How To Block Circular Strikes?

Hello,

In street fights people won't throw straight punches like in karate but they throw circular punches. it would be similar to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO2m2v1OgAQ
this was to the face. Other kind of strikes are to the stomach. They hold your collar or catch behind your neck (so that you can't go free) and use circular punches `into` the stomach.

I really can't find videos or pictures I've in mind. But I hope you got what I'm saying.

So, how to block these? our tradtional karate blocks won't work. If you block these using our karate uke's they just slide but wont block these punches.

what kind of blocks should we use?

How could you say that the karate blocks won't work on this?

I've try it when my angry fellow out of control and try to hit my face and I block it with age uke. his hand hit my elbow and it could not reach my face which is his target.

after that he execute a left upercut and I could block it again with soto uke.

that's all about the timing.

I did not look at the link...but a circular punch like a roundhouse, hook etc... are very easily blocked I would use a shuto uke with a side step motion...If you look at the Pinan/Heian katas the 45 degree turns are showing this concept of sidestep/block..

Untrained fighters and "street fighters" tend to throw winging or wide angle roundhouse type punches. The punch shown in the video is a refined technique that is more like the punc of a trained fighter.

However, to address the original question, in order for any pugilistic technique to work, whetether it's a straight punch or a hooking punch or whatever, the techniques requires proper distance. If you mess up the striker's distance you can mess up the strike (Mess up is technical term). Theere are three basic ways to do this.

Most people, be they trained or untrained, tend to back away from an attack in order to avoid the punch. Another way, is to use lateral movement to side step or evade the attack. When done properly, this sets up very well for a counter attack.

The third way is to actually step into the attack and jam the attack. this workswell against winging hook punches because the idea is to jam by stepping into the gap created when "winding up" before the punch.

The first method, stepping back, messes up the distance by increases the distance to make the technique miss. The draw back is that this allows the attackers momentum to build and you can find yourself being bull dozed by the attacker.

The third method messes up the distance by making it too short for attack get started.

The second method when use properly can work the same way as either the first or third method.

at risk of stating the obvious - the way to train to defend against a particular form of attack is - to train how to defend against a particular form of attack!

Many karate dojo have fallen into the trap of training their students to pass gradings and the grading syllabus has become - train against mid range Karate attacks.

It has to change IMHO

I agree. Although I would like to add, that one should train in different types of arts which specialise unique in a particular method, then move onto another of difference.

Couldn't agree more. Whilst i cannot claim to be anything other than a Shotokan Stylist I have - for many years - taken every opportunity to train with other stylists (and invite them to us) and have always found it very informative. often making me realise - we have it in Shotokan but do not practice it enough.

circular punches are best defended by moving inside the striking path. Combining this with an elbow strike is very effective.

Circular punches (as with all forms of attack) are actually best defended against by not being on the receiving end of them! but that is a whole lifetime of training and very complex.

If a man grabs your collar or the back of your neck and proceeds to punch you, why would you try to block his punches? You're so close you should throw him, knee him, elbow him, choke him, or throw your own punches. If you stood there and tried to block each punch at that distance rather than fight back, then you deserve to lose.

As for blocking circular punches when a man is not too close to you. The traditional blocks work fine. But you need to practice them hard against training partner who is going full speed and full force, and not a compliant dojo buddy.

It is unrealistic to expect it to work in a real situation if you do not practice against real speed and power. That is true for any activity or sport. Karate is not special. There are no secret techniques that give you a shortcut to hard work.