Face block?
Sam H.,
That was a small joke...very small...
That's what happens when the opponent penetrates your defenses and nails you in the face. Instead of saying that he nailed you in the face, you say that you blocked his punch with your face....uh, well...had to be there.
Anyway, I believe this kind of forum is for the purpose of sharing knowledge and experience so that we can all learn so that we can improve ourselves.
I believe that TFL is a fine example of what could happen when a lot of people of like thinking can share their thoughts. Sometimes controversial, sometimes not, but you still need different input so that you can evaluate for yourself what choices you will make.
When I was chasing martial arts, I was lucky enough to start with jiujitsu from a hardcore, "fighting" instructor, but then I was lulled by the formal "art" schools like Shotokan, Hapkido, Tang Soo Do, just before their schools started to go tournament. Then Kempo and Tang Soo Do went into tournaments big time. I competed against folks like Chuck Norris, Mike Stone, the Urquidez brothers, etc...but when Benny went full contact I got into that line, too, mainly because of "trying" my hand against Bruce Lee...totally kicked my a$$. I reminded myself that I was in the arts for self-defense.
I started training seriously to achieve that part only, when I went to Vietnam and did a tour there. I got to use what little I had learned...I had also taught a few guys some really practical, simple stuff and that knowledge also saved their lives during their time there.
When I returned stateside, I pursued learning to do what works for me. I then started teaching after having "tried" in real street fights the techniques that I taught...but it wasn't so much the techniques, it's like Bruce taught"You learn to swim when you get in the water and swim, until then it is only practice."
I was "attacked" by three guys with guns....I was lucky in that I disarmed one, neutralized the second one, and caused the third one to run away...all without getting hurt and without a shot being fired. The Lord was good to me.
I experienced more of these experiences and have gone on to teach people the same method of learning since the 80's and many of them have successfully survived street encounters with only about 6+ months of training.
This is a long way of saying that all of you can do the same thing...just follow what Bruce advised me to do.
"Learn what is effective for you and discard all that is not useful, then practice, practice, practice( with real partners)
It's that simple, yet it is that hard. Good luck to all you fighters out there who are "practicing" to perfect their "art."