The way I have overcome the fist is I use the X-block as a chamber for an upper block that follows directly after. You do not have time to see the move coming, just assume that it will (as it usually does) and go into the block with your blocking hand chambering from the bottom of the X-block.Then quickly follow up with another move.

Ps. everyone knows that an X-block can be used to block a front kick.

"Everyone knows that an X block can be used to block a front kick"? Hmm, I am guessing you are quite young as I cannot really imagine an adult using the "everybody knows" line to support their contention without any other comment. And there was I thinking that interpretation of karate movements was a complicated matter with many possible, plausible outcomes...

My experience is that x block has only ever worked in single attack sparring where the front kick is called first and no punch follows the kick. This kind of prepared sparring is popular in Shotokan clubs as a basic training aid and from memory in some Shito clubs (I trained for a while in the mid/late '80s in a Tani Ha Shito Ryu club in Manchester.)

In 25 years of free sparring I have never seen anyone use it against me or anyone else. Putting you head at your attacker's waist level even for the happy if remote possibility of damaging his shin is probably not a sensible tactic if your life is on the line.

I tend to go with the Ed's suggestion that breaking the trunk or whatever it is called using crouching x block, is an imported sword principle. Cutting someone's leg off with a sword ends the fight, hitting the shin with the fist does not. Meanwhile you are off balance and getting hit in the face.

Since the bunkai theory I observed in a Shito club (granted only one but with a Sandan instructor of British team fame) was as poor as your then average Shotokan club, I am suspecting that Shito Ryu may have no more idea of kata interpretation than mainstream Shotokan.

There are several possible meanings to x block (certainly not just the knee in the attacker's ribs/neck whilst choking someone as an ending to throws I mentioned) depending on what precedes it in the kata-why not read the previous pages you ignored and you might see that many possibilities have already been discussed, including the front kick one you are introducing as if a novelty.

B.

There is no need for name-calling. If you do not like reading about possible applications for the X-block then I suggest you do not goto this topic. I did not state that that was the only application, just the most basic.

Barad,

when I asked about the low x-block I simply meant applying it at a regular gedan level as in H. Godan. I don't think the focus of discussion was on the kneeling x-block.

Also, I wrote earlier in this thread a long explanation of why blocking a kick is a perfectly plausible use of the low x-block. As I know yourself and many others feel this is not the case I wonder if you could point out where I was going wrong?

Pierce,

To be fair I think saying "it is for attacking the leg andeverybody knows that (implication if you disagree you are an ignorant idiot)" when what you assert is NOT necessarily accepted by everyone is what started to drag things down.

b.

I was referring to the kneeling x block that Pierce shows in his Rakka link.

I must have looked at a different link to you. The one I saw was http://www.shitoryu.org/skills/defense/defense.htm

There's no kneeling x-block in this Rakka explanation.

You are right-my mind must be playing tricks on me as I could have sworn I had seen a kneeling x block. I am not sure it makes that much difference to the comments on usage though but thanks for pointing it out to me.

B.

personally i dont think anymove is utterly useless, but i probably would never use it.