I love the way this steps off line from the original attack creating space but also time, in that it forces the attacker to reorient (think) if they want to continue attacking.
I gotta say, this one-minute concept is ingenious! No word and yet all the explanation. I am very thankful for your work. Maybe you could shed some light at why even high-ranking japanese Masters didn't know anything about bunkai. Their unrealistic display of kata application was the reason I abandoned Karate ages ago. Your small videos are the reason I returned. Thanks again.
Dear John Doe (how did you ever get a name like that) When Funakoshi took karate to Japan, they chose to ignore the deeper meaning of Okinawan Karate kata- the applications. They already had a very effective Jujitsu tradition and they felt their grappling arts were superior. The mistake they made was separating Karate's bunkai for its kata. They love the Kata, and they create a sports based "point" competition system like Judo and Kendo at the colleges. The problem with separating Kata and its underlying applications is similar to becoming an expert marksman shooting a rifle except you are shooting blancs. Thus you see those early 1950s black and white movies created by the JKA where the applications are amateurish and unrealistic and more of a "what you see is what you get" approach which is totally incorrect. Karate is part striking and the majority of it lies in a) Seizing and controlling, b) Kyusho (cavity strikes), c) Breaking of bone, d) tearing of tissue, e) depriving blood, f) depriving breath. Sadly most Karate today is being practiced with little understanding of the deeper meaning of Kata and its fighting applications even in Okinawa which is loosing its ancient arts to modern sports competition. it is being practiced as Kihon, Kata and sports Kumite. The good news is there are many more avenues for study and information than ever before so one who chooses to gain enlightenment does not have to remain ignorant. I am glad these videos brought you back into old style Karate, I hope that are now practicing and studying deeper than just the surface level.
I love the way this steps off line from the original attack creating space but also time, in that it forces the attacker to reorient (think) if they want to continue attacking.
I gotta say, this one-minute concept is ingenious! No word and yet all the explanation. I am very thankful for your work. Maybe you could shed some light at why even high-ranking japanese Masters didn't know anything about bunkai. Their unrealistic display of kata application was the reason I abandoned Karate ages ago. Your small videos are the reason I returned. Thanks again.
Dear John Doe (how did you ever get a name like that)
When Funakoshi took karate to Japan, they chose to ignore the deeper meaning of Okinawan Karate kata- the applications. They already had a very effective Jujitsu tradition and they felt their grappling arts were superior. The mistake they made was separating Karate's bunkai for its kata. They love the Kata, and they create a sports based "point" competition system like Judo and Kendo at the colleges. The problem with separating Kata and its underlying applications is similar to becoming an expert marksman shooting a rifle except you are shooting blancs.
Thus you see those early 1950s black and white movies created by the JKA where the applications are amateurish and unrealistic and more of a "what you see is what you get" approach which is totally incorrect. Karate is part striking and the majority of it lies in a) Seizing and controlling, b) Kyusho (cavity strikes), c) Breaking of bone, d) tearing of tissue, e) depriving blood, f) depriving breath.
Sadly most Karate today is being practiced with little understanding of the deeper meaning of Kata and its fighting applications even in Okinawa which is loosing its ancient arts to modern sports competition. it is being practiced as Kihon, Kata and sports Kumite. The good news is there are many more avenues for study and information than ever before so one who chooses to gain enlightenment does not have to remain ignorant.
I am glad these videos brought you back into old style Karate, I hope that are now practicing and studying deeper than just the surface level.
I do. Thank you for the reply and thanks again for your work.