Bunkai Blog

Bunkai Heian Shodan / PyungAhn Chodan 3

2008-05-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Bunkai Heian Shodan / PyungAhn Chodan 2

2008-05-28T18:06:00.001-07:00

Bunkai Heian Shodan / PyungAhn Chodan

2008-04-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

In this video you see potential applications for movements in this kata / form. The applications are built on movements 6,7, and eight which are commonly referred to as a down block, a rising knife hand and a high block.

Shades of Gray

2008-03-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

Variations on a theme

2008-03-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

In our style, the inside block is refered to as Ahm pom mahk gi. In this video I try to show different application of the same movement. I start with the basic block and move on from there. This video is not particularly exciting (no brawling or resisting) and will probably not show more advanced martial artists anything new. It will help some folks see that labeling a movement a "block" does tend to limit your understanding of a movements possibilities

Roll, Play

2008-03-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

Yamashita Shorin Ryu-NAIHANCHI SHODAN

2008-03-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

A Video Hello

2008-02-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

Pinan Godan / Pyung Ahn Ohdan

2008-02-22T12:37:00.001-08:00

Seipai - Nuno Cardeira (KATA & BUNKAI)

2008-02-12T11:23:00.000-08:00

Once Again Didier Lupo

2008-02-07T05:45:00.000-08:00

Pinan Shodan / Pyung Ahn Chodan

2008-01-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

Here we can see the double knife hand block used as a defense against against a sucker punch. Keep it simple.

Two Attacks, One Response

2008-01-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

Pinan Shodan / Pyung Ahn Chodan

2008-01-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

Iron Horse from MAExplorer

2008-01-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

Back To Pinan Shodan / Pyung Ahn Chodan

2008-01-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

In our last look at the kata we left off with the rising knife hand leading into the high block used as a strike. In this application Oldman uses the series of high blocks to drive his opponent backward. The last of the "high blocks" is used as a choke / pin against a wall. From there Oldman can reason with the gentelman. In addition if the attacker is wearing a jacket, Oldman can grab the attackers left shoulder while at the same time grabbing the attackers left lapel. The hand on the right shoulder hold the jacket in place, Oldman's left hand pulls down and back pulling the attacker neck down onto Oldman's right forearm securing a very solid choke.As the offender is unimpressed with Oldman's request for cooler heads to prevail Oldman looks to extricate himself from the premesis. His exit strategy begins with a 270 degree turn while grabbing the attackers arm throwing him to the floor. Then Oldman hits the road.

Pinan Godan / Pyung Ahn Odan

2008-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

For those of you that are familiar with the kata can envision what comes next. For those of you that are not, the foot block / cresent kick is followed by an elbow strike. Oldman's left hand maintains contact with the attacker arm during the kick and then pulls the opponet in to range for an elbow strike to the back of the head. The kick can also be lower, say, to the thigh and/ or come down as a stomp.

Naihanchi / Tekki / Chulgi

2008-01-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Apparently decades of hard training and research has lead these Karateka to the conclusion that Tekki Shodan is a devastating cornicopia of blocks against multiple attackers. Call me crazy but it just doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to approach the kata from the perspective of multiple attackers. I usually start with the idea of one attacker.

I guess it's natural for different people to read a book or see a movie and have very different thoughts about the directors intent. Don't even mention two different people looking at a painting by Pollack, Picasso or Degas. Maybe Kata is like a Rorschack test. We don't see them as they are we see them as we are. When you are looking at a kata and practicing it, ask yourself who created it? What did they know? Who did they study with? Ask yourself what does this beautiful thing tell me about the person that designed it?

So, If you talked to the designer of the form which following quote do you think would reflect the designers thoughts most accurately...

"Block, then hit him in the stomach, now block again and hit the other guy in the stomach, then block three times and punch someone in the face..."

Or...

"Kill the son of a bitch."

Keep in mind I have never been a warrior. I'm an average martial artist and a cartoonist by profession. If I can imagine something devastatingly brutal, what could a warrior / martial master come up with. Maybe all the years of watching cartoons has had an effect on me and causes me to see the potential for violence in pretty folk dances.

Click on the cartoon to enlarge it.

Pinan Yondan / Pyung Ahn Sahdan

2008-01-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

In the above example you see an approach to the begining of Pinan Yondan. The person defending raises both arms to block the incoming punch from the attacker. This is consistant with the form as practiced in most styles. However I have not seen the kata ever practiced with a knife hand strike following the block. One thing I try to do when analyzing a form is first to stay as close to the actual movement as possible. That does not mean that I try to be literal. Being literal might have you looking at the first two moves of the form and thinking "One...Block...Two... Block. In addition to not being too literal I try to keep things simple and direct.

The second response shown is both direct and simple. Were it differs from the first example is that it uses a simultainious block / strike. The defenders striking hand also serves to block if the attacker throws a left hand also.

In this variation you see a response to a grab. One thing that the illustration does not show very clearly is the idea of useing the wrap up and twist of your waist to off balance the opponent. This off balancing causes them to want to straighten up to regain their balance which facilitates your ability to move your arms through the "blocking" movement . In the kata after the first block the hands move toward your left him before exicuiting the second "block". So what you end up with in this example aer two option. One, ending in a wristlock and the second ending in a throw.

Team Bunkai

2008-01-01T15:35:00.000-08:00

In this video you can see a WKF team from Egypt. The young men are remarkably fast and precise. They are very well trained. It is a pleasure to see anything done well.

Pinan Nidan / Pyung Ahn Edan

2007-12-31T16:09:00.000-08:00

I thought for today I'd mix it up a bit and post something from Pinan Nidan. The application is different from most of the applications you see. Most interpretations show a response to two incoming punches. This applications is shown as a response to an attack from a rear shoulder grab. As I mentioned in a previous post imagining the attack will ultimately determine the responses you come up with. Envision various attacks from different angles. Work with a partner. It does not take long to find things that don't work. Over time you will find real gems. In my experience if you do the work to find things that work you are more likely to continue to train the things you find. You can find things in books or on video but there is, for me at least, great pleasure in the hunt.

Pinan Shodan / Pyung Ahn Chodan

2007-12-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

Pinan Shodan / Pyung Ahn Chodan

2007-12-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a very simple variation of the rising knife hand moving into the high block /strike.

Pinan Shodan / Pyung Ahn Chodan

2007-12-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

This image shows one interpretation of the hammerfist movement series. One thing is not shown. After stepping forward with the punch with the left hand Oldman can grab the opponents left shoulder. From there hie can continue with the next step of the form, that being the downblock. In this example the downblock becomes a throw. If you step deeper you can place your left foot behind the attackers right foot. This keeps the attacker from stepping backwards to regain balance and aids with the throw.

Sam Walker Utilizing Basic Techniques

2007-12-27T10:45:00.000-08:00