Age-uke is the first dedicated head-level block that you learn. It is so effective that you do not need a vast array of alternate blocks. The lower your centre of gravity, the easier it will be to perform this block, and of course, the more centred and powerful you will be. It is primarily used to defend against punches to the head, although it also works well against downward hammer fist strikes too.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99f6AwScXt4[/embedyt]
Technique performed by Aragaki Misako
Technique:
| # | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Starting with your right arm pulled back and your left arm raised above your head, move your right arm around your body until it is in front of you, with the elbow near your hip, and the forearm raising upward at a 45 degree angle across your body, back of the arm facing outwards, and fist clenched near your left shoulder. At this stage the arm should be as close to your body as possible without actually resting against you. |
| 2. | Now maintaining the 45 degree angle from elbow to fist, raise the arm until your elbow is approximately level with the top of your head, but push the arm out in front of you as far as possible without having to lean forwards. Your arm should rotate 90 degrees around its longitudinal (wrist-elbow) axis during its journey upwards, so that at the moment of contact, you meet your opponent's arm with the back of your arm. It's only at the moment of impact, when your arm has reached its destination, that you should sharply rotate the arm a further 90 degrees so that the inside of your wrist is facing outwards towards your opponent. This ensures that you do not block bone on bone, and you gain a little extra deflection and rotational force just when you most need it. |
| 3. | All the time that your right arm is raising to block, your left is simply dropping and drawing back into a retracted position by your left side. Remember that your blocking arm rises up on the inside of your other arm. |
Implementation of the age-uke block.
Implementation of age-uke block - frontal view.
Application of the age-uke block.
Application of the age-uke block.
Front view of the age-uke block.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- If you find your forearm clipping your nose on the way up, it means that you are either not pushing your block out far enough in front of you, or you're leaving it too late to push out.
- Many students get the wrong finishing angle with the forearm, which should be 45 degrees left to right. If your arm is nearer to horizontal, then it lacks power and does not deflect as effectively. By the same token, if your arm is vertical, you'll need to push it far to the side to protect yourself. Remember, this block is a deflecting tap, not a forceful push.
