75 Down Blocks: Refining Karate Techniques

by Rick Clark

Every style of karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, or other martial art includes the down block as part of its kata, or forms. The forms are similar enough that martial artists will recognize them as down blocks, even though the specific block looks different from their own style. Taken together, these blocks make up a "universe of hundreds" of different variations on the basic block

75 Down Blocks explores this universe to look for the underlying principles common to all down blocks. Author Rick Clark examines seventy-five different possible variations on the basic down block - with examples on how to use the down block to defend against twelve kinds of attacks- from wrist grabs and punches to kicks and attacks with a stick.

Genres: Martial Arts

185 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2003

Reviews

[Daniel Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the oyo presented in this book seems a bit far fetched for my liking however; it does give several examples of how gedan barai can be used differently- which I suppose is the main purpose. At minimum it opens up new ways to look at the katas.

[Bert Edens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book. Master Clark takes a single, simple technique that is common in most martial arts styles and shows 75 different possible interpretations or applications of the technique. Not every one looks exactly as it would appear in patterns / forms / kata, but the general motion is the same. This is definitely a great book to get you thinking about different applications of moves in your patterns.

[Rahmat Romadon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Analisis penulis dalam buku ini layak diacungi jempol. Beberapa aplikasi teknik ada yang diadopsi dari aikido. Penjelasan yang saya sukai dalam buku ini adalah secara rinci menjelaskan titik-titik vital mana saja yang efektif melumpuhkan lawan - terutama organ internal. Buku ini saya dapatkan di Pesta Buku Jakarta 2008 dengan harga Rp5000 di stand Periplus Bookstore.