Unit 04
Rising Block
Rising block, called “age-uke” in Japanese, is used to protect the upper part of your body, usually your head, from an attack coming from the front or from above.
Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart with one hand out and one hand on your hip, as though you just executed a punch. Next, raise your punching arm until it’s aiming upward at about a 45° angle. Finally, bend your elbow to about 90°, so your forearm is above (but not touching) your head. Make sure that the back of your fist remains facing the top of your head. This is the beginning position. When viewed from the front, your blocking arm should appear to make about a 45° angle.
To execute rising block, simply switch the position of your arms while keeping the following points in mind:
- Just like punching, both hand begin and end moving at the same time.
- Just like punching, your elbows scrape your sides as they move.
- Unlike punching, the hip on the same side as the blocking arm moves forward.
- The blocking hand must pass in front of your face on the way up.
The last point is the most important, particularly for blocking attacks from the front, as a block that doesn’t pass in front of your face won’t actually block anything. Imagine an attack coming straight at your face from the front. Your block should intercept the attack and redirect it upward, above your head.
The 3 K’s of Karate
Much of karate training can be broken down into three broad categories, sometimes called the “3 Ks” of karate: Kihon, Kata, and Kumite. Each has its own role in your training.
Kihon
“Kihon” translates as “basics” or “fundamentals.” The individual blocks, strikes, kicks, etc., that you learn in karate are classified as “kihon.”
Kata
“Kata” translates as “form” or “formal exercise.” In karate, kata are a predetermined set of techniques, executed while moving across the floor, to simulate one person’s part in an imaginary self-defense scenario. Viewed without context, they may look like a complex dance, but they are actually a form of “textbook” used to teach karate before most people could read.
Kumite
“Kumite” literally means “grappling hands” but a better English translation is usually “sparring” or “partner drill.” There are many different kinds of kumite, ranging from repetitive and predetermined drills, where every move is choreographed, all the way to “free” sparring, where students are allowed to use any technique at any time, within the scope of the rules.