When it comes to any sort of defense against a long-range attack – against a weapon or against a long-range kick, strike or takedown – timing, distance and your recognition and reaction time will dictate what you can and can’t do.
If you recognize and react to the attack BEFORE the attacker has passed the apex or high point of the attack – in other words, the energy of the attack hasn’t hit full momentum and is not committed forward – then you can intercept and jam his energy and movement and use that energy against him in your defense.
In this video, 7th Degree Black Belt Master Frank Ley shows a technique against an overhead attack:
