In thinking about kata analysis and looking at applications from different people I noticed a lot use applications that fit within the exact template of kata sequence. By this I mean that the bunkai performance is identical to the kata performance.

An analogy to how I approach it is with a drawing template of a circle. If I want to just draw that circle I can use that template. But if I want to draw other things I could use that circle template as a base and expand on it, or I could look for a template which matches that which I want to draw. So if I wanted to draw an egg, an ellipse, a flower or a sun (as children do, a circle with lines radiating) I could go find templates for those or expand on the circle template by adding to or modifying the basic circle with lines or curves to achieve this.
Opinions?


Mick

WHAT?????

i get it. (i dont really have much to add but i thought i'd say i get it to make myself sound smart. lol)

So let me get this straight you have found that most people when analysing kata and looking for bunkai only come up with ideas that fit exactly what the technique is that you are doing in the kata, instead of using the moves as just a basic form onto which you can add modifications etc. Is this right?

If that is what you're are saying I agree with you. Most people don't like thinking outside the box so they look for an application which is exactly what you are doing without having to change anything. In fact I think I'm guilty of doing this too. I don't know many people who have come up with bunkai for kata that does not fit exactly into the kata template. Although I do remember a sensei of mine telling me that kata is just a basic frm of a fight and your actual techniqes would be very different in real life so to speak.

Hope this makes sense to everyone. I'm sick to today so my head is not working properly.

It's sunday
that's my excuse for my head not working properly

That's an acceptable excuse.

In the “Special Collectors Edition” of the Karate Magazine is an interesting article on kata. Here is just some of the contents, which I found interesting.

“Kata is the attitude of self-defense that you perform with a presumed attack in mind”,

“the purpose of the katas is not only the practice of techniques but also the training of the body (or gathering of your internal thoughts) ; as a result you can say that kata is the “ expression of yourself when you learn karate-do””.

“the structure of kata has the elements of symmetry and balance so that the value of it (aesthetic expression of body form) can be obtained”

The article goes into the history and variations of kata, it’s a very interesting read and made me look a bit different at kata.

my thoughts kata who cares?, lets get onto watching the paint dry or maybe even the grass grow. .

Attn: Matt & Susan

Make it a point to get fang to the next seminar ok? I think he'd make an ideal vic.. oops I mean volunteer.... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Mick

When is fang due to grade next? What ever it is, it was just trebled !

You've had it now fang, rather you than me lol

great idea.....
fang mate we'll let you know when we're doing another special class....I really think you'll like it a lot (esp with your Burridge experience, the real world self defence you'll find ties in nicely with micks torture....errr....tuition... )

plus itll be nice to actually see whats going on for a change ...

What I am driving at is that any given sequence in a kata can be adapted to a range of different attacks by varying the movements of the kata within certain parameters.

Kata bunkai which matches exactly the movements of the kata isn't wrong, unless you're matching fanciful attacks into it, but usually such bunkai is only a surface application.

Typical examples are the bunkai sections in the shimbun with stylised karate-type attacks where the attacks are done kata-style so that the defender has plenty of time to execute the particular section of the kata in response. They do not provide for a thinking, moving attacker who doesn't stand like a wooden dummy, after their lunge punch in long stance has failed to KO the defender, patiently waiting while the defender steps/turns/repositions to execute the kata sequence.

The trouble is that the keys for unlocking kata were not passed along in most cases.

Obviously the best way of learning would be to find a teacher who knows which is difficult as they would seem to be few and far between although as this knowledge spreads there will doubtless be many pop out of the woodwork who claim to have known all along (hmm that sounds familiar, must have heard it somewhere).

The next best option would be to train somewhere with solid grounding in self-defence techniques - easier to do but have to watch out for self-styled commando types.

Or you could do what many seem to do - that is to pull bunkai out of their rear ends and serve it up to their eager students who are sufficiently awed by the position of the teacher to dare not question...

All my own opinion naturally...


Mick

Fang is right - kata is a waste of time.






But he's also wrong.






Mick

i didn't read that right did i mick you know i'm never wrong . seeing i don't do gkr anymore gradings don't matter and anyway the boy and i usually went way over time anyway. i repeatably told my son it's not the belt that matters it is the karate just do your best and it will all come together in the end (the end was along way of for me it seemed).

as for the seminar thing i think i'll have a goodlooking nurse on standby for me incase mick gets lucky . for you mick i'm reserving the right to get a really ugly, hairy, bad smelling, bad tempered fish filleter to be your nurse for the day.

and to think i mouth of like this and i will come back to gkr one day. when god was handing out brains i thought he said trains and asked for a slow one so be gentle mick.