Very good and helpful guidelines here. However I disagree with one of the last points made, you say "He can simply ignore the defenders premature move...

Very good and helpful guidelines here. However I disagree with one of the last points made, you say “He can simply ignore the defenders premature movement and continue on with the attack undeterred (and thus whack his partner in the nose - very bad idea).” However I think is a good idea and this is how we train. If me or my partner want to block an attack that is not there then that is fine, however it is our own fult when the attacker strikes us. The person blocking SHOULD NOT MOVE until the attacker commences the sequence. Personally I find there is no quicker way to learn other than to get punched a few times.

This might seem a slightly harsh approach, but I find it works and therefore I will keep it up.

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