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dhogsette
dhogsette's picture
Low Block High Block Kihon Combo as Defense Against Knee Strike

Sorry for the long subject line...

I'm continuing to work on kihon combination drills that can be applied in specific defensive ways. Knee strikes are excellent self-defense tactics. However, many attackers also know how to punish victims with explosive, damaging knee strikes. We need to know how to deliver powerful knee strikes but also how to defend against them and to regain the offensive in an encounter. This video discusses how to use a basic low block, high block kihon combination as a defense against a knee strike. This is the fourth and final set of high block kihon combination application drills that I teach. At the end, I include some shots of students playing around with the combination with a partner. Not bad for total beginners!

Best,

David 

MattG
MattG's picture

Great video, looks like a really practical drill. Thanks for sharing.

This reminds me of a technique I learned to regain control in a muay thai clinch that used the same principles. Rather than grabbing the leg (which is illegal in muay thai), you bear hug your opponent and drive your head underneath their chin, creating a bend in their back which reduces their ability to control and compromises their balance. From there you use use one forearm to drive the opponents head further back (similar to the upper block movement), which further reduces their control and allows you to posture up, and also provides the space to get a collar tie. Different application because the goal/context is different, but isn't it great when we see principles intersecting accross different arts?

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

Thanks so much! Yes, I enjoy seeing connections among various styles. As my Sensei (Jerry Figgiani) says, patches and styles divide us, movement and principles unite us. The human body can move in only so many ways, and inevitably peoples of different cultures will independently discover similar solutions to similar combative problems. 

Best,

David

karate10
karate10's picture

I love the practicality of this video, especially with the inner between the leg osoto gari leg sweep for the take down after the jodan uke strike to the face. Even the jodan uke strike to the side of the kneck, the enemy will be seeing stars. Plus, I see a bit of Pinan nidan ending bunkai variation with the gedan barai/Jodan uke sequence.....Regards...Gerald.

Marc
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Another nice kihon bunkai drill, David.

And a good quote: "You're too nice!"

karate10 wrote:

I see a bit of Pinan nidan ending bunkai variation with the gedan barai/Jodan uke sequence

Yes, here's an example of the same techniques and the same principle applied against a long range kick (at 1:02 in the video):

Take care,

Marc

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

Thanks so much! I didn’t make the connection to pinan nidan—perfect!! Thanks for pointing that out. When I teach this drill, I do discuss applications involving front kick and round kick in sport contexts and sparring that allows for takedowns. With beginners, I mainly drill the self-defense knee strike application. Thanks for the encouraging feedback!

David

karate10
karate10's picture

I like it.....Excellent flow. Subscribed....Thank you Marc...Regards...Gerald.