Gedan-barai (Lower Block)

Guys will appreciate the value of this block rather more than girls. Not only does this one protect your stomach and abdomen, but it also protects your privates. Of all the ones you want to get right, this is the main one, eh guys? Of course, a lady's delicate bits may be inside, but that doesn't mean a kick in the groin won't hurt, so don't get too smug gals...

I think that this is probably the most instinctive of all the blocks, if you slowly raise your foot towards a white belt child's stomach, they naturally tend to perform something akin to Gedan-barai. However, there are some refinements that make it even more effective, so read on.

We tend to learn Gedan-barai as the defence to a front-on groin kick, but it's equally effective against punches too.

Technique performed by Aragaki Misako.
Lower level block followed by reverse punch in zenkutsu dachi.

Technique:

#	Description
1.	Start with your left arm extended in front of you at about 45 degrees, with the back of your fist facing forwards. Do not bend the elbow. Pull back your right fist to your right side.
2.	Now raise your right fist to your left shoulder. Leading with the back of the right fist, move your hand down an imaginary line where your left arm starts from. When you've moved your right fist as far downwards as you can go, sweep it from left to right across your body still leading with the back of the fist. Your forearm should pass in front of your groin deflecting any incoming strikes. When your right arm is at right angles to your body (sticking out straight in front of your shoulder at a downward angle of 45 degrees), rotate your forearm 90 degrees so that the back of your fist is facing upwards.
3.	As you start to move your right fist down the imaginary line where your left arm starts off, you should retract your left arm to your waist smoothly. Beginners are commonly taught to draw their right arm down their left, leaving the left arm in place until the right has completed its motion, but as you become more experienced, you will be expected to start retracting the left arm earlier, resulting in a more natural block.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Be careful that you don't fall into the trap of truncating your block. Beginners often move their hand from the shoulder to the finishing position in an arc that does not pass in front of the groin. Of course, it's your groin, so if you want to leave it exposed...