Here are all the methods of preventing a blow that I can think of without making too many variations.
1) Blocking an attack: Stopping the path of an attack from reaching its destination
2) Dodging an attack: Moving the subject of an attack out of the path
3) Striking the Opponent first: Injuring or killing the origin so it cannot follow through
4) Make Attacking disadvantagous: Possitioning yourself so that hitting is unlikely or counter attack is very likely
5) Make Striking disadvantagous: possitioning yourself so a blow could be a bad idea.
6) Create a Double Bind: Create a situation where both practitioners would die from an attack.
7) Destroying/damaging the weapon: Attacking the method used to kill can also work
Cool) Removing the weapon: Removing the means of attack from the opponent
Also despite there being many weapons they all seem to have very similar patterns of attack. It is more in the techniques of the fighters themselves where most of the varience is born.
I would add one from Aikido/grappling arts in general... "Accepting the attack" is the only way I could put it. You don't counter the energy, nor do you dodge it, nor do you just strike back, you... move with it. Encourage it, even, while making sure that while you're still connected to it, it can't hurt you.
Example; someone throws a roundhouse at me, my first instinct (I hope) would be to step towards them and in the direction they're swinging while catching their striking arm under my armpit, pinning it to the side and twisting to "throw" them in the direction they were already moving.
