"Blocks." The defender uses a limb meet an incoming strike attack. Lots of martial arts use them. 

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We don't use blocks because they don't work.

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A controversial view that does have some nuance to it. Let's explain.

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For those of you old enough to have done a driving test with the theory aspect at the end of it, do you remember memorising stopping distances? If you're travelling at thirty miles an hour in good weather and you need to brake in an emergency the thinking distance is 9metres, stopping distance is 14metres and so the total time to stop is 24metres. 

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So what does that tell us and why is it cited here?

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When an attack happens you need to recognise that attack and respond accordingly. That takes thinking time and limb-travelling time. That time is fractions of a second but that's all that's needed for the strike to make contact. It is recognised that the first punch from an attacker will nearly always be successful because they have initiative and the defending is having to react. This is why legally you may attack first - a pre-emptive strike (law is another subject.)

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Does that mean we don't train defence? Of course not! We absolutely do train defence, but we don't train "blocks" because they don't work. So how do we train defence? For that you'll need to come and train with us to find out.

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There is further nuance as actually do train block-like movements in our sport martial arts but is very different. It is a one-on-one consensual situation and the ruleset will only allow certain techniques. It is therefore likely that the fighter will spot a technique happening early and be able to block accordingly. 

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So anytime you see a martial art claiming to be for "self defence" but performing blocks in a linework method please look at them with a critical eye and question if they understand real-world violence.