Quote Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime View Post
We were going through kicks in tonight's class, one of the new guys asked how to block a roundhouse kick, and Sensei showed us a block that we (white belts) have never learnt before. One of the red belts recommended that we could use Gedan-Barai, which is probably what I would've said too considering the exceeding limited repertoire that we've been taught, but Sensei disagreed. IMO neither the block she showed or the Gedan are better or worse than the other... and really, kicks are better off being blocked with legs than hands/arms (which you would use only if the kick's come in too fast for you to get your leg up in time - so arm blocks against kicks are still useful IMO as a backup). I was talking to that red belt later and asked him if he's ever been kicked by someone with a massively powerful roundhouse kick (like say, a lot of Muay Thai fighters)... cos blocking those with your arms would cane! (even blocking them with your legs hurts, but I'd hate to imagine how painful they'd be to block with arms!)

GKR kicks are similar to Tai Chi kicks insofar that the knee is lifted first before doing the kick, which sacrifices power, but gains greater manoeuvreability and versatility. Other fighters launch their kicks straight from the ground without lifting the knee first. While they sacrifice manoeuvreability and versatility, they gain massive power! XO Although I must say that one significant difference w/ the GKR roundhouse kick is that the knee is lifted up to the side instead of in front like with a front, side and back kick (in Tai Chi we lift to the front, same as every other kick). I can see that this is to help give the roundhouse kick more power, but damn it _completely_ opens the groin!! If you wanna generate more power, I reckon you're better off just launching the kick straight off from the ground and forget about the knee lift. Lifting it off to the side when kicking straight ahead kinda defeats the versatility advantage since you're exposing yourself anyway.
That is very odd as to an adult a Gedan-Barai should be taught on you very first day as it is fundamental. I disagree with using the legs to block any more than to 'check a kick. The sweeping blocks (gedan) and exceptionally good for blocking direct straight-line kicks such as a front kick as it required little power and easy control to deflect a kick. round kicks are a bit different as the target area can vary from calf to head to saying one block it better than the other is void.
Using hands9arms) as a back up block for kicks is Like icing a cake before you cook it, karate and kick-boxing a two different beast and should be viewed so. Blocking with the arm is much more efficient than the leg as its faster and uses less energy, this being that the correct block is used for the correct circumstance using the correct technique. Plus how can you block a head kick with your leg?

As for the power argument. It's the same as blocking, regardless of preparation position the technique must be correct or it doesn't matter if you kick from ground up or knee first. For example a club kick from muay thai is from the ground, where a round kick in karate is from the knee. That being said in gkr you get taught the side (groin exposing) prep to create muscle memory for correct hip activation during the kick, but in application the kick is almost a hybrid of knee and ground preps, it almost comes up on an angle. Think of the knee like a baseball pitchers arm, it determines the direction. Even though the Roundkick with said preparation seems weak its not, ONLY if correct hip and core activation is used.