The pseudo skeptic in you and Kevin is strong.
You have not seen a single demonstration of Hisardut or maybe even not heard of it until my posts yet you seem to know that it doesn't work.
saying that enhancing instinctive responses doesn't work, like you said is so much BS. Raising one's arm up countering a punch or slap doesn't work? really? So what should one do instead? I'd love to hear that.
I don't think you were being serious when you said that instincts like closing ones eyes when being hit is enhanced in Hisardut. That's not what happens. Read my post #126.
I've read post #126, and it confirms my "diagnosis".
I remember that Dr. Hanover once volunteered me to show a move he wanted to teach against an attacker coming to slap me. He was the attacker and even before he taught what to do he said "think fast, what would you do now" and he gave me a nice big slap on the head. It shook me as I stood there like a tree. He asked again, "what would you do now" and slapped again. Only on the third time did I raise my hand in defense which he congratulated me and said that that is exactly the instinct that we have and the most effective thing to do followed by other moves that he then taught in order to not only defend yourself but also neutralize your opponent.
Note the bold bits: your instinctive response was to stand there like a tree, not to defend yourself. Only on the 3rd try did you try to defend yourself, and I'm pretty sure you'd still have gotten badly beaten had the blow been full speed and force. This is consistent with what any serious MA instructors observe and have to do with beginners: start with getting rid of instinctive responses, that are both inappropriate and ineffective.
I say ineffective, because, as others have said, blocking a punch/slap works at best once, on the condition that you block at the right time, speed, and place, and are ready to counter the next blows and to attack yourself. It isn't instinctive, but on the contrary demands a long and constant training in order to overcome your natural tendencies and to learn appropriate responses.
Any MA, or style withing a MA*, I've seen or heard of that promises you will learn that kind of things easily and simply has proved utter woo whenever it has been put to the test against more realistic fighting techniques.
* I regularly meet people who pretend having found a better, easier, simpler technique/way to teach kendo and to bring beginners to championship level. Said practitionners get systematically beaten to a pulp in real practice, and the beginners get totally discouraged at their first competition. And don't get me started about the pathetic "Ninja" who come asking to be attacked with a bokken because they've just been taught the great secret Krav-naga enhanced ninja technique that allows them to block a blade between their bare hands ...
