Do Not Block Punches this Way

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There are many ways to block incoming punches in a fight. You can lift your hands up in a passive stance and deflect, block or parry the punches as they are coming in. However, we realized that some self-defense instructors are teaching strange methods online such as the one that we show in this video.

As you can see, it can be extremely difficult to block a punch by lifting your arm while expecting to make contact with the tip of the elbow. The timing and precision it takes under a high stress situation is way too complicated for this block punching technique to work properly.

It’s way preferable to block a punch using the techniques that we teach at Code Red Defense.

Learn to protect yourself by getting the Code Red Defense video package set.

Common Attacks

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Stay safe,

Nick Drossos and Patrick Viana
Code Red Defense

[codereddefense]

Thanks for watching. Here's the Striking Fundamentals video:

[tag-youre-it]

It's a sheald, not an attack. It's a sheald with the potential to do massive harm to your opponent's weapon. It's not about timing, it's about putting it in the way & creating a hazard. Goodness, you don't need to time the punch, the punch has a target, you know where it's going. Thus, you put your elbow in between the fists target. Like a speed bump that can cause damage to your car. Speed bump didn't target the car, you came to it before you reached your destination.

[litlesnoopy]

When training Muay Thai, I had a sparring partner point his elbows out when blocking. It hurt my hands and made me pull my punches even when wearing 16oz gloves. Pointing elbows out is very effective to hurt an opponents hands.

[SuperUnbeliever]

It is for head cover, the possibility that fingers may collide with point of elbow is just a bonus.

[imaginableAudio]

This block works really. I had to use it and it helped me. I don't necessarily focus and target their hands with the elbow but, we place in their way and it's there and has a potential to harm the aggressor for carelessness. It's like a bonus if it happens.

You can put it to the test with friends. Go ahead and hit barenuckle and see how it feels when you land on the sharp bone area...

[MasterChee]

nothing wrong with this technique, its versatile with several applications and uses. i have used it in REAL life situations, SEVERAL times, without getting hit. sorry it doesnt work for u, but that doesnt mean its ineffective either, the timing thats neccesary is no different then the timing used to duck slip or parry....keep practicing

[vikramdhindaw]

Ok, there's one thing this video is missing.

The idea is not to intercept the incoming fist with the elbow... it's to put your elbow where the fist is headed.
Invariably, more often than not, a boxer would punch you in the face. By shifting yourself a little behind, you increase the gap and buy yourself enough reaction time to put your elbow where your face was a second ago.
It works, you're just focusing on doing the wrong thing.

[kimchapman]

never had a problem blocking a punch with an elbow, never had a problem teaching it to a student and often been caught like this by my students when sparring, this technique is fine

[complexblackness]

GOT DAMN MAJOR BACKFIRE! I bet Nick wasn't expecting the comments.

Over 90% of the comments are vouching for the elbow defense.

[allenmurphy]

I agree that elbow strikes versus fists is an awful lot to expect. However, I do find merit in the idea of shielding the head rather than trying to parry an incoming strike. The elbow points forward and the assailant's fist may hit it. but this is considered a happy accident. The main benefit is that the chin is tucked and the head is protected by one or both forearms. At least one palm remains either on the forehead or on the crown of the skull at all times. The other hand lashes out to strike, but then returns to its' home base on the head.

[josephbennett]

Using elbows to block is used in so many different martial arts so it definitely works, as for intercepting a punch with an elbow a horizontal elbow would be so much more effective than an upward elbow, horizontal won't leave your guard wide open like in this video and if you mistime it the punch will either hit your shoulder or your forearm which is low risk

[flintrocks]

Frankly this video makes me question YOUR experience with self defense. The idea isn't to precisely jam your elbow into your opponents fist like some sort of pinpoint spear, its to protect your head with your arms in a way that makes it much more likely for your elbows to come into contact with your opponents fist when he is coming at you in a flurry. Its not a weapon, its like a spiked shield for your head. Punishes people for punching wildly, while covering your head. Its effective and is an age old technique that should not be questioned.

[Cadncee]

I've used a variation of this when I got attacked by a couple of blokes. The key is to keep your distance, when a street fighter is trying to hit you they are always trying to close distance, back pedal with them and their punches become sloppier and more predictable. If you are flat footed and maintain a small distance you do not have time to react but if you're not actually in their range in the first place it makes the elbow block almost effortless to pull off. Street thugs aren't like trained fighters, they do not focus on distance in my experience.

[jara]

The elbow destruction is a great tool. The trick is to have your hands held a bit higher than normal, like a Thai boxers stance. If you hold your hands lower to the cheek like a traditional boxing stance, than the timing is near impossible.
It's all in what you train. Guys like Paul Vunak have been teaching this forever. Watching on YouTube and learning from the source is 2 very different things...

[aaronsalter]

I do this in sparring all the time. Elbow is a great weapon for stopping punches and front kicks.

[SleepZeppelinSleep]

I did this all the time to my siblings when they would hit me, they punched my elbow everytime. Super easy

[iamreiver]

I'd have to say that you've either never tried training this and using this, or you just couldn't figure it out. It's highly effective and that's why you're seeing it all over the place. If you're really terrible with the accuracy, use your off hand to help guide the fist into your elbow.

[generalfilth]

I have seen this elbow block in 52 blocks and some melasian martial arts like silat and works fine also take a step in and you're in cqc range.

[ecologyst]

I think the elbow block would be highly effective if you're keeping distance from your opponent. If they're throwing a lot of punches, there's a good chance their fist will eventually hit your elbow. Lastly, it's not done the way Nick is showing here. You don't aim your elbow at your opponent's incoming fist. You simply keep your elbow or elbows facing your opponent while at the same time keeping your hand in tight up against your head so you can block hook punches. You also need to be bobbing and weaving when doing this type of defence. Don't just stand there like a punching bag. You can also use this elbow defence against an aggressive opponent by turning it into an offensive move toward your opponent's face via rushing him after he throws a roundhouse. You'll easily block a roundhouse with the elbow defense, and then simply step into him with your elbow hitting him square in the face. If nothing else that will make your opponent less aggressive. Anyway, all that said I love the hand defence Nick is showing in his vid here as well. Nicks way of blocking punches looks much more offensive based, which is great also.

[Stolas]

You cant do this movement right. I use this technik in every sparring (against Boxers) and work it fine.