Block & Counter = No Good

Don't Try That

This is the second post in a series of six, covering the six concepts that make Hertao different from the majority of martial art and self defense systems.  The first post was on footwork.  This one will cover countering.

Many fighting systems, whether for self defense or sport, teach blocks and strikes as separate techniques.  When the opponent attacks, you block, and then you strike back.  While this is common, it’s the worst way to deal with an attack.

Using the opponent’s attack as a reference, there are three points in time in which you can launch your attack: before, during, and after.  If you’ve been threatened and attempted to exit the situation, but are unable to due to your opponent blocking your exit or following you, you can attack first.  There certainly may be legal ramifications here, but in any given situation you need to decide whether you’d rather allow someone to attack you first, or preempt that and possibly face charges.  Every situation is different.  Anyway, we’ll call this an “attack”…when you attack first.

Interception

We’ll use the Jeet Kune Do terminology for the second option, attacking during the opponent’s attack, and call it an “interception”.  If you’re unable or unwilling to attack before your opponent launches his physical attack, you can attack him as he begins his attack on you.  There are a great many ways to use the interception, but the two major classifications are: blocking/covering with a simultaneous attack and evading with a simultaneous attack.

The last and worst option is to block your opponent’s attack and counter attack after.  Why is this such a bad option?  There are several reasons.  If you block your opponent’s attack without striking back, there’s nothing to keep him from continuing his attack.  You’re on defense and he’s on offense.  Whereas if you attack him before or during his attack, he’ll either be struck (in the case of striking) or forced to switch to defense…where you want him.  Additionally, the best time to attack is when your opponent doesn’t expect it.  While he’s in the midst of his attack his mind will be on that, and you’ll have a much easier time landing an attack of your own.

Fencing Stop Hit

Of course it isn’t always possible to attack first, and you won’t always be ready to attack the instant your opponent does.  However, your training should focus on attacking first, intercepting second, and countering as an absolute last resort.  Even if you are forced to block, cover, or evade an initial attack, your attacker will likely continue pressing you.  It’s highly likely that if you wait to counter until after an attack is over, you’ll never get the chance.  So even if you do miss the first opportunity, the second opportunity will most likely be one for an interception, not a pure counter.  In any case, if you are forced to block first, you should block your way into your attack.

At least three of the systems we use in Hertao share the concept of avoiding the counter in favor of the interception or attack: boxing, Pekiti Tirsia, and Wing Chun.  Although boxing certainly does have defensive techniques that don’t involve a simultaneous attack, counter punching (striking during the opponent’s attack…with an evasion or cover) is a necessary skill.  One reason boxing may have more defensive-only techniques than Pekiti Tirsia for example is that it’s a sport, where both participants are wearing thick gloves and target areas are extremely limited.  It’s easier and less dangerous to only cover when your opponent has padded gloves and a limited striking area.

Stick Interception

Pekiti Tirsia on the other hand, and many other Filipino martial arts, almost exclusively utilize the interception…so much so that they use the term “counter offense” rather than simply counter.  Because the Filipino martial arts involve swords, knives, and sticks it’s especially apparent that blocking or covering without a simultaneous attack is entirely ineffective.  When your attacker is attempting to cut your head or arm off with a machete, trying to block and THEN counter is a great way to end up dead!  Instead, when the attacker comes at you with his blade or stick, his arm becomes the target of your blade or stick.  While you may not always have such a weapon yourself, the concept still applies.

Don’t block first and attack second.  Either attack first, or at the same time.  It’s far more effective, and in the rare case that you and your opponent have machetes, it’s likely to save your head!