Karate Kata Bunkai

‘Bunkai’ means ‘to break down and explore’ and consists of three parts, known as ‘treasures’. Health – Physical, emotional and mental health in the martial arts are paramount as they are more likely to damage or cause death or ill health than any other reason. This is why the yogic and philosophical aspects of movement is contained within the structure, techniques and names. Skill – Kata are constructed to increase skill level by their complexity and technical combinations, far beyond the requirements of just physical self defence. Spatial awareness, balance, mobility, coordination and fluidity are all life skills. Application – … Continue reading Karate Kata Bunkai

Paper Tgers

I’m constantly unsubscribing to martial art pages, people and groups that ridicule others. Often someone will post a video of karate ‘bunkai’ application to a kata from up to 40 years ago and then ridicule it. I was practising Karate (that’s me in the photo with Takimazawa Sensei) and working security in the 70’s and knew that the kata had to be studied and what was demonstrated was not practical and only a demonstration for shows. Pairs work was to drill practical skills safely and was not exactly how it would be applied in the street. We practised the ‘art’ … Continue reading Paper Tgers