I've always liked you stuff, but I think it keeps getting better. You are doing fantastic work making people aware of how functional Okinawan kata can be when approached from the right perspectives. You videos are doing a lot to broaden peoples horizons.
I don't thick there is a way to definitively say this is the original bunkai for this move but it certainly "fits in" nicely. The fun part is to continue to have an open mind and explore.
Oneminutebunkai I tried this move in my class on Saturday. I didn't get it quite right though, but, it worked. The " extras " at the end are very effective as well. Broken wrist I think? Simple, effective bunkai. I'll keep doing it with the class until we get it right. Again, this is a great resource for instructors and students.
It takes some thinking to bring out these bunkai that are like you say from the "right perspectives". Changing your "perspective", your view, your angle, a hand, a foot, reversing it, any of these minor tweaks can be that "WOW" moment of revelation that makes a bunkai fit perfectly and makes the kata come truly alive. My Judo experience has given me the ability to see without looking, as if I am inside the move thus I can see it in 360 degrees. Like a fly with multiple lenses.
Interesting that you mention Chinese arts. I've been told on more than one occasion by Chinese martial arts teachers (mostly Southern Shaolin / Sil Lum teachers) that every move in their forms have at least 3 types of applications: 1. striking; 2. joint locking and 3. throw. Ever since then I've tried to apply this level of thinking when looking at applications of our forms.
The Shotokan Kanku is based on the Itosu Kusanku, both with same hand positioning (left Jodan Uke-right Shuto Uchi to the attacker's head). Our OMB Kusanku #2 does that same bunkai.They can be used interchangeably, but the outward manifestation may look closer to one bunkai than another. Bottom line in bunkai you can choose how humane you want to be. The trick is to know variations in kata and the different bunkai, only then can one pick and choose. This bunkai fits the Yara Kusanku very well.
Seriously it is like meditating, observing deeply, you get hints and ideas then things are revealed. But you have to have some body of reference to draw from. You are so right!
My experience with it is in Chen Tai chi, my sifu was quite adept at Chin-na. This application and others similar to it were all over the place. But no one had to teach me to step and crush things, that came natural to me with my boat sized feet.
Indeed you are welcome, I did several years of Wing Chun and a few of Tai-Chi, unlike most people who do Chinese Boxing I do not bad mouth or disrespect other arts especially Japanese or Okinawan karate. All Martial arts have great potential if taught and learned correctly OSU!!!!
when you teach don't hold back, teach everything and inspire them to aspire to be better, not only will the art survive, it will thrive and evolve because it is left in good hands.
Nice technique, so many move in just a couple move from that kata, this is the proper way to teach and learn Karate, I have a background mostly in Chinese Boxing but I am impressed, I see White Crane Boxing in these moves and Chin-na
I like to also use the term it is "living breathing thing" because those doing karate are us the living and breathing. One can and should make karate persona to fit himself, but unfortunately most people do not reach that point of understanding to know when that can happen. Most people follow someones else's karate, very few surpass that stage and make it their own.
continued... I tell my students that you have to practice with a partner constantly in order to get your head in the right "groove", each time you work one bunkai, it improves all other bunkai because to me they are all interchangeable and inter-connected. It also helps to have cross trained especially in Chinese arts which have tons of bunkai that are well documented. My 2 greatest inspirations were Oyata Sensei and Chen Style Taichi. And 500+ book/videos in my library :)
I have to agree with this. No one can say for sure what the original application was for any kata. And I seriously doubt that who ever created any of the kata had only one application in mind for any given technique. When studying kata, you have to take into consideration that some people are tall and lanky, some are short and stocky, some are tall and stocky, some are short and skrawny. Applications will vary depending on this and many other things.
I quess you have influenced by the book of Liu Jin Sheng about Chin na? This book photos can be found in some of the net pages. There is a traditional bunkai which does Kobayashi and Seibukan and some other also share, I am sure you know it. Do you think that isn't okay?
Thank you for saying this because in truth there is little difference in applications between the Chinese arts and the Okinawan arts. Karate has roots from and looks different than Kung Fu on the outside, but internally it is the same. Kung Fu has Chin-na as a base to work the applications (seizing and controlling) identically Karate (old Karate not modern sports) has the same relationship with the old art of "Ti" (Tode). This needs to be said over and over. Thank you!
I'am training under Kyoshi Jamal Measara, 8th Dan and Head of Shorin Ryu Seibukam Karate Europe. Your applications are amzing. Thanks for posting that. Yo know Jamal Measara?
I know who he is. I left Seibukan in 1997 so I never got the chance to meet him. The applications I show come many different sources (some are my own) they are not style specific and are universal in principle. I encourage you to be flexible and allow kata to be your teacher and guide, when looking at Kata you need to see in 360 degrees. So don't let anyone put blinders on you! Learn the principle mechanics of each move, don't worry about memorization. Where do you live?
Most if not all of Karate has Chinese influence, Chin-na is similar if not identical to karate applications? Its al the same. Kata is the external shell, inside is chin-na, ti, di, karamiti, whatever you want to call it. Their origin does not matter only that the kata is teaching you to remember the applications which you have to learn from a teacher who knows them. So to answer your question, I think is more than Ok it is necessary to study as many sources as you can.
What do you mean? There were no added sound effects, those were the real sounds when you remove the music track. And boy if you were there listening to them they would raise the hair in the back of your neck!
Not too far off from reality? But seriously, I wanted the viewer to feel what goes on in that move, and sound is a great way to tell a story when just looking is not enough. Our perception is best with visual and auditory information.
In China there are lot of martial arts and they have changed and evolved during the times. There are styles which have little locking like karate and some have plenty. In this particular technique the film ends almost in the same spot as in the book, but your hand movements from beginning to the end aren't same. Better make a whole new kata for this new idea than trying to fit this in Kusanku. Kyan sensei wrote that in olden times _karate_ was called simply as Tii. Tii = karate
Recently someone on Redit posted a clip on a high school kid (could have been junior high) performing this technique on a classmate. But instead of a left hand punch it was against a right hand. The other kid took a swing at the first kid, the latter blocked it with his left and with his right came up and hyper extended the shit out of the poor kid's elbow. Unfortunately looking at the clip several times it looks it was a case of two kids horsing around in class. It wasn't a schoolyard brawl. Although the clip cuts off quickly after the arm break the kid who executed the technique has a look of shock.
I'm just throwing out ideas here, no one can say with absolute certainty what is what. Nor do I claim anywhere that this is the one and only bunkai for this waza. Like I said- these are you just ideas, take them or leave them, like them or not. I'm not interested in debate nor arguing historical accuracy.
Continued- Thomas I have a suggestion, why not learn the Yara Kusanku in addition to your Shotokan Kanku. When you do maintain its Okinawan flavor. This way you learn a difference "dialect" of your language (Karate) and you expand your world view. Hopefully you can find someone to teach it to you properly.
Great point. If you peel off the top layer of Okinawan Karate you see nothing but Chinese Martial arts. Chin-na= Ti (Di, Tode, Tuite). The same layering of different applications exists. I am a believer in studying Chinese arts for their applications in order fill in the gaps to karate applications. I recommend you check out Charles Goodin's lecture on Old Okinawa in the UA-cam channel- user/hawaiikaratemuseum, it is awesome. We have to understand the past in order to understand Karate.
I've always liked you stuff, but I think it keeps getting better. You are doing fantastic work making people aware of how functional Okinawan kata can be when approached from the right perspectives. You videos are doing a lot to broaden peoples horizons.
You are spot on with these bunkai. Open mind and great humour. Helps learning and remembering. What a great resource. Thank you.
Ah now this makes more sense, not to mention how todays training was inspired
I don't thick there is a way to definitively say this is the original bunkai for this move but it certainly "fits in" nicely. The fun part is to continue to have an open mind and explore.
Thank you Robert
Oneminutebunkai I tried this move in my class on Saturday. I didn't get it quite right though, but, it worked. The " extras " at the end are very effective as well. Broken wrist I think? Simple, effective bunkai. I'll keep doing it with the class until we get it right. Again, this is a great resource for instructors and students.
Robert Traylor If you film yourself doing it and send it to me maybe I can give you some pointers?
Love it. This "pass under" motion/application shows up a great deal in Five Ancestor Boxing and several forms of White Crane.
That is what I always try to convey in these videos. Having others see it the way I see it, is a great verification.
Thanks that means a lot!
I can't tell which I enjoy more, your bunkai or your humor!
It takes some thinking to bring out these bunkai that are like you say from the "right perspectives". Changing your "perspective", your view, your angle, a hand, a foot, reversing it, any of these minor tweaks can be that "WOW" moment of revelation that makes a bunkai fit perfectly and makes the kata come truly alive. My Judo experience has given me the ability to see without looking, as if I am inside the move thus I can see it in 360 degrees. Like a fly with multiple lenses.
Nothing beats a Sensei with a good sense of humor. Thanks for answering my other question as well.
Interesting that you mention Chinese arts.
I've been told on more than one occasion by Chinese martial arts teachers (mostly Southern Shaolin / Sil Lum teachers) that every move in their forms have at least 3 types of applications: 1. striking; 2. joint locking and 3. throw.
Ever since then I've tried to apply this level of thinking when looking at applications of our forms.
It is called FIRESIDE, it is a royalty free music background clip that comes with Apple's Final Cut Pro X video editing software.
Thank you. Do you practice a Kusanku?
The Shotokan Kanku is based on the Itosu Kusanku, both with same hand positioning (left Jodan Uke-right Shuto Uchi to the attacker's head). Our OMB Kusanku #2 does that same bunkai.They can be used interchangeably, but the outward manifestation may look closer to one bunkai than another. Bottom line in bunkai you can choose how humane you want to be. The trick is to know variations in kata and the different bunkai, only then can one pick and choose. This bunkai fits the Yara Kusanku very well.
Seriously it is like meditating, observing deeply, you get hints and ideas then things are revealed. But you have to have some body of reference to draw from. You are so right!
"The kata is talking to you, listen to it" may be the most beautiful advice for figuring out bunkai ever.
My experience with it is in Chen Tai chi, my sifu was quite adept at Chin-na. This application and others similar to it were all over the place. But no one had to teach me to step and crush things, that came natural to me with my boat sized feet.
Indeed you are welcome, I did several years of Wing Chun and a few of Tai-Chi, unlike most people who do Chinese Boxing I do not bad mouth or disrespect other arts especially Japanese or Okinawan karate. All Martial arts have great potential if taught and learned correctly OSU!!!!
I love your detailed explanation, it's amazing Sensei 👍🙏
when you teach don't hold back, teach everything and inspire them to aspire to be better, not only will the art survive, it will thrive and evolve because it is left in good hands.
Nice technique, so many move in just a couple move from that kata, this is the proper way to teach and learn Karate, I have a background mostly in Chinese Boxing but I am impressed, I see White Crane Boxing in these moves and Chin-na
I like to also use the term it is "living breathing thing" because those doing karate are us the living and breathing. One can and should make karate persona to fit himself, but unfortunately most people do not reach that point of understanding to know when that can happen. Most people follow someones else's karate, very few surpass that stage and make it their own.
Wonderful!!! Now we have a solid defense on the main punches used in the street.
Thank you Lemus sensei!
Loved this one!
I can only agree. This is an important point.
Did this at my (Shotokan) dojo last night - worked really well. Thank you.
continued...
I tell my students that you have to practice with a partner constantly in order to get your head in the right "groove", each time you work one bunkai, it improves all other bunkai because to me they are all interchangeable and inter-connected. It also helps to have cross trained especially in Chinese arts which have tons of bunkai that are well documented. My 2 greatest inspirations were Oyata Sensei and Chen Style Taichi. And 500+ book/videos in my library :)
Looooove the bunkai with the wrist grab. I honestly think that people forget that karate is much more than a punch and a kick.
I LOVE the celery crunch!!
Nice, real-world applicable ! Thanks !
LOL, love the added sound effects at the end
I have to agree with this. No one can say for sure what the original application was for any kata. And I seriously doubt that who ever created any of the kata had only one application in mind for any given technique. When studying kata, you have to take into consideration that some people are tall and lanky, some are short and stocky, some are tall and stocky, some are short and skrawny. Applications will vary depending on this and many other things.
Haha! The sound effects are worderful!
I know the chips sound at the end gave me agood laugh
I quess you have influenced by the book of Liu Jin Sheng about Chin na? This book photos can be found in some of the net pages. There is a traditional bunkai which does Kobayashi and Seibukan and some other also share, I am sure you know it. Do you think that isn't okay?
Thank you for this useful video, and sharing how you made it, I wish to upload my own videos but don't yet understand how.
Thank you for saying this because in truth there is little difference in applications between the Chinese arts and the Okinawan arts. Karate has roots from and looks different than Kung Fu on the outside, but internally it is the same. Kung Fu has Chin-na as a base to work the applications (seizing and controlling) identically Karate (old Karate not modern sports) has the same relationship with the old art of "Ti" (Tode). This needs to be said over and over. Thank you!
It's a curse and a blessing at the same time. But when you need them they are fantastic!
Their aweosome
I'am training under Kyoshi Jamal Measara, 8th Dan and Head of Shorin Ryu Seibukam Karate Europe. Your applications are amzing. Thanks for posting that. Yo know Jamal Measara?
I know who he is. I left Seibukan in 1997 so I never got the chance to meet him. The applications I show come many different sources (some are my own) they are not style specific and are universal in principle. I encourage you to be flexible and allow kata to be your teacher and guide, when looking at Kata you need to see in 360 degrees. So don't let anyone put blinders on you! Learn the principle mechanics of each move, don't worry about memorization. Where do you live?
Most if not all of Karate has Chinese influence, Chin-na is similar if not identical to karate applications? Its al the same. Kata is the external shell, inside is chin-na, ti, di, karamiti, whatever you want to call it. Their origin does not matter only that the kata is teaching you to remember the applications which you have to learn from a teacher who knows them. So to answer your question, I think is more than Ok it is necessary to study as many sources as you can.
I think this also works for the Shotokan kata "Meikyo", but will have to test it out.
What do you mean? There were no added sound effects, those were the real sounds when you remove the music track. And boy if you were there listening to them they would raise the hair in the back of your neck!
Unfortunately you have to be part Yeti to make it work. It cannot be taught.
I am part Yeti.
Not too far off from reality? But seriously, I wanted the viewer to feel what goes on in that move, and sound is a great way to tell a story when just looking is not enough. Our perception is best with visual and auditory information.
I love that Yeti-waza!
Bigfoot Yeti-waza! Hilarious! :) Oh! And solid technique, of course.
Get'im Bigfoot! Good job!
In China there are lot of martial arts and they have changed and evolved during the times. There are styles which have little locking like karate and some have plenty. In this particular technique the film ends almost in the same spot as in the book, but your hand movements from beginning to the end aren't same. Better make a whole new kata for this new idea than trying to fit this in Kusanku. Kyan sensei wrote that in olden times _karate_ was called simply as Tii. Tii = karate
Recently someone on Redit posted a clip on a high school kid (could have been junior high) performing this technique on a classmate. But instead of a left hand punch it was against a right hand. The other kid took a swing at the first kid, the latter blocked it with his left and with his right came up and hyper extended the shit out of the poor kid's elbow. Unfortunately looking at the clip several times it looks it was a case of two kids horsing around in class. It wasn't a schoolyard brawl. Although the clip cuts off quickly after the arm break the kid who executed the technique has a look of shock.
Yeti style!!! Need to practice it
I would be much, much more concerned about getting elbowed in the face.
good point
I'm just throwing out ideas here, no one can say with absolute certainty what is what. Nor do I claim anywhere that this is the one and only bunkai for this waza. Like I said- these are you just ideas, take them or leave them, like them or not. I'm not interested in debate nor arguing historical accuracy.
Continued-
Thomas I have a suggestion, why not learn the Yara Kusanku in addition to your Shotokan Kanku. When you do maintain its Okinawan flavor. This way you learn a difference "dialect" of your language (Karate) and you expand your world view. Hopefully you can find someone to teach it to you properly.
nice
Great point. If you peel off the top layer of Okinawan Karate you see nothing but Chinese Martial arts. Chin-na= Ti (Di, Tode, Tuite). The same layering of different applications exists. I am a believer in studying Chinese arts for their applications in order fill in the gaps to karate applications. I recommend you check out Charles Goodin's lecture on Old Okinawa in the UA-cam channel- user/hawaiikaratemuseum, it is awesome. We have to understand the past in order to understand Karate.
Fantastic!
(bb)
"BIG foot Yeti-waza" ROFL!!!
Ha ha! Yeti Waza!!!
OSU!!!
Osu!!!