Karate Blocks, are they useless?

[Boxing]

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I know that in some Karate styles there are a ridiculous number of crazy blocks, and I'm NOT talking about that. I'm talking about the four major blocks that nearly all Karate styles use the high block (Jodan Uke), the middle block (Chudan Uke), the low block (Gedan Uke), and the fan block.

Do they have ANY practical value? And, IF they do... why is it that it is NEVER successfully used in MMA, by anyone... not even Lyoto Machida who considers himself primarily a Karate practitioner?

What are your thoughts, comments, opinions???

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[nwohioguy]

In reality there are no blocks in Karate. Every block is in effect a strike...

[K_JKD]

They are not useless to a competent karateka (which depending where you go there can be lots or few) but they can be a bit robotic and I think parrying, moving out of the way & counter attacking simultaneously is a preferred method ore even parrying & counter attacking or evading & counter attacking.

If you are fighting bare knuckle you should never use Your arm as a shield because it isn't.. it is an arm!!!!