How to Do Basic Kung Fu : Blocking Down in Kung Fu

Hello everyone, welcome back again. We just covered the outside block and the inside block. Next, I'll show you how to block against attacks to the lower body. What if someone tried to kick your stomach, punch you at the waist or even kick you in the thigh? As far as kicking down as low as your knee, forget it, that won't happen. The form for a down block is similar to drawing a half circle from your ear to your navel or bellybutton. You'll strike using that motion with your arm and fist. Let's look at how this downward block looks with several different stances. We'll start from the classical stance, with legs far apart, knees fully bent and toes pointing outward. Bring your fist from your opposite shoulder, down diagonally across your navel and finally resting it down by your thigh, to block. Perform the block in a front stance. In this stance one of your legs are forward and the knee bent and the other leg is back and out straight. No, repeat the down block as described before. This time do it in a back stance, Taekwondo, which I love. This is the opposite of the front stance, where the back leg is bent and the front leg is straight. Again, bring the arm across your body diagonally and rest it at the side of the front thigh. Use the down block to defend yourself against roundhouse kicks. The contact point of these kicks are almost always to the hip. If your are hit at the hand as you block, it is less damage to break your hand rather than injure your kidney. Blocking, at least, reduces the power of a kick. A roundhouse kick intended for the hip could possibly hit the kidney. Pray for that not to happen, it is painful. If your opponent throws a front kick, the likely target is the groin. Fortunately, you can use your hands in a downward block, to prevent contact. Again, sacrifice some damage to your hand rather than your groin. Most fighters today aim their powerful roundhouse kicks to the lower body, the thigh or the hip. This time, I will down block using my forearm instead of my hand. Your opposite hand should be held up near your biceps and you'll swing the lower arm down to block the kick. There are other ways of countering a front kick without blocking. I will teach you what that is in the next subject. Thank you.