Bad blocking habits

[Rouisu]

I thought I would ask the advice of more experienced kendoka for this. Now, before I get started, I know that Kendo emphasises a lot on aggression and fighting spirit, but humour me on this...

Anyways, I find that whenever my partners in ji-geiko make a men cut that I cannot avoid, more often than not, I 'block' with my tsuka. Meaning, instead of parrying with the shinai blade, I simply rush forward and intercept my partner's tsuka with mine. This is not intentional, but simply something I do without thinking. This usually ends up with me and my opponent with our shinai above our heads in tsuba zerai.

Now, I am concerned about this, because not only am I the only one in our club that 'blocks with tsuka' consistently (everyone else blocks properly). I do not know if this is good kendo, but I am also worried about my partner's well being. I know that in ji-geiko that we will get roughed up, but observing my partners' body movements after we rotate ji-geiko partners (espcially when i spar with smaller partners), I can tell I cause more pain then necessary with my blocking habit. In our club, I would say I am one of the tallest, and I am quite built too, so I would understand the force generated when I ram my tsuka into my partners' and execute tai-atari. On several occasions I would almost bend the backs of smaller partners!

My questions are: Is tsuka interception bad kendo? If so, then how can this be rectified? In other words, what would be a good way to block? Also, is it wise to use tai-atari and lock into tsuba zerai after every failed strike, or should one back off? I am quite inexperienced with sparring so I am not so sure.

[JSchmidt]

My questions are: Is tsuka interception bad kendo? If so, then how can this be rectified? In other words, what would be a good way to block?

There is no good way to block. Don't do it. Instead find out why you are giving the opponent the opportunity to attack and how to prevent that.
By blocking neither you or your partner learn anything.

Jakob

[Anime12478]

I'm not really sure what level you are at, but in my short jigeiko experience, I was told to not really worry about blocking too much right now unless you can back it up with a counter attack. The way I see it, if you just block and not follow up with a counter attack to get them while they are open, then that would just leave you open while you reset.

As far as fixing your problem, I guess only time will fix that. You have developed a bad habit and now you must get rid of that habit. I guess the best way to do it is to make it sort of a mantra until you get it right. Everytime you block with the tsuka, just remind yourself that you shouldn't do that. It might be a while before it's effective, but I guess it might work.

[Fonsz]

This falls under Bad Kendo. Some Sensei will qualify this as negative kendo. If you can block and jump forwards then there other waza that you can counter with. Do more Ai men just go for a counter attack. Let yourself be hit if you do it long enough you can figure out the timing of the attack and what to do. Don't be afraid to get hit. Be thankful that they hit you because they are teaching/showing you a weak point and you should learn from it. Instead of blocking in the most crude and neagtive way. In Ji Geiko the purpose is to teach each other you're not learning and your opponent sure as hell isn't learning from it.
Be a sport and try to do it this way. You are then entering the school of hard knocks and ego bruising and we all had to go through this so why not you?

[karai]

In my humble opinion, the only good block is one that is followed immediately by a counterattack. I think that in jigeiko (or most other sword to sword sparring, for that matter) the best thing to do is to strike as soon as there is an opening, because in reality it was usually better to kill your opponent quickly instead of prolonging the battle. As soon as you see your opponent move in a certain way, strike whichever openings are there before their shinai can connect with any part of you. As Fonsz said, don't be afraid to get hit -- usually people do what you mention in this thread when they are unconsciously worried about getting hit, and so it kind of just "happens" as you say. If you find that you are adept at blocking and immediately following up with another motion, however, then I would suggest practicing some oji (suriage, kaeshi) waza during keiko, because these can be quite effective when executed properly. The underlying point and most often what determines how well you do in jigeiko/shiai, however, is still how much training you do -- so try hard and eventually you'll get the hang of things :)

[Jefe]

As Fonsz said, don't be afraid be hit. In jigeiko don't focus on anything but hit a good men. Also, your senseis or sempais can hit ai-men with you to teach you how to hit. If you guys do lots of uchikomi or kakarigeiko, that can also encourage you to hit.

[Koki]

I think it is no big deal. Rouisu probably just started fighting with bogu not too long ago. This is very common among beginners (because they usually fight too close). Overtime, when you become familiar with technique, distance and timing, your kendo will change. There is nothing to worry too much about!

[Tiki-kun]

My sensei often likes to fire off a bunch of small hits to as many openings as he can find (which usually is a lot) as if he were some sort of kendo machine gun. I often fall into the trap of trying to block/counter all of these little strikes instead of trying to get him. After one especially pathetic session, he told me "Blocking only keeps your opponent alive longer." Very true.

[Kmav]

Blocking any hit is bad. Block and counter-attack is a different thing and is used by many advanced kenshi. Dont continue blocking or you will develop the habit of blocking as soon as you see ANY movement. You can correct blocking by simply not blocking...what I mean by that is, when you see the opponent go for your men, dont block, just find that right timing and attack his men. Hope that helps.

PS: I had this problem too, but its easy to correct early on...just dont keep doing it.

[HandsomeWarrior]

I´m not gonna repeat because as you can see, everybody recommends not blocking. Me too. If you can block you could have counterattacked.


This usually ends up with me and my opponent with our shinai above our heads in tsuba zerai.

This is NOT (proper) tsuba zeriai and is the reason for your partners suffering from their back. I had my back damage for a few weeks after a tournament because of raising my shinai up when doing tai hatari. The smallest guy always gets their back damaged.
Besides, it´s only a matter of time until you find someone that teaches you the mistake on raising your arms in such situation. Be prepared to land in the ground with your back.

I got used to maintain my kote at the proper height when doing or receiving tai hatari (which should be done with the hip, not the hands by the way) so that in tsuba zeriai I´m on the right path to get the edge. If my opponent insists on raising his kote, he´d better be prepared for hansoku for touching my shinai, or receive hiki-do if the shinpan does not see any fault.

[Stimpson J. Cat]

This usually ends up with me and my opponent with our shinai above our heads in tsuba zerai.

This happens to me occasionally as well, usually when I try to do ai men and the maai ends up too short. Is there anything good to do once you're there? Understanding that it's a bad spot to be in and if you're there in first place, you've already done something wrong. As HandsomeWarrior mentioned, the thought of a high push trying to send them over backwards has crossed my mind, but that's not something I'd do in the dojo, a shiai match maybe, but not jigeiko.

[Rouisu]

Thank you for your replies, everyone.

In all honesty, I did not know that blocking in kendo would be held in such low regard. That's my inexperience for you. So it is better to attack an open target area faster than your opponent if he/she attacks you? I'll have to try and increase my speed first, than I will go for it.

As for the tai-atari HandsomeWarrior mentioned, yes I apply the force from my kote, which I will try to rectify in today's training session so that it comes from the waist instead.

One more thing: yesterday my friend mentioned that in ji-geiko, it is the lower ranked kendoka's responsibility to attack constantly. Is this true?

[Neil Gendzwill]

So it is better to attack an open target area faster than your opponent if he/she attacks you? I'll have to try and increase my speed first, than I will go for it.
It's better if you simply stop worrying about whether he hits you or not. You're going to get hit, just live with it. Worry about attacking correctly yourself.

[Seiza_Seizure]

I have been pulled up on blocking before by higher ranked students. One in particular would tell me to choose wheather to block, or attack and not be in two minds about it. I found I was constantly blocking, and not counter attacking or following up on the block. Sensei also kept telling us to reduce blocking, and to reduce moving our heads when an opponent cut. I and other kendoka would try and avoid being struck and move our head. Yet another habit to fix!!
I understand that we should not fear being struck, but what about in Shiai when it really counts?
It's hard to get my head around... Maybe that's a really bad way to phrase that question.... HeHe..
In shiai, every point counts, and if it comes down to me winning and me losing, I may opt to block, or move my head to avoid losing a point. I need to talk to my Sensei.
Sorry all... Just thinking out loud. Hope you don't mind.

[samurai999]

Well.. From what I heard, blocking is bad because it puts you into a negative situation. That is, you are on your heels and the other person is gaining momentum on you... If you just keep blocking, it is just a matter of time before the guy just blasts a waza past you and you get a point scored on you.

If you do "blocking", use it in terms of waza. What I mean is, kaeshi men, kaeshi dou, kaeshi hiki kote, or kaeshi hiki men, etc. If you don't know waza it is best to keep on the offensive...

My 0.02$(US)

Tim

[ReKru]

I understand that we should not fear being struck, but what about in Shiai when it really counts?
It's hard to get my head around... Maybe that's a really bad way to phrase that question.... HeHe..
In shiai, every point counts, and if it comes down to me winning and me losing, I may opt to block, or move my head to avoid losing a point. I need to talk to my Sensei.

What Neil says also applies to shiai.
You don't avoid getting hit by blocking, at least not for very long. Your opponent will see you block and use it against you.
Same with moving your head.

What works for me is always attacking, as soon as I see the opponent move. If he goes for men, go for ai-men, if he goes for kote, go for men and hope you are better at convincing the judges the point should go trough you by doing a good men and having good zanshin.

If you block, you basically just stand there like a target dummy at the ideal ma-ai for your opponent, if you launch an attack as soon as he does, you close the distance and even if he hits you, it will probably not be with the correct part of the shinai in correct form.

Well, that's what little shiai experience I have vs. usually younger, faster and better opponents - block and you will inevitably lose, attack and you might get a draw (which can be decisive in a team match, where you have the relative hardest opponent because you're somewhere in the middle) or even score a point and win.

[mad_god]

People should not think only attacking. It's silly you fight like that.
Shiai is not kakarigeiko. It's stupid fighting like with nothing in your mind.
People should know basic but proper ways to defend or avoid opponent's attacks.
Since people know some basic skills to avoid opponent's attack, they can run to shiai a little bit more confident and have better result than just attacking like a crazy moron.

Said that, people need to focus to use counter attacks (oji, debana, nuki wazas...) or just tai-sabaki properly gradually in the long way of their practice.

[ReKru]

People should not think only attacking. It's silly you fight like that.
Shiai is not kakarigeiko. It's stupid fighting like with nothing in your mind.
People should know basic but proper ways to defend or avoid opponent's attacks.
Since people know some basic skills to avoid opponent's attack, they can run to shiai a little bit more confident and have better result than just attacking like a crazy moron.


Beginners don't know basic skills to avoid opponent's attack (or else they wouldn't just block) and even if they trained them a few times, it's barely enough to use them successfully, so they end blocking again (unless you're super talented and kaeshi or nuki with perfect timing after practicing it 2-3 times - we have some very good people that get this stuff very fast, but it's not the norm).

Only attacking is not half as silly as only blocking, twice as successfull in not getting hit (or not giving the opponent ippon, even if you get hit) and doesn't develop a bad blocking habit (if you block, your chance to get ippon is 0 - if you attack it's >0 ).

[ReKru]

p.s.
I'm just talking about 'the bad blocking habit' here, not about 'proper waza that contains blocking' like kaeshi.

I think it's also in the 'spirit' of swordfighting. Imagine if you would have to fight a duel with shinken and your opponent was faster/better than you.
If your target was to kill him, would you try to block his fast attack and get struck in his 2nd (maybe even his 1st) attempt, or attack him like a crazy moron and hope to kill him at the same time he kills you?

You will 'die' anyway, isn't it better to try and take him with you instead of trying to avoid the unavoidable?

[Landorph]

My Sensei told me that is bad form. Instead you should concentrate on attacking. Especially if someone is better than you. Blocking is when u r too slow to dodge.

[nodachi]

I've just recently moved back here and I've been to 4 practices so far. I had an epiphany last night that this discussion put into my head. They NEVER block here. I have the advantage of being low man on the totem pole here. The practices I go to have everyone (except me) being probably sandan and all the way up to nanadan. I love this kind of training environment where I get to be greedy and absorb knowledge from everyone. Everyone, including sensei, never block where I train. They will do some sort of suriage or kaeshi technique or something, but nothing ever resembles just a block. I think that shows something. Look to those above you, even at shiai. Chances are they don't block very often, if at all. Somewhere in the low to middle ranks I remember seeing head bobbing and blocking in shiai, but when you watch the hardcore people, they just don't do it.

[Rouisu]

Wow...I am shocked. Not in a negative way of course, but still I am very much surprised (and grateful) for the replies.

I think I understand what people are trying to say now. Blocking, on its own, is ineffective, because you lose initative while the opponent has the upper hand. From what I understand, it is better to take action instead of cowering behind my shinai :(

I think I have fallen into the trap of thinking of kendo as more of a sword fight than a contest of fighting spirit. I think I have just been enlightened (to a small degree). I guess I have always hesitated in attacking because I had the attitude of not attacking unless I'm sure my opponent would not be able to nail me while I do it. If this was a real duel, I would be the one who would be more worried about survivng than taking out my opponent. Thanks guys, it's finally clicked. From now on, to hell with what the opponent does (not literally, but you get what I mean), I just have to trust myself and not hesitate, vanish into the attack if you will.

Guys (and girls), if you will, answer this for me. What is your preferred response to an opponent's attack? Do you wait for an opportunity to use debana waza, do you evade and use hiki waza, try ai-uchi or retaliate with oji waza? I understand this is all subjective because everyone has different abilities and style, but it would be interesting to hear about it.

Just my 0.02 bu...

PS: Landorph, did Takeshi-sensei tell you that? Who are you in the club (because I'm USYD too!) If you want to guess who I am, then I will give you a hint: prawn crackers :)

[emitbrownne]

Guys (and girls), if you will, answer this for me. What is your preferred response to an opponent's attack? Do you wait for an opportunity to use debana waza, do you evade and use hiki waza, try ai-uchi or retaliate with oji waza? I understand this is all subjective because everyone has different abilities and style, but it would be interesting to hear about it.


Each of these should be with a feeling of attack (well should be..... but I often find I am lazy and wait). Do not wait for anything, create openings, look for openings.

[ReKru]

Each of these should be with a feeling of attack (well should be..... but I often find I am lazy and wait). Do not wait for anything, create openings, look for openings.

From personal experience and from talking to shimpan that judged my matches (was lucky that he was in my team right after he refereed my match), I can second that.

To award a point, at mudansha level, if I understood that advice right, shimpan look for an active kendoka. If you just stand there, wait for the opponent to attack and then 'respond', you most likely not get ippon, no matter how good your waza was, if the judges don't get the impression your actions led to your opponents attack.
You need to convince the shimpan, that you have very strong seme and press your opponent into an attack, something which is very hard at mudansha level, if not impossible (to convice that shimpan that is). Only then you might get a point for a 'responsive' waza.

My favorite response would be kaeshi do, but I sucketh royally at it - manage to pull 3-4 off in a single match and not get a single point.
So (coming from the same 'wait, see and react' corner) my shiai kendo improved a good chunk when I switched to 'take the initiative' kendo (okok, a tiny bit more than before, I'm not the flying fryingpan whirlwind yet) and now my favorite waza to 'respond' would be .. harai men (which works surprisingly well at mudansha level, if you develop a strong harai) and trying to push to a point where I can de-center the opponent enough trough strong seme that I can hit men without harai (ok, now I'm dreaming, but I guess you need some long term goals in kendo).

[HandsomeWarrior]

I would love to make suriage more often, but every time I try I end up displacing some air and eating bamboo, so until I learn some (much) more my first reaction is usually debana-waza. The good thing about this, is that if you´re not quick enough, it usually comes as ai-uchi....well, good for shiai. In regular ji-geiko I still blame my lack of skills.

As for kaeshi, I tend not to do it a lot, as it´s very very tough for me to struck with monouchi. I see many people, specially beginners, doing a lot of kaeshi-do, but they never hit properly, and they never get yuko-datotsu at shiai because of this (a regular do is tough enough to score). The problem with kaeshi for me is being fast enough...

I should train more suriage until it becomes second nature, so that I don´t have to think of it...and just execute it.

[Paburo]

hansonworryalot, you talk big for being such a little wimpy thing :D :D

i'll quote some of my sensei wisdom for this blocking matter:


if you have enough time and skill to block, you should have enough time and skill to make a pre-emptive attack, you moron

and saito-sensei:


everytime you block you open some area on your body that can be attack-able kendo-wise. strong center-ed chudan is the best block.

[mad_god]

Beginners don't know basic skills to avoid opponent's attack (or else they wouldn't just block) and even if they trained them a few times, it's barely enough to use them successfully, so they end blocking again (unless you're super talented and kaeshi or nuki with perfect timing after practicing it 2-3 times - we have some very good people that get this stuff very fast, but it's not the norm).

Only attacking is not half as silly as only blocking, twice as successfull in not getting hit (or not giving the opponent ippon, even if you get hit) and doesn't develop a bad blocking habit (if you block, your chance to get ippon is 0 - if you attack it's >0 ).

If you think they should attack then someone attack them, as it will give some chance to make ippon, maybe you're right. But it will be just a lucky point.
Shiai isn't a kakarigeiko contest. If you think different it's up to you. I think my beginner colleagues can try to make a reasonable fight looking for real chances to hit. Besides, they are happier doing it.

[ReKru]

If you think they should attack then someone attack them, as it will give some chance to make ippon, maybe you're right. But it will be just a lucky point.

Attack instead of block, not just blindly attack. All in the context of not being afraid to get hit, not even in shiai, where 'it matters'. 'Fear' being one of those 'kendo poisons', if I remember correctly.
Also taking into account what paburo's sensei said - if you are fast enough to block, you can also do something else that might give you a chance for ippon.
Blocking just seems like such a loss of opportunity.



Shiai isn't a kakarigeiko contest. If you think different it's up to you. I think my beginner colleagues can try to make a reasonable fight looking for real chances to hit. Besides, they are happier doing it.

When the opponent starts an attack, usually there should be an opening, opposed to a stable chudano kamae, where he should not have any openings.

So if you did not get a chance to create an opening yourself, because your opponent is always fast in his attacks, the best time to attack should be then - when your opponent opens up his safe kamae position.

Something my teacher said about 'counter-attacking'/ oji waza (I hope I don't twist what he inteded to teach here) - the attack is an intentional move, when one starts to attack, the muscles don't stay so relaxed and the movememt is a tad bit slower than 'reacting' to that attack with a counterattack. So when you stay relaxed and attack at the same time you see your opponent offering you an opening by attacking, you should be able to 'beat' him and cut him before he cuts you.

Again - attacking and trying to seize an opportunity instead of blocking and just wasting it.

[Landorph]

HAHA DUDE>. u going down 2mr in Training...

I hated your stoopid Block since day one...

2mr I shall rain fury upon your MEN.. MUAHAHAHAH

j/k

man feeling really excited... Meow's gonna shout me drinks if I beat sumone.. ^_^ muahaha can't let her poke me tsuki all the time no more... just cos it's a she.

and U my friend.. "JUST DOH IT"

[Inouye02]

how does all this advice apply when you watch video of the WKC, and all Japan tournaments and you see a lot of blocking going on , I noticed practically everyone doing blocks...

isnt blocking just a natural defense instinc ?

[nodachi]

Most of us won't reach the serious level of tournaments like the WKC or the All Japans... so for your average Joe learning Kendo, isn't it better to not advocate blocking?

[ReKru]

how does all this advice apply when you watch video of the WKC, and all Japan tournaments and you see a lot of blocking going on , I noticed practically everyone doing blocks...

isnt blocking just a natural defense instinc ?

It's not an advice, it's just my opinion and my own experience from my own fights in kyu tournaments. And those tournaments have little to do with WKC or AJC.

It applies in the same way that watching 8th dan tournaments and thinking because those people can 'stand' around and apply seme, as less experienced kendoka you can do the same. But you will just end up standing around and offer your opponent who has a more active attitude to take you apart trough constant attacks.
It creates a passive mindframe, where, according to higher level's people, you should train 'sutemi' (good article here: http://www.kendo-world.com/articles/magazine/hanshi_says_(harada)/index.php ) up to shodan/nidan level - train to sacrifice yourself into the attack, before you start with 'ri'.

[Neil Gendzwill]

You need to practice the kendo appropriate to your level. As Rekru points out, trying to stay still and apply pressure when you're ikkyu doesn't work - you're not ready for it. Similarily getting into this defensive, blocking sort of mindset doesn't work either, as a beginner you'll just be on your heels and leaving openings all over the place. When you see a higher level person block, they're usually blocking as part of their attacking action but even if it's just a straight block they are keeping their own centre and still keeping a forward feeling. It's kind of hard to explain...

[Old Warrior]

...but even if it's just a straight block they are keeping their own centre and still keeping a forward feeling. It's kind of hard to explain...

At least you are admitting that even reasonably skilled kendoka - do block. In my experience they block all the time. This is specially true as the quality of your attacks increases and they don't have a tremendous amount of time to plan, because they can't see it setting up from the start. I do agree that as you get better, pure blocking is a poor and usually unsuccessful strategy. Although, from a nito perspective, I block a lot, waiting for that one good chance.

[Kingofmyrrh]

People should not think only attacking. It's silly you fight like that.
Shiai is not kakarigeiko. It's stupid fighting like with nothing in your mind.
People should know basic but proper ways to defend or avoid opponent's attacks.
Since people know some basic skills to avoid opponent's attack, they can run to shiai a little bit more confident and have better result than just attacking like a crazy moron.

Said that, people need to focus to use counter attacks (oji, debana, nuki wazas...) or just tai-sabaki properly gradually in the long way of their practice.
I agree with Mad God here. The problem with most beginners is that when they block they just stand there transfixed, without moving their feet. What do they expect to happen? I don't think that trying to match an opponent's attack with one of your own in shiai is a good idea at all. You're just following their timing, which is even worse than a static block.

[ReKru]

The problem with most beginners is that when they block they just stand there transfixed, without moving their feet. What do they expect to happen?

What else are they supposed to do? Their ojo waza is usually not at a level where they can successfully use it and they are just 'trying to survive', so blocking is the most 'natural thing'.


I don't think that trying to match an opponent's attack with one of your own in shiai is a good idea at all. You're just following their timing, which is even worse than a static block.

Not 'match' an opponent's attack, 'beat' an opponents attack.
A static block does nothing but create lots of openings for your opponent, if one's block is not of a level that you find with some of the more experienced kendoka.

[Kingofmyrrh]

What else are they supposed to do? Their ojo waza is usually not at a level where they can successfully use it and they are just 'trying to survive', so blocking is the most 'natural thing'.
No problems with plain blocks here. It's just that beginners stand there with their feet rooted to the floor instead of blocking positively (and I'm not talking ojiwaza).




Not 'match' an opponent's attack, 'beat' an opponents attack.
A static block does nothing but create lots of openings for your opponent, if one's block is not of a level that you find with some of the more experienced kendoka.
Unless there's a huge difference in level, you can't beat an opponent's attack purely based upon your reactions. What you're describing is trying to attack when you see the opponent attacking - to me that's matching. A static block can create openings - but as described above, that's a bad block. If you can't block properly then you can hardly say that blocking is all bad, can you?

[ReKru]

No problems with plain blocks here. It's just that beginners stand there with their feet rooted to the floor instead of blocking positively (and I'm not talking ojiwaza).

They don't have a 'positive mindset'. They are afraid to get hit. To get to a positive blocking, I think you have to stop blocking out of fear to get hit.
To stop blocking out of fear to get hit, I think you need to give up on blocking until you develop a better 'mindset'.
There might be other ways, but I'm friggin' 30 years old and like many adult beginners not overly talented when it comes to learning kendo stuff 'to the bones', I need the slow and complicated approach.




Unless there's a huge difference in level, you can't beat an opponent's attack purely based upon your reactions. What you're describing is trying to attack when you see the opponent attacking - to me that's matching. A static block can create openings - but as described above, that's a bad block. If you can't block properly then you can hardly say that blocking is all bad, can you?

Unless there's a huge difference in experience, you can't successfully block an opponents attack, either.
My sempai can hit me 20x kote-men-do despite my effort to block them and I can hit the guys that got in bogu this summer at least 1x kote-men-do despite their efforts to block.
If I don't attempt to block, I have a slight chance of 'sneaking' in a kote or at least an ai-kote.

I never said 'all blocking is bad', since we are still talking about 'bad blocking habits' are bad, I basically agree with you that bad, 'static' blocking is bad and try to find a way out of this habit.
To me, the first step was stop being afraid to get hit (in ji geiko as well as shiai).

[Paburo]

IMHO, a good block can leave the opponent in a very bad position, unbalanced and open. it's part of the strategy. i've seen this many times. even applied on me of course...

when saitou sensei nanadan blocks my attacks (granted, i do my best at heart to attack commitedly) i'm sent flying like an agent smith clon after attacking THE ONE.

so as someone pointed out before, blocks are advanced waza. my sensei says, first you need to attack properly, and THEN, much much later, you can learn to block.

so for all of us below nanadan level... i guess we need to learn to attack first, lol.

[mad_god]

IMHO, a good block can leave the opponent in a very bad position, unbalanced and open. it's part of the strategy. i've seen this many times. even applied on me of course...

when saitou sensei nanadan blocks my attacks (granted, i do my best at heart to attack commitedly) i'm sent flying like an agent smith clon after attacking THE ONE.

so as someone pointed out before, blocks are advanced waza. my sensei says, first you need to attack properly, and THEN, much much later, you can learn to block.

so for all of us below nanadan level... i guess we need to learn to attack first, lol.

Blocking or hitting. Beginner and high dan level.
Go and watch a kid fighting. He already knows how to attack and block, at his level. Then he will grow up and learn more, in attacking and defense... everything will come, gradually.

[Landorph]

well... it feels really bad if you attack and they just simply block u.

it's worse if u attack and they just parry your shinai

it's the worst when they stand there open and ask you to attack and u miss...

><

so before u learn to block.. attack attack attack until u can actually hit them first..

My Sensei told us.. blocking can learn naturally, dont need people teach you.. but attacking you have to practice alot and learn from someone.