Lesson 1X: Another way of looking at Lateral Blocks
These are the four main categories of lateral block. You may have already seen the first two under Basic Blocks, since they make good Initial Blocks (your first move in a fight). The last two in this list are less important, but included to help you visualise all the different types of lateral blocks.
- To Me, To You – (as if speaking to the attacker) this is going into my centre (eg Pak Sau or Jam Sau) and into your centre (on your Outside Gate). Mostly this will be a Side Slap. It’s an excellent move, which can set you up to flank the attacker and potentially take their back for a rear chokehold. A low version of this move can be called a Low Side Slap (eg Gam Sau)
- From Me, From You – this is going out from my centre (eg, Bil Sau or Tan Sau) and away from your centre (on your Inside Gate). This will mostly be a Side Wedge. It’s a very sharp move but it’s also a common move. Both you and the attacker are wide open so you need to be extra careful here. A low version of this move can be called a Low Side Wedge (eg Gaang Sau).
- From Me, To You – this is going out from my centre (eg, Bil Sau or Tan Sau) and into your centre (Outside Gate). This is a Side Wedge from a position where you’ve already flanked them, so it makes a great transitioning move after a Side Slap, but it’s not a good first move because the energy is all wrong and you won’t have time to make it clean unless assisted by a Side Slap first.
- To Me, From You – this is going into my centre (eg, Pak Sau or Jam Sau) and away from your centre (Inside Gate). This is usually a bad idea, except in exceptional circumstances. You’re basically doing a Side Slap or Side Chop onto the inside of the wrong arm. You’ll usually want to avoid this move – it’s usually a big mistake.