If you’re a serious karateka, you’ll know that the art has changed considerably since its original beginnings on the island of Okinawa. Since then, many people, mostly serious practitioners of the art, have lived, studied, and trained extensively in Japan and Okinawa. What they discovered during that time by reading ancient texts and talking to ancient masters has changed the way many practitioners challenge the type of martial art and some of the techniques related to so-called self-defense techniques that do not resemble actual aggression. unprovoked from the actual fighting with blood and guts you find in the street or alley outside the comfortable environment of the dojo (training hall). They are beginning to question the actual efficacy of some of the techniques, especially the katas from the established foundations of modern sports karate.
The buzzword going around today is combative, a seemingly more effective, direct and easy to learn fighting system based on military principles that also covers topics such as pressure testing, managing fear and adrenaline, etc. Yes, I am a supporter of adding these subjects to your existing curriculum because I believe it is important to know about them. But, there still remains the indisputable fact that the old methods taught a century or more ago predate the advent of sport karate; in fact, it included joint locks, throws, ground work, grappling, takedowns, chokes, pressure points, and strikes to certain areas to damage anatomically vulnerable areas of the human body. Well guess what? All of the above techniques are found in the kata, however their existence has been lost over time, until relatively recently. Students and faculty, thanks to pioneering research by a few dedicated professionals, are now sitting up and taking notice trying to discover the same techniques you’ll find in combative training curriculum. In the karate of old they have been there all the time. You just had to know where and how to look for them, sometimes it is not easy to find the true meaning of a particular application, I admit.
And therein lies the dilemma: where do you start? What is the secret key that will unlock this treasure trove of hidden techniques? The real bunkai. The actual application and analysis of the kata technique. I will say here and now, that many people have tried, but due to the complex nature and time involved they have given up trying too much to learn, they said.
Practical Kata Bunkai
Originally, the kata contained the fighting concepts and principles for a complete fighting system. The truth is that, today, many of the practical aspects of karate have been lost to time. Unfortunately, this has led many students to wonder about karate kata: why am I doing this move? How does that technique relate to actual self defense outside of the dojo? In many cases, the response they usually get leaves them confused and disappointed. This situation often leads to disappointment, due to which, in turn, the student leaves such a club or leaves the formation altogether.
Whatever the reason, get rid of the myth that the kata is useless, has nothing to offer or worth worrying about, you would be wrong. It is a fact, for the vast majority of karateka around the world, nothing they are currently learning is very close to what the old masters taught. The younger students did not understand and made little connection to the many underlying traditional concepts. Even the techniques were often different, as the emphasis was on sports karate and recreation rather than personal survival. It wasn’t considered necessary when scoring a point was the name of the game. The essential short-range killing techniques gave way to distance fighting and ippon, scoring techniques as practiced in sports karate where hitting the opponent is not allowed. However, now is not the time or place to consider in depth all the various forms and philosophical elements that make up karate do. Kata is a skill training, but you have to balance your training schedule. However, kata does not hold all the secrets. Try to find the roots of karate practiced in the ancient ways, but discovering the true meaning and applied applications is still a relatively unknown discipline in the western world.
Until the introduction of sports karate, codified rituals (Kata) were passed down through the centuries and served to teach the fundamentals of self-defense. The fixed forms of kata had served as the primary vehicle through which the secrets of the old masters were transmitted. Knowing the katas but not their applications or principles behind those applications is like listening to a song without understanding the meaning of the words; it’s useless.
Study the past and you will better understand the future, as well as providing important lessons on many of the original learnings done by the ancient master, because these questions about kata will always exist. The ancient traditions of the karate style offer an original legacy of codified defensive principles and techniques intended to identify human weaknesses in the human body (suitable targets) to attack.
Now this kind of advice may seem silly to you, but in an effort to find out the truth like other karatekas before you. You will need to find a reason for a particular existence within the kata you are studying and perhaps you will find a cure for your disillusionment. Be patient and you will achieve all things.
Stay safe.