] or legs should be deflected with [[Knee block|knee blocks]]. Leaning from a downward-fist block just accentuates one’s undefended head, making it much easier to reach and abuse. Only use downward fist blocks to protect the abdomen.

[side-view photo of leaning as a result of blocking too low, and being pulled off-balance ]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Pull the blocking arm's elbow down diagonally as far as possible, then thrust the fist straight downward. Do not lock the elbow -- instead, keep it slightly bent to perform the [[Ki|Unbendable Arm]] technique. The opposite-side hand pulls across the abdomen into a chambered position, [[Reciprocal_action|setting up a counterattack]].
+<youtube width="200" height="120">SOopdAyqLGM</youtube>
 This must be practiced slowly until it becomes one fluid motion, which is gradually sped up. ''Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.'' It is tempting just swing your arm in a large downward arc, but there's no power behind such a block; it would be like using spaghetti noodles to smack attacks aside.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:03, 25 July 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	'''Gedan-barai uke''' (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the '''downward-fist block'' is used to literally sweep aide [[Punches\|punches]] and [[Kicks\|kicks]] to the [[Kyūsho#Abdomen\|abdomen]].	+	'''Gedan-barai uke''' (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the '''downward-fist block''' is used to literally sweep aide [[Punches\|punches]] and [[Kicks\|kicks]] to the [[Kyūsho#Abdomen\|abdomen]].

	Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up by the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs\|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.		Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up by the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs\|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:35, 25 July 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	Gedan-barai uke (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the downward-fist block is used to literally sweep aide [[Punches\|punches]] and [[Kicks\|kicks]] to the [[Kyūsho#Abdomen\|abdomen]].	+	'''Gedan-barai uke''' (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the '''downward-fist block'' is used to literally sweep aide [[Punches\|punches]] and [[Kicks\|kicks]] to the [[Kyūsho#Abdomen\|abdomen]].

	Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up by the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs\|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.		Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up by the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs\|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:41, 24 March 2017
Line 20:		Line 20:

	[side-view photo of leaning as a result of blocking too low, and being pulled off-balance ]		[side-view photo of leaning as a result of blocking too low, and being pulled off-balance ]
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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Gedan-barai uke''' (literally: “low-level sweeping block”), the '''downward-fist block''' is used to literally sweep aide [[Punches|punches]] and [[Kicks|kicks]] to the [[Kyūsho#Abdomen|abdomen]].
-Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up by the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.
+Downward-fist blocks are chambered by bringing the blocking hand up to the opposite-side ear, with the palm facing inward. Hold the opposite-side hand open over the exposed [[Kyūsho#Floating_ribs|floating ribs]] on the blocking side, as in the picture below.
   [front-view photo of gedan barai chamber]
-Pull the elbow of the blocking arm down diagonally as far as possible, then thrust the fist straight downward. Do not lock the elbow -- instead, keep it slightly bent to draw upon the relaxed tension of the [[Ki|Unbendable Arm]] technique. The opposite-side hand pulls across the abdomen into a chambered position, [[Reciprocal_action|setting up a counterattack]].
+Pull the blocking arm's elbow down diagonally as far as possible, then thrust the fist straight downward. Do not lock the elbow -- instead, keep it slightly bent to perform the [[Ki|Unbendable Arm]] technique. The opposite-side hand pulls across the abdomen into a chambered position, [[Reciprocal_action|setting up a counterattack]].
   [video of gedan barai, from the front and from the side, fast and slow]
-This must be practiced slowly until it becomes one fluid motion, then that motion is gradually sped up. ''Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.'' It is tempting to be lazy, and to just swing one’s arm in a large downward arc, but there is no power behind such a block; it would be no different than trying to smack an attack aside with a spaghetti noodle.
+This must be practiced slowly until it becomes one fluid motion, which is gradually sped up. ''Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.'' It is tempting just swing your arm in a large downward arc, but there's no power behind such a block; it would be like using spaghetti noodles to smack attacks aside.
   [video of a swinging gedan barai, from the side, failing hard]
-When performing downward-fist blocks, do not cross the arms in an X-shape across your chest. If you do this, an opponent can trap both pushing on the outside arm to trap them both.
+Do not cross your arms in an X-shape across your chest. If you do this, an opponent can push on the outside arm, and trap them both against your chest.
   [front-view photos of improper gedan barai, and trapping the arms. ]
-Do not use downward-fist block to defend anything below the waistline. These attacks are too low for downward-fist blocks; they can only work by leaning forward, compromising one’s stance and stability. In addition, leaning involves additional and unnecessary energy expenditure to right oneself. Instead, attacks to the [[Kyūsho#Groin|groin]] or legs should be deflected with [[Knee block|knee blocks]]. Leaning from a downward-fist block just accentuates one’s undefended head, making it much easier to reach and abuse. Only use downward fist blocks to protect the abdomen.
+''Only use downward fist blocks to protect the abdomen.'' Attacks below the waistline are too low for downward-fist blocks, unless you lean forward, and compromise your stability. Also, leaning involves an unnecessary additional energy expenditure to right yourself. Instead, use [[Knee block|knee blocks]] to deflect attacks to your legs or [[Kyūsho#Groin|groin]]. A leaning downward-fist block makes your undefended head easier to reach and abuse.
   [side-view photo of leaning as a result of blocking too low, and being pulled off-balance ]
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