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KARATE BUNKAI
Karate bunkai is the very reason for the existence of kata. It's the purpose of Karate kata. A kata is a collection of fighting techniques against common habitual acts of violence. Therefore, Karate kata teach us the oyo (application of techniques) to defend ourselves from common attacks. Having a set of movements ingrained in us through regular practice of Karate kata will help us remember these collection of deadly fighting techniques, provided we know correctly what each movement means. A powerful Karateka would have master most of the deadly Karate oyo in certain kata.
Kata are designed to hold the pertinent information on fighting instructions or Karate bunkai. Looking at any kata, a Karateka will find these universal elements of Karate: Usage of different stances, different hand and leg techniques, varying attacking power, a number of Kiai or shouts, attacking at different heights, utilizing body shifting, foot shifting (sliding), shuffling and moving in different directions. It also deals with hand and leg techniques that can be interpreted as attacking specific vital human pressure points, using pressure points strikes or better known as kyusho jutsu. Unlocking the kata will give you many different levels of Karate bunkai, from simple restrain to causing serious injury or even death.
This website will focus on the Karate bunkai of the 5 Heian kata and 3 Naihanchi kata, ie. Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan and Naihanchi Shodan, Nidan and Sandan. These kata contain all the hallmark of signature basic to deadly Karate techniques, including atemi-waza (striking), nage-waza (throwing or takedowns), kansetsu-waza (joint-locks & manipulation), shime-waza (choking), ne-waza (ground fighting & submission) and usage of human pressure points. But more is not necessarily better. It's more effective to learn and master one kata really well than to learn many kata but do not know any of it's Karate bunkai for specific self defense situations. Okinawan Master Choki Motobu supposedly knew only 2 or 3 kata at most but he mastered their oyo to a level where his street fighting skills were unmatched. This means that he probably understood the multitude of applications for every set of techniques contained in a kata. For him, mastering the 3 Naihanchi kata and understanding it's Karate bunkai were more than sufficient. REAPPRAISING THE HEIAN KATA - ARE THEY THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR DEADLY BUNKAI? We will start by discussing Karate bunkai of the Heian kata, which presumably teach us basic and combo Karate techniques. But most Karateka interpret the basic techniques in these kata as blocks. Gedan barai is a block, Age uke is a block, Shuto uke is a block, and so are Soto uke, Uchi uke, Morote uke and etc. But how many times have we successfully use these "blocking techniques" to stop a fast punch in our typical kumite session? In reality, based on the research of many serious and combative-based Karatekas like Patrick McCarthy, Vince Morris and Vince Choo, these Karate techniques are actually strikes! Or if you prefer, striking to block and counter at the same time. Here are some examples:
1. Aggressor grabs your wrist - you kick his inner thigh or knee cap, bringing him down on his knees and use Gedan barai to strike his whole jaw line along the neck with your forearm, hitting at least 3 human pressure points for maximum damage. Talk about "basic" technique!
2. Aggressor grabs your shirt - you slam your forearm down his arm one inch below crease of his elbow, making him stick his neck out, then you strike hard upwards with Age uke, again hitting few human pressure points.
3. Aggressor throws a straight punch at you - you block with Mawashi uke (circular block), grab his striking arm and pull him towards you, then chop at his neck with a Shuto strike (please see 2nd pic above - might not be there, we rotate different pics every week). The pull and chop simultaneously (using Hikite) will inflict maximum damage on your opponent.
NAIHANCHI KATA - DEADLIEST CLOSE QUARTER FIGHTING TECHNIQUES! The trilogy of Naihanchi kata contains some of the deadliest Karate techniques for close quarter fighting! All Karateka who's wants to be adept in effective self defense should just focus on these 3 kata, practicing it regularly and understanding the Karate bunkai behind these 3 kata. Once you learn the meaning of these 3 kata, try to imagine using their applications in all kind of hostile scenarios when practicing those kata. That way, the applications are ingrained into you as second nature, so you can instantly dish out deadly techniques under stressful situations.
Use basic Karate techniques as devastating street fighting moves.
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