View this page "Bunkai"
Dean
A page explaining Bunkai, and giving a guideline for the level of
complexity a Bunkai should have based on a student's level of skill
and experience in the martial arts.
Amanda
Choose 3/4 moves in your favorite kata.
Pick a combination that an attacker (or a few) would use that you
could use this sequence of moves in response to.
Find a friend and do these together.
Example:
from FKI
(starting spot) left hand high block to SE corner
1. front stance right hand low block to SW corner
2. Fighting stance left hand high block to SW corner
3. Half Step turn Fighting stance reverse punch to S, kiai
Possible situation:
I just finished dealing with someone to my left. Now someone is coming
in from the right. They throw a combination, first trying to kick me
(low block) then punch (high block), and then they sidestep and I
punch them (reverse punch).
Dean
FK1, same moves (except for start):
0) yoi-dachi
1) rh gedan barai to SW
2) lh jodan uke to SW
3) half step punch (directions don't have to be literal)
Bunkai:
0) opponent has grabbed your left hand from the front
1) use the low block transition to break the grab (be careful when
practicing this that the attacker releases the hand--we don't want any
broken wrists from Karate practice)
2) now that the opponent has been pulled down (by you smashing their
arm down with your gedan barai--if you want you can probably grab
their arm with your right hand as you go into the block, pulling them
down further) strike upwards with your left hand/forearm in an upwards
hammerfist/forearm strike to the jaw/carotid (left side of their
neck).
3)a. simply grab their collar (your arm is up there anyway) and pull
them into your right reverse punch
3)b. alternatively you can grab their collar, and slide your left hip
in to bring them into a takedown over your left leg, using the right
hand reverse punch to finish them on the ground.
Amanda
I don't agree with a lot of what it says in general, but this part
sums up pretty well an important part of bunkai:
...Most Karateka interpret the basic techniques in... 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.
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This has probably already been said on the page, but reiteration
really doesn't bother me, it's an important point.
Go through katas practicing every single technique as a strike.
Do it again, but treat every single technique as a sweep.
Makes a difference, no?
Just because we call something a block or a strike or something,
doesn't mean that's the end all be all interpretation. Kata is cool
like that.