Trainers and program coordinators are often faced with the unenviable task of selecting the most suitable programs for their students. Choices range from systems with complicated wrist and leg locks, takedowns, grappling, control holds, flashy punches and kicks. However, with all the flash out there, the simplest techniques are still the easiest to retain and execute in the field. When an individual is involved in a hand-to-hand encounter, three choices are usually available: take a punch or strike; block and counter; or run away. This article explores the basic block, one of the cornerstones of hand-to-hand combat. Karate historically maintains that a solid block has the ability to incapacitate an attacking limb and discourage further attack from an aggressor. For the purpose of this article, however, blocking will be examined as a tool to redirect an oncoming attack and provide the defending officer time to move off the line of attack and escalate the use of force, thus regaining control of the situation. This article will examine the components of a strong defensive posture, four basic blocks and conclude with two drills which combine both evasive movement and blocking.

If a world-class fighter (who trains six to seven days a week throughout his career) can be floored with the right punch at the right time, this very same fate can easily befall any one of us. One way to prevent this is to practice not getting hit during an encounter. A strong defensive posture is the first element upon which effective blocking can be built. A strong defensive posture should contain some of the following components:

• Hands should be held above the waist, slightly extended in front of the chest, with elbows pointed down and close to the user’s side. The officer’s arms should be relaxed with hands open (fingers together) - ready to block a strike or retrieve necessary equipment from his duty belt quickly;

• Chin should be tucked;

• Officer should focus on the suspect’s whole body (do not stare directly into suspect’s eyes) while keeping track of both of his hands;

• Legs should be shoulder width apart in a bladed stance with weapon side to the rear;

• Knees should be slightly bent with weight evenly distributed between both legs (do not stand flat-footed);

• Officers should be relaxed and focused with the ability to use side to side and angular movement off the suspects line of attack;

• Officers should always move outside the line of attack (i.e., lead hand of suspect) when possible; this movement will decrease suspect’s ability to follow up with a rear hand strike; and

• Officer’s back should be kept straight.

The ability to transition to a defensive posture from an interview stance, as well as the ability to execute any tactic from this stance, can only be preformed effectively through practice. Officers should practice side to side and angular movement once they have mastered the fundamentals of the defensive posture, as well as the retrieval of equipment from their duty belt (i.e., firearm, OC, baton, PR-24, etc.).

Once a solid defensive posture and evasive movement has been established, officers are now ready to practice the four basic blocks. These blocks should be trained equally on both sides of the body and practiced until officers can execute them instinctively with speed and accuracy. Blocks should never overextend past the user’s body (note: the main purpose of the block is to redirect the aggressor’s line of attack). The four blocks are as follows:

• High Block - protects the user’s face and head region. The lead arm extends out, and up, just above the user’s head and terminates with the blocking arm on a slight angle in relation to the head. The forearm should be approximately three to five inches away from the user’s forehead (photo #1) with the palm or closed fist facing outward. The user can either utilize a closed fist or open hand with fingers held together (the open hand style is usually employed when the user seeks to grab the attacking arm);

• Middle Block - protects the user’s torso. The blocking arm moves from the inside to the outside of the body (photo #2) and deflects the strike to the outside of the defender’s body;

• Cross Block - protects the user’s torso. The blocking arm moves from the outside to the inside and deflects the attacking limb past the user’s body (photo #3); and

• Low Block - protects the user’s lower torso. The blocking arm extends down past the lower torso from the inside to the outside of the body (see photo #4). This block deflects the strike to the outside of the defender’s body. This technique can also be used to prevent a suspect from grabbing an officer’s sidearm.

Officers should practice these techniques until they can easily execute them with confidence. Officers should always train to keep the rear hand held high to protect against a second strike from the suspect’s rear hand. These blocks can also be used in conjunction with a PR-24, baton or flashlight. Coordination and skill can be developed through practicing blocking drills; officers should also practice their defensive posture and blocking in a full-length mirror. Two such drills are the Auditory Blocking Drill (AB) and Block Move Escalate Drill (BME). These two drills are as follows:

• AB Drill - This drill requires two participants and starts out as a noncontact drill and, later, develops into a light contact drill with both individuals using protective gear. One participant plays the role of the defender and the other, the attacker. The attacker and the defender stand approximately 15-20 feet apart, facing each other. Both individuals take a defensive posture. The attacker executes a slow-motion attack (high, middle or low). The defender then executes the proper block while calling out its name. (Note: No contact is made during this stage of the drill.) Once the defender is comfortable with blocks, the distance is slowly decreased between the two parties (strikes and blocks are to be thrown at slow motion). Prior to incorporating contact, paticipants should don protective eyewear, padded gloves, forearm pads and mouthpieces. When both participants feel ready, the defender will execute an attack at slow to half speed and the defender will then deploy the proper block. At this point, the defender no longer needs to call out the block during execution. Once the block is executed, the defender must quickly retract the blocking arm back to its original position in the defensive posture. As the defender’s blocking skills improve, the attacker will then throw combinations of attacks (high, low and middle) at a faster speed. The final stage of this drill will then incorporate the defender moving off the line of attack in a linear or angular fashion while the attacker executes various attacks.

• BME Drill - This drill can have two to six participants. One participant takes the role of the officer and the others assume the role of suspects. The suspects form a single file line, approximately 30 feet away from the officer. (Note: Officers will wear their duty belts equipped with a training gun.) The officer turns his back to the suspects at the beginning of the drill. The first suspect shouts, “Go,” and then advances toward the officer. At this point, the officer turns around and faces the oncoming suspect. (Note: Officer will step forward with his weapon side leg and then pivot in the opposite direction to face the suspect, thus automatically being positioned in a bladed stance with his weapon to the rear.) The officer then shouts, “Stop,” to the suspect who will then momentarily pause and, in an attempt to fool the officer, continue to advance either at a slow, moderate, or fast pace. At this point, the officer assumes a defensive posture. The suspect then attempts to deliver either a light tap on the head, moderate push to the shoulder or chest, light strike to the lower torso, or grab for the officer’s sidearm. The officer will then execute the proper block followed by a lateral or angular move off the suspect’s line of attack. The officer will then conclude with an escalation in the use-of-force continuum. Following this movement, the officer returns to his original position and the drill continues.

Officers do not have the same choices that an average individual has when faced with a hand-to-hand combat situation. Running away or taking a punch should not be on the list. When officers are faced with a violent individual, time is crucial and a quick resolution is vital. The incorporation of sound blocking, a solid (yet flexible) defensive posture and evasive movements into one’s tactics program can greatly enhance officer safety. Oftentimes, the most overlooked techniques are the easiest to remember and execute. The BME and AB are only a few examples of drills developed to improve an officer’s reaction time, physical conditioning and coordination.n