How to Block a Punch for Self-Defense

Learning how to block a punch is the first lesson in many martial arts. But should it be?

Here’s some advice for anyone looking to get better at blocking and dodging punches and kicks. Let me know if you agree!

If the video won’t play, scroll down for a loose transcript. Stay safe, my friend!

How to Block a Punch for Self-Defense

Two questions I get all the time…

1) Dear Sir—what is the best way to block a punch?

2) Hey, Bro—how do I get better at dodging punches?

Good questions. The short answer to both of them is–

Forget about blocking and dodging. Those are not the smartest strategies for surviving a attack.

Now for the long answer…

No matter what anyone tells you, the secret to self-defense is not defense. The secret is offense.

Seriously. If you find yourself blocking and dodging in a real fight, you’re losing! Why? Because no one can block and dodge or bob and weave forever. Eventually, you’re going to get hit. Especially if you’re outnumbered.

That means your goal in training shouldn’t be to get good at blocking and dodging. Your goal should be to force the bad guy to block and dodge. The sooner you can do that in a self-defense situation, the better.

So, my advice…

When your life is in danger, don’t be a “blockhead”—attack!

But wait! What about all those cool traditional blocks we practice in the martial arts? Don’t they work?

Uh…I wouldn’t bet my life on them!

The movements themselves are not the problem, it’s just thinking about them as “blocks” that causes trouble.

By now, you should know that all those movements aren’t really blocks at all. Yes, they may look like blocks, but they’re actually attacks and counterattacks—strikes, grabs, traps, locks, and breaks.

Think about it—do you really think after hundreds and hundreds of years of wars and fighting, the great Karate and Kung Fu masters would lie on their death beds and tell their students…

If someone punches at your head, put your arm up to stop it.

Gee, thanks, Sifu. Usually I just try to catch punches in my mouth.

Now, am I saying you should never block or dodge in a fight? Of course not. I block and dodge all the time. But I don’t focus on it. Instead, I trust my body to protect itself automatically.

So should you!

Did anyone ever teach you how to block your groin if someone kicks at it? Probably not. Your body protects itself instinctively, right? Heck, even little kids will put their hands up if you punch them in the face. Trust me on that—I punch a lot of kids.

The bottom line—the more you trust your body to take care of itself, the more brain power you’ll free up to focus on taking control of the situation.

So, how do you get better at blocking and dodging punches and kicks?

The best way is to have a partner throw some punches and kicks at you. But remember—your goal isn’t to get better at blocking and dodging, your goal is to get better at protecting yourself while you’re fighting back. Focus on making your partner block.

If you have to block and dodge while you’re on the attack, do it. With experience, good habits like keeping your chin down, hands up, and not flinching will make it easier to stay protected while you take control.

Even when you’re practicing alone, always imagine yourself on the attack. Don’t just stand there thinking block… block… block. I mean, unless you want to die.

The smarter training habit is to follow up every defensive movement with an offensive movement.

Block and punch. Slip and kick. Even better, practice simultaneously dodging and striking. Even better than that, practice attacking first to shut down the bad guy’s plans.

The bottom line is to always imagine yourself in a real fight for your life. In a real fight, you would never just block and stop, would you?

Would you?!

For more advice on attacking in self-defense, check out, Finish the Fight!

To be clear, I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about defense. I’m saying you should focus on attacking with good habits and intelligence so that your defense takes care of itself.

I can still hear some people thinking, “But what about a great defensive boxer like Floyd Mayweather or utilizing the “rope-a-dope” strategy to tire out your opponent?”

Good points! But let’s stick to talking about self-defense, not sparring for fun or competing in a combat sport. If your life is not on the line, sure, you might block and dodge on purpose as part of a larger gameplan or maybe just to stall and catch your breath.

But for self-defense, you don’t have time to play games. If you’re fighting for your life, you have one choice—go down swinging or go down blocking.

In that case, I’d rather throw a punch than block a punch. How about you?