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Hard Blocks are rare in Kenjutsu, becuase forcifully putting something in the way of a Katana is foolish. Putting something in the way of a Battle Axe is equally foolish. Redirecting a Battle Axe is tough though, its weight disposition is much farther upward then a sword. Blending would be scarcily availible (If were using the same term here, I assumed using attacks to counter your opponents last movement, but I usually hear that as Handling) when facing an opponent from a vastly different culture and style of fighting (chances are, the Viking is well aware he left his under arm open for a slice and is ready to knick it away after the sling). And you can't really avoid a point blank tackle, I don't care what stance or how skilled you are.
My biggest argument here, is straight forward beginner's luck. The Viking knows the basics, or slightly advanced basics of fighting. He knows to avoid his weapon and wrap flesh around his. he probably knows how to do this pretty well, and has been doing it for the better part of 10 years. Samurai learn the higher vantage points of the art of fighting, and those points are passed through thier culture, even to those not interested in it's practice.
So a typical Japanese fisher understands that a sword held out in front will help his defense, allowing him to redirect an attack, so that by the time it hits the hilt it will be safely away from his body. He doesn't understand the finer details of that stance. A well trained and polished Samuria would laugh when he decides to take a defensive stance, knowing how to break through it, how to disassemble it, And how to embolden it as nessicary.
And the Viking, makes no sense to him what-so-ever.
His stances aren't familiar, he can't curb him into poor decisions in stances, He is just a chaotic force and strikes when he feels it is time to strike. In chess, a lucky beginer will take a rook. In Combat to the Death, A lucky Viking will leave a nasty gash all across his pretty little Kabuki mask.
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