Lead Body Block

How to throw it

Lift the lead knee up to the inside of your lead elbow so shin and forearm join into a single barrier down that side. Keep the guard high and your balance over the standing leg, meeting the kick on the hard bone and arm rather than the soft ribs. Set the raised leg down under control so you are ready to answer.

When to use it

Use it to defend a round kick aimed at your lead-side ribs, closing the gap between elbow and hip. Taking the kick on shin and arm protects the body and can punish the kicker's shin, opening your own return.

Common mistakes

• Raising only the knee without joining shin to elbow, leaving a gap the kick slips through to the ribs
• Dropping the hand as the knee comes up so the head opens while the body closes
• Losing balance on the standing leg and getting knocked off the block by the force of the kick