Something occured to me a while ago......is there any specific kata that tell us how to deal with attacks from behind?
Or is it a case of, all kata contain the applications, its just a question of finding them?

Yes, some kata deal with attacks from behind you. GKR's 1st and 2nd kata spring to mind, along with Pinan Shodan, Pinan Sandan, Bassai Dai, and probably heaps more if I run through each of the kata I have done.

Do you have a particular attack in mind?

I was thinking of something along the lines of a grab to the neck or shoulders, although I would expect a punch to the back to be more common.

Pinan Shodan, Pinan Sandan, possibly.
I'll have more of a think about it after dinner.

I'd have thought pretty much anytime you can arguably rotate the arm around the shoulder - eg. with a downward hammerfist movement. So Pinan Nidan certainly (the opening move), I also stretch it to the opening move of Pinan Shodan. Naihanchi Nidan also springs to mind (I seem to recall there's a similar move to this in Saifa too). Also Kusanku & Chinto just off the top of my head.

Mike

I agree Mike, though I don't know Naihanchi, Saifa, Kusanku or Chinto.
With Pinan Shodan, I was thinking more of the third move (the one to the rear, after a set of moves to the left, and then to the right).

Wombat, pretty much any time you turn 180 degrees in kata, it's for an attack from behind.
Combine that with an arm rotating from the shoulder, and you've got yourself an attack from behind that involves the attacker grabbing your shoulder or neck.

There are a couple of katas in an eclectic style that involve a back kick before a turn followed by a few more kicks. This is also a counter for an attacker closing in to grab you from behind.

Part of another kata springs to mind, but I can't place it...
It's where you turn 90 degrees to the left while dropping to your right knee (throwing an attacker over your right shoulder). It may have been one of the eclectic ones as well.

Empi???

I don't know Empi either.
I only got to 9th kyu in GKR...

Empi would be the one you are thinking of, both kanku kata and maybe sepei spring to mind.

I would also hazzard to say that all of the kata that i have done would at some point include defense against attack from behind. With slight modifications to the moves to make them more workable they could work, have never really tested them though.
Usually if you are attacked from behind you will end up being knocked to the floor so ground fighting would be benificial here.

All of the kata which I know in more depth than just the pattern have at least some responses to attacks from behind. I guess that would be an obvious assumption to make if kata deal with common assaults though. Sorry, at this point my knowledge is not broad enough to offer much more than that.


Mick

Most kata moves can be reverse engineered to deal with an attack from behind.

If you are thinking about a shoulder grab then Bassai Dai has some good applications within the first set of 6 uke techniques.

Chinte and Gojushiho sho have applications which work nicely against bear hugs etc.

to be honest if you know the principles of releasing a bear hug etc. then anything else can be adapted to be used depending on the particular scenario.

I woulda thought Saifa was one too - for the hand on shoulder pre-attack scenario anyway (not hair grabbing ...)

Seiunchin??

I know GKR have changed the "bear Hug" escape with elbow to stomach to a round elbow

If we do attacks from behind from either kata etc don't we need eyes in the back of our heads or just a sixth sense to know when to attack. i can't think of a kata where they are kicks from behind, but ushiro geri is just as difficult to do

I think it means if you're grabbed from behind then you have responses you can use without having to see the person, because it may be not possible to turn around first...?


Mick

Mick, Are we talking about modifying our "Flinch Responses" here?

I think it was a comment in the Bubishi that refers to a set number of techniques that are implied in many kata. When seized from behind one can headbutt, stomp on the instep, slide the heel down the shin, slap or seize the groin (over arms bear hug), elbow strike to the head (under arms bear hug) plus a number of throws such as sacrifice, hip and shoulder throws. Bassai Dai, Niseishi (Nijushiho), Rohai, Jion and other kata have distinctive responses to attacks from behind.
Cheers,
Boz