Friday 4 July 2014

(Part 2) Applying Eulgeul Makki

Following my last post on Eugeul Makki or high section block, I pick up from where we left off (applying it as a defensive "block") and change it up a little. The point of this series is to demonstrate how common Taekwondo basic techniques like for instance the High section block can have multiple application depending on what situation you find yourself in. In Part 1 where we focused on the
"block" and the primary movement of the technique we touched on different ways of using it both as a purely defensive static "block", as a deflection and as a part of simultainious defense/ offense. Also the attack ranged from straigh head punches to wild haymakers, so allready in Part 1 of the series you can appreciate how important and varied technique it is. Now for Part 2:




First we start by looking at the excact technique we are talking about:

Now in Part 1 we focused on the primary movement of the technique or the so called "blocking arm". This time I want to showcase the integration of both movements (the chambering movement and the blocking movement). As those who have read Part 1 thoroughly will know the application for this post is against a wrist hold. I do not have photos or video and unfortunatly my draing skills are way off too. What I will do however is to explain the application and give a video of a similar principle in use.

I do not know if you have read it allready but I have written before about wrist holds and the seemingly obsession martial arts have with them. I also touch on the historical reasons for this as well as the "Taekwondo approach" on countering them. Click here to read it if you want to understand wrist holds place within a combative context

If you look at the video below set to start at the appropriate time but if it does not do that you can fast forward to 15 seconds.



The kind of wrist grabs you can use the high section block for is the one demonstrated 15 seconds into the clip above. This kind of grab is likely in closer ranges and after the first stage of fighting. For those studying self defense you will know that fighting is what happens when self defense has gone wrong. If your first shots to end the situation does not work the range gets closer, grappling ensues and a grip like that is likely if he is removing your grip on him, or to hinder that hand from striking, or removing it from a throat attack or eye attack. What you do is use the pulling hand excactly like the clip demonstrates (a little forward and up which is the chambering process of the high section block non blocking hand) and as you pull the hand back to your hip just like the clip. The blocking hand comes from below and moves upwards helping in stripping his hand from your wrist following the excact same path as in the typical basic technique as demonstrated earlier in the post.

If you do this with a little angular footwork you can succsessfully lift his arm up and impair his vision totally from your follow up which can be just about anything. I like the sequence from Taegeuk Il Jang where you follow up with a front kick and punch but there are so many variations you can follow up with. Some will be better than others depending on what kind of opponent you have (big, small, tall, strong, fast, slow etc) and the succsessrate of the technique. This explains a little why there are so many high section blocks as well as the fact that they come with different follow ups.

Click here to go directly to part 3 where I will share one popular Gichin Funakoshi application for the high section block:-)

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