SHAOLIN TEMPLE BOXING SOUTHERN DRAGON SYSTEMS
Advanced Applications and Principles.
More on Correct Positioning and Rear Hand Blocking.
 
 
While rear hand blocking is not the be all and end all of the system it is a highly effective principle and worth the practice. Rear hand techniques give you an advantage both in distance and timing.
here we see the fighters faced up using some white tiger the defender (left) adjusts the attackers position. the technique used here will be white crane turns its wings.

 
 
Under normal conditions reflex actions mean we will defend ourselves with the first available tool that comes into play, in this case the lead hand. Notice here the returns or counter strikes become limited. The defender could strike with the left hand this requires a quick retraction and snap which is OK however the stronger right hand is not even in the play. to use it and gain optimum advantage the defender will need to adjust his entire position. this allows the attacker to gain his footing and continue the fight.

Rear Hand Blocking: Using the hand furthermost from the attacker.
Lead Hand Blocking: Using the hand nearest the attacker
 

Notice what happens however when using the exact same technique we are slightly more aware and use the rear hand. The right hand can be immediately bought into play and used to create a counter attack instantly.

Each situation changes rapidly throughout. When we talk of reflex blocking we mean that you are caught unaware. for reasons known only to your attacker he chooses to surprise you leaping out of nowhere and delivering a strike. Unfortunately in most cases if we are realistic you will end up being hurt. no amount of training can help you defend against the blind attack or the 4x2 across the back of the scull that you didn't know was coming. anybody who tells you otherwise is either fantasizing or lying. this is why we teach full awareness at the school. skills such as casing your environment , looking for exits and sounding the crowd out are important especially in these modern times. by the same token this should not make you paranoid or stop you having a good time it simply means being aware.

There are those occasions were such surprise attacks are caught just in a nick of time you might see a flash out of the corner of your eye or hear a sound turn around and see a fist coming at you then instinctively block the attack. We term these as reflex blocks. where instinct and reflex have just managed to save you. you had no idea what you were doing there was no particular block in mind you simply reacted to a situation. what we attempt to do is turn these reflex blocks into counter attacks. this is where your personal level of training will come into play along with experience and other factors discussed later.

Under normal conditions when faced with this situation a person will stop (gaps) take a nanosecond to evaluate the situation then decide what to do. By then it can be too late a second attack could be on the way. with training and awareness it is possible to create a natural flow of techniques that come out of your reflex blocks.

Right here mate!
Finally we deal with the prepared situation where you know a fight is imminent some body has made threatening gestures or actually said they are going to hit you. In this case you are prepared even if after only a second . You should have already decided what you are going to do. so that once the attacker begins to move you have no decisions to make you simply start you flow of movements and do not stop until your opponent is defeated or the danger is removed.