I've been thinking, dangerous I know, but bear me out...

If I was to produce a DVD on bunkai for a kata practiced in GKR, would GKR people be interested in buying such a thing? It wouldn't necessarily be the slickest DVD in terms of production/trimmings, but would (I hope) be rich in content. And it'd probably cost about £12-£15 including p&p.

Thoughts? Interest in such an endeavour?

Mike

Mike, I think thats a great idea. Thats a fair price aswell.
What kata were you thinking of? I remember your Saifa analysis was very thorough.

I'd be interested in downloading it for free...

...



...

Oh well, worth a try.

I was thinking of starting with Taikyoku Shodan and including a section on principles of combat and principles of kata analysis, in order to get the ball rolling.

I'm not sure about doing Saifa. Whilst many of the themes are very similar to Shorin Ryu themes there are some slight differences. So I'd need to practice it quite a bit. I'm also thinking of filming it all during normal club sessions so I'm not sure its what my students need to focus. I'm not sure yet, but I might skip to Bassai Dai instead, or look at the Pinans to keep the Shotokan and Wado people happy.

Obviously Taikyoku Nidan's a non-starter!

Mike

Not so fast, boy wonder!

Its a great idea Mike - something I would have appreciated back then.

Being 'non-official' you wont get any support from the club - obviously they would prefer to sell their own DVD's. I dont think they can stop you unless you can copyright a kata but I think you would need word-of-mouth to get them out there. I think it would open a few eyes yes.

I must confess, support from GKR was one thing I was not expecting. Being accused of being the devil's spawn maybe, but support!?



If you could then I'm sure they, or someone else, would have tried! Still, one kata I'm certainly not planning to address is Taikyoku Nidan, so I think I'm on safe ground there (I think John Cleese could rightfully claim copyright on that one anyway).



Indeed, that is the challenging part. I thought I'd start by:
a) advertising on my website
b) running my mouth off on various fora
c) getting my local martial art shop to stock a few

Thanks for the feedback fellas.

Mike

I think it's a great idea!!!

You may have some luck selling your dvd on ebay. especially if you state the bid price includes P&P.

Hi Mike,

There are probably easier ways for you to make money than that.

I don't think you'll find any interest from GKR practitioners, and those few who might be, are likely to already be aware that this sort of information is already available and often for free.

Unless you just plan on adding your production to the already prolific list...

Good luck though.

JC

I heard a comedian's spiel recently.

"My mate rang me up and asked if I wanted to go out and steal a car with him.

I said ofcourse not, that's illegal!

Now if he wanted to burn me a copy of one though, I'd be willing to take one ..."

Its not just about making money, although our club funds could certainly do with the boost. Let's just say I certainly wouldn't expect it to make me a millionaire - I won't put the order in for the yacht or the helicopter just yet.



An interesting comment. I think you're probably right on one point - the percentage of GKR practitioners who'd be interested is fairly small. I'm intrigued as to where this information is available for free. Could you elaborate?



Its got to be said - there are quite a few out there nowadays jumping on the bunkai and kyusho bandwagons. I've actually been working on quite a different publication for some time now and one thing that I decided in doing so that is that anything I produce for public consumption must contain a substantial amount of new material that isn't already publicly availalbe. I've come across one or two authors who've simply regurgitated other people's material, often without even crediting their sources. I decided that I most certainly would not do that. And its an easy promise to keep. I have a brain and I am the only person in the world to have trained with the unique set of intructors that I've had had the good fortune to train with. Of course, lots of people can say that, each of us has our own unique martial journey. But that should make it easier to produce something of value that is also a unique product of training with a unique set of instructors.

So I have no doubt I can offer a new and systematic perspective in terms of my approach to bunkai (I've certainly never heard anyone espouse the same idea) and in doing so expose the reader/viewer to some applications they certainly won't have seen before. Oh, and still manage to credit my sources and influences.

Mike

Mike

My opinion of the lack of interest amongst GKR pracititioners is my own based on getting towards 15ish years with that school. When I was there I think it was safe to say that most people are there for fitness, socialising and the idea that they're being active and learning some basic sport karate. I don't think any in GKR have an opinion that what they are practicing is anything like "the ultimate self defense" (I realise you didn't say that of course). These are good people and good luck to them for getting out there and giving it a try I think it's great.

So where this leads to is that not many are interested in more classical styling of karate, where application, intent and context are taught. That's not what they're there for.

At around say 3rd kyu some might start to wonder what more they should be aware of to hit that magical black belt. And some might be exposed to others in GKR who have been through the same questioning and started to try and find the answers for themselves.

So come shodan these people have already been forced to look far and wide to find out just what it is they thought they would develop into with their training over the years. For those that never have this thought - they stay. For those that do and have their eyes opened - they move on. But part of that discovery process is realising that kata analysis and biodynamic type ifnormation is readily available and often for free. The challenge to these people becomes not being able to sort the crap from the decent material

Feel free to throw your information in - others can critique it and find if it's what they're after. No harm in that!

JC

I hear what you're saying and I don't doubt that this describes the majority of people doing GKR.

On the other hand, SDC's (at least in the UK) do routinely market GKR as "the ultimate self defense", so its fair to say that a proportion of people will be interested in that aspect of karate. That's certainly borne out by the experiences and views of many people I've come across on GKR forums. There are clearly plenty of GKR students who are interested in learning self-defence and who are interested in gaining a better understanding of their kata. Their frustrations have been obvious in many of the threads I've read or taken part in. OK, maybe they're a minority, but certainly a significant minority. I suspect their numbers would be even greater if it weren't for the fact that many students are simply ignorant of any other way of training.

Of course, I also acknowledge that there are also students who think they want self-defence but, when they find it, aren't really interested. They want it to be self-defence, but they also want it to be fun aerobics and want to do techniques where they can emulate their heroes, be it Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme or Dragon Ball Z. Which is of course a complete fantasy.

That aside, I'm sure there are plenty of people within GKR who wish to see more depth in their training. The real challenge is communicating the message to them, given that GKR is hardly likely to help spread the message.



I'm still interested as to where its available for free. I'll queue up just like everyone else to drink from that particular fountain. I realise that sounds sarcastic, and to a degree its meant to, but I'm quite genuine in saying that if there is such a free, readily available resource then please let us know where to find it, so that the members of this forum can benefit from it.

Mike

I think your idea sounds fine Mike. What I am saying is that it will go to the level of success if you didn't bother targetting GKR students (unles you're purely in it for the money or attracting new students). You'll also come across a lot better, in my lowly opinion at least, if you're not seen to be targetting students from GKR - something to think about to retain your own credentials

And if I tell you where this information is available or who its available from....I won't be helping your cause

Let's just say it helps to know the right people (a statement I'm sure you will understand).

JC

Fair enough, it wouldn't be targetted purely at GKR students anyway. If a Taikyoku Shodan DVD proved at all successful I'd consider doing some on the Pinan's, which would be of benefit to my own students even if no-one else bought it.



My cause is primarily about practising and helping spread good quality karate jutsu. Any financial considerations are simply a matter of making sure the project pays for itself and, if there's any left over, boosting my club's ailing bank balance. If money was what I was most bothered about I'd have given up on karate and carried on with my shiatsu business instead (or perhaps just got a better paid job with longer hours).

If there is good quality information freely available I say let's shout it from the rooftops.



That hardly tallies with your earlier statements about information being "readily available and often for free".

Mike

Thanks for the reply Mike.

I understand your intentions now.

JC

I also think this is true, however i have heard that the self defence aspect is going to come into play in the next couple of years, and will even be included in the GKR gradings
I think its a great idea, im sure anyone really interested in the arts will want a look, it may even encourage a few more to stick around, when they realise theres more on offer.

Hi Mike

Is there anything in Taikyoku Shodan that you couldn't get from Pinan Nidan? Or is it just that Taikyoku is a nice easy starting point to test how other kata might be received?

That sounds a little confrontational on re-reading. It's not meant to be.


Mick

Hi Mick

Confrontational? No, not taken as such.

Is there anything in TK1 that you couldn't get from Pinan Nidan? No, I don't think there is. It is, as you say, a nice easy starting point. I've had a project on Pinan Nidan (not a DVD but an interactive format that I'm keeping close to my chest for the time being) on the go for several years now. Its still nowhere near completion so it seems a good idea to start the DVD idea with something different, something simpler.

However, there are a couple of other reasons for specifically choosing TK1:
1. It can target people who wouldn't think to look at Pinan Nidan (if say they don't practice it) but would benefit from understanding the lessons it contains and so apply those lessons to TK1 and other kata.
2. Because TK1 is so short, rather than simply present some possible bunkai I can spend time on presenting the process by which bunkai can be arrived at and tested for validity, then use the small number of movements in TK1 to demonstrate the process. Then if I went on to do a DVD on Pinan Nidan I could just blast on with the bunkai knowing that the viewer had enough understanding (from watching the previous DVD) to act as a baseline from which to comprehend Pinan Nidan. Assuring a level of matriculation from which to begin further study, if that makes sense?

Mike

Sounds great!

Start with a blocking a front kick from someone to the left then step forward and punch. Then turn 180 to deal with a front kick from a second attacker ...

Damn, there's not much point in me proceeding if you're going to give all the secrets away!

Mike

same here.. the best things in life are free.. LOL!

thanks.... i'll try it out next time

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