Hi,

Studying First and Second Kata on the newly released DVD I notice the following:

In performing the Gedan Barai block Shihan moves his fist from the shoulder diagonally across his body in a straight line to the finishing position, passing across the middle of his body usually a few inches above the knot of his belt.

In the basics on the DVD in the Gedan Barai block the fist travels down and then across, passing across the middle of the body a few inches below the belt, thus protecting the groin as is the intention of the block.

Should the block be performed any differently in the Katas?

I have been told that Black belts are allowed to short cut basic blocks somewhat, but should they do this in first and second Katas?

Anyone else noticed this anomally on the new DVD? Any thoughts?

Hi Wobbler, Welcome aboard!
To be honest, I've not had a close look at the kata DVDs, but I'll be sure to have a close look now!
But it does look as though during the kata he is blocking a strike or kick with his wrist, which seems to be a little careless.....
I know quite a few people here have the DVDs, be interesting to see what they think....

It's obviously something Stacey needs to work on for his next grade.....

Maybe hes not blocking
Sam

"In performing the Gedan Barai block Shihan moves his fist from the shoulder diagonally across his body in a straight line to the finishing position, passing across the middle of his body usually a few inches above the knot of his belt.

In the basics on the DVD in the Gedan Barai block the fist travels down and then across, passing across the middle of the body a few inches below the belt, thus protecting the groin as is the intention of the block."

Hummm are you sure a gedan barai is meant to block the groin? I would say its more suited to block an attack to the lower body but probably above the waist, a gedan uke or even better a leg check would be more suited to the task IMHO, maybe its my build but my arm just wont reach down far enough to block my groin without being in a rarther deep stance. So maybe shihan is preforming it to block a differnt area to what you are thinking. ??

My opinion is like yours, I think the gedan barai works well blocking anything just below elbow height and is good to use when you are standing tall against your sparring partner. I reckon you're spot on saying that gedan uke is much better for those below-the-belt blocks.

So what if the attack doesnt come at where you have been religiously conditioned to blocking.

Then you ask them to do the next one so you can

Warren