So there seems to be some difference in how a "block" is defined...okay, now I'm getting a clearer picture.
Well, if your definition involves just stopping the strike, what's the argument against using a "block" vs a haymaker? Several examples are available on youtube of untrained individuals fighting in the street and throwing nothing but haymakers.
There is none, albeit a few things:
1; It depends on the haymaker. A haymaker thrown with a nearly locked out arm at long range? The person deserves it. A haymaker from headbutt range? Try it with a partner whos willing to hit you if you dont block them.
2; Haymakers actually work, and they can be thrown in rapid succession very quickly. Some fighters use them professionally. Google Zambidis. This relates back to point 1.
3; Fights arent static. If someone rushes at you throwing haymakers, they wont throw the first one unless its close enough to hit, unless theyre really silly. The chances of you outright stopping their momentum arent too good, so chances are, just like alot of videos of untrained individuals, youll end up tangled up rolling around on the ground trying to hit each other because you didnt move. Optionally, you can move toward them and take advantage of that fact.
4; Much like how a haymaker can be blocked outward, a straight can be blocked inward. If it were that easy, straight punches would have an even lower reputation than haymakers because you could physically cross the persons arms over each other if they tried to use them in fast succession. With haymakers, you block one, and the only way to stop them repeating the strike whilst they throw their other hand is to stand there with both your hands up on their forearms. If you try and immediately counter with your right hand, if they use their left hand, itll go straight over the top of your arm and hit you alot harder than your shorter faster strike, particularly if theyre used to and dont care about being hit.
I dont take issue to blocking, i take issue to relying on it for anything more than the first strike, assuming you can identify the strike and react before its in front of your face, since you wont always know its coming, and thats assuming its coming from in front of you. After that, attempting to block is more likely to get you hit than just moving your physical mass does. Blocking is also largely a static practice. If you can block a right haymaker with your left hand, couldnt you have punched them in the face with your left hand, then gotten to work using your superior fitness to barrage them back as hard as they were about to try and barrage you back? Yes. Of course. Blocking works too, but what about the second haymaker? And the third? And what about when they end up with their arms wrapped around you, or you run out of room to backpedal (which you will be, unless you want them too close to possibly block, or close enough to wrap their arms around you), or they get annoyed and try to kick you or headbutt you instead? It all works. But some things happen to be more reliable than others. Giving them the chance to build up momentum cant possibly be a good thing.
And i really hope noone has a fantasy of squaring up and thwating all of someones strikes with skillful blocking until they give up and leave.
To demonstrate this, imagine yourself as the attacker instead of as the defender, then tell me how youd make a haymaker work. When youre done, think about the fact that the other guy could have thought about that as well, and come to similar conclusions. Even better if you have a partner to experiment with.