evade,redirect/cover with your non 'blocking' hand and strike with the 'block' this also gains you a beat of time as you are making use of both hands.

obviously if you are caught flat footed or dont react quickly enough then double bone 'strike' to the limb is usefull but not prefered IMO.

and yep there are lots of deeper applications mainly involving nasty locks/breaks and takedowns that are 'blocks' however these usually follow a couple of strikes and good position/grabbing etc etc

Ha dbsplinter, forth post!!!!

I completely agree dbsplinter. A block being used as an offensive/defensive technique is completely dependant upon the application from which it is used. We can use our "block" to destroy an opponents limb when they punch or kick us....is that now a block or a strike? I personally do not really use what are generally regarded as blocks to "block", to I use parrying to evade attacks. I use "blocks" to strike at the body, the angles and directions in which they are delivered just seem to slot so well into the little nocks and crannies of the body. At the end of the day though its dependant on the situation/application/purpose. I'd never not use a "block" to block, I'd just utilize it as a mutlipurpose tool in the same ways as I do with all my other techniques.

We teach some really nice applications of "blocks" that I'm hoping to get on our website soon. Is it permitted to post stuff like that in the forums?