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Cross a wrist over the other

Im writing this to learn about a block where we place one wrist over another like we do in a spot in kenpo in form 1 and probably other forms.

They say you can learn a lot by noting what happens spontaneously in the moment of.

Today I was cutting dead branches out of the pine tree and there was a long branch that was on the ground but too tangled to move out so I cut it in half. I had a very small rechargable chain saw that was small enough to use with one hand if needed. I cut that branch into 2 lengths that were then about 5 to 6 feet long. When I cut thru one of those branches fell toward me and I automatically raised both hands up as it is natural to protect the head. I remember having that conversation about a week ago. The branch was not all that large and if it had struck my head it would have resulted in a scrape and maybe bruise but nothing more threatening.

Anyway without thinking my automatic response was to raise hands over head and cross at wrists. I have no minor injuries. Im just wondering why I crossed the wrists, I havnt had that motion in a technique but I think some of you have. I know the advantage of that position is crossing hands results in a triangle shape.

Are there times when you would take that position as the first move like I did? What does it tell you that I crossed wrists to block instead of hands apart? I guess the disadvantage is then both hands are high. I don't know if thats a good or bad thing that my response was to block that way.

Anyway i learned from that, I know there will be a lot of upper belts reading this, I just wondered what those of you that are upper belts could add, thanks

3 comments

Comments (3)

Dreamer

Jun 18

It is, I'm not sure why that was the position I went to as muscle memory and I had gone to it before realizing what I had done and I guess that is both desirable and undesirable. O n the street it could have been either good or bad

Andrew Pilch

Jun 18

Replying to

I am not good at remembering which martial arts everyone has studied in the past, however it has been my observation that in American Kenpo many of the initial blocking positions are based of a natural reaction or an intentional proactive action. I will be discussing things in relation to the natural reaction based off of the context you our conversation.

For example if a looping punch is incoming and you see it at the last moment you would be likely to retreat away form the strike while throwing your hands up defensively to protect your head.

That is the base reaction. the next step would be to encode more beneficial responses to that basic response. This would take the form of converting the defensive action of the front hand into an outward extended block and the back hand into a positional check which can be employed if necessary to stop follow up attacks.

In the case of the X block or the “Fram” block you initial reaction might be to just put both hands up to shield your head, but if they are separated and the impact is to much it could easily collapse both arms. So then we learn to reinforce the block by putting both arms together to brace and support each other should a potential impact look to be to strong for one arm to support. This significantly increases the ability of the block to protect the head, though as you have noted it does create gaps in defense elsewhere.

Then through training and experience we get better at determining (at a subconscious level) if we will need one arm or two to stop impact penetration.

The concussion mind is too slow to react effectively in real time, thus when stressful and/or dangerous situations presents themself the subconscious (which has hopefully been trained to react correctly) takes over.

It sounds to me that your subconscious recognized the branch as a high level danger and chose to protect your head with both arms. Which was like a good response in the situation you described.

Andrew Pilch

Jun 18

What you are describing is a “Frame”. When both arms are employed in that manner you can support much more incoming force. Trad off is that is does compromise your defense in other places. There is always a pro and a con to every action though.

You will see this concept employed both in manipulation arts (Wrestling, Jujutsu, and MMA Grappling) to maintain distance with minimal energy exertion.

In the striking arts, If the opponent is much larger (or a big tree branch) the additional arm provides potentially needed support if you are unable to use guiding force to avoid the incoming impact.

Thats my quick overview, hope it is helpful.