Need help with motions on square gates

[Kyokuji]

How do you buffer :hcf: from holding :db: and :hcb: from holding :df:?
I'm used to octagonal gates where you just slide it :l: from :db: or whatever, but a square gate goes straight up from :db: so I get stuck.

[tl613]

Try not moving the stick all the way to the gate. It takes getting used to but once you get the hang of it it makes circle motions infinitely easier. Otherwise, just practice.

[Kyokuji]

I dunno, I'm talking about doing a half circle motion from a low blocking position. When you're trying to low block at a moment's notice, you tend to do it as hard/fast as you can.

[vapulus]

When you're trying to low block at a moment's notice, you tend to do it as hard/fast as you can.

There's your problem.
Never hard. Hard is counter-productive, and leads to wasted motion.
Fast, precise, light.