Blocking with the Blade Part II:

If you are using a reverse knife grip then in general you should reverse the blocking rules given in Part I posted a few days ago. Depending on how fast and flexible you are you may be able to block an attack to any zone with your knife positioned in reverse grip with the tip-down position.
What about the middle zone? Because of the way that the human arm is articulated, this zone presents a unique set of problems. When the attack is to your middle zone it is extremely difficult to contort your body to safely and reliably place your knife between your flesh and your attacker’s blade. To mitigate the middle zone issue you must either raise or lower your body. What we are actually concerned with, is where does your elbow lie in relative to the attack. The best bet is usually to drop your body into a crouch and block tip-up. This way, if the attack is higher than expected you can ward it off and pass it over your head. Trying to block tip-down in the middle zone may allow your attacker’s blade to pass under your knife, or with a slight adjustment to his cut, to come over the top of your block. Keep in mind that whenever you are blocking you should always remain relaxed and allow your entire body to move. If you harden up your moves then you may not move quickly enough or fluidly enough to get into position to block the attack. Harden your posture only at the moment of contact to prevent your blade from being folded back and slipping his blade over or under your block.
Do not forget that you can perform a stop hit using the very tip of your knife instead of the edge, but it requires a lot practice and excellent weapon control. Stop hits with the point can be especially useful against knee strikes or kicks, should your opponent be stupid enough to use them. Be careful to not lean your head into his range when performing any stop hit to the lower zone, just drop straight down by folding your knees. These techniques do not require any power, just perfect blade placement, body positioning, and timing. You use the attacker’s own energy to do the damage. Knife point stop hits may also be effectively targeted to your opponent’s hands when he thrusts or punches.
Your blocks should be reinforced by placing your body solidly behind your blade through proper foot placement and hip alignment. More importantly, keep in mind that the block is not the end-play. Your block should be thought of as merely the launching point for your riposte. Should you successfully block the incoming attack, but are not positioned to redirect the attack to your opponent, you will find yourself in the predicament of either having to block again or, worse yet, being tumbled by your attacker. At all times you must pay attention to your base and make sure it is not compromised. In brief, stance is nothing, stance is everything.