How to Perform a Low Block in Tae Kwon Do

Video Transcript

"Hi my name is Michael Quebec. I'm here at the Heritage Gym in Union City and today's subject is how to perform a low block in Tai Kwon Do. Well, of course the low block is used to defend primarily against kicks. Could also be used, modified for defenses against punches, but if I'm taking a punch to the body, I'd rather stop it with my elbows than a low block. But for the kicks, this is the traditional way that the low block in Tai Kwon Do is performed, and a lot of the Heyungs, or Kata in Japanese, Heyungs in Korean, the prearranged shadow boxing sets found in a lot of martial arts. One foot's forward in the front stance, bringing the hand across, all the way up from the shoulder, all the way down. There it is, that's your low block. Again. You notice, I'm holding my hands in the knife hand position. I'm not advancing right now because I want to stay in frame with the camera, but if you're doing it for real, well the way it's done traditionally in the Heyungs, you want to advance forward while you're doing these. Or you can of course move back in your Maldesay, or sideways stance. Now this is one way to perform the downward block and we do it from here. Shoulder all the way across the body and downward, knife hand. The other way of course is to hold fists, and the striking area is the outside of your forearm. So this is the downward block, as done traditionally in Tai Kwon Do. It can be used, modified in your kickboxing sparring but, with one hand up high to defend against a double kick or a punch. Okay, but that is the downward block in Tai Kwon Do and my name is Michael Quebec. Thank you."