Mark B

Practical karate is a phrase Iain has coined - but as he has said many times if it's karate for the street type altercation you believe you study then if it's not "practical", ie simple, direct application to respond to the HAOPV , then it ultimately is unlikely to be effective. In my opinion a serious problem with Bunkai enthusiasts is their inability to truly keep it simple. I see many recorded offerings that would appear simple, with 3,4 or 5 elements to a sequence , but under further analysis can be seen to be quite the opposite. The speed of attack and the Uke freezing his attack at the appropriate moment are almost always the case. Obviously safety is important, however with just a little more resistance most cool looking Bunkai Oyho proves unworkable. Practical should mean simple, hence the beauty of Naihanchi . Focused study and practice of Naihanchi, its lessons and principles creates an instinctive, intuitive system of close quarter self protection which transcends the popular trend of "Bunkai moves for this or that" Any of the kata can be viewed this way of course , but the study must be deep to achieve competence. One of the things I often do when teaching seminars is I invite Uke (not one of my students) to attack and continue his attack, no script. This allows the people attending to see the kata actually working . The only way I can do that is with practical simplicity

What Gaz said!! I'm my opinion he's absolutely correct. It's not uncommon to enquire about having an external examiner come in and then be quoted ridiculous sums , particularly if it's a "career" martial artist. No thanks !!! I hold the level of Sandan , and yet I teach seminars which are attended by higher ranks. Ironically they never ask my grade, they see what I teach and my understanding of my Karate and assume I "out rank" them , so where do the grades come into it then. As Gaz states, if its your club then so far as I can see why shouldn't you grade your students to Shodan.

My syllabus contains only two kata up to the level of Shodan - Naihanchi and Seisan. Both teach fundamental strategies and principles , I have been studying Naihanchi in depth for close to eight years up to today so that would be my choice. I practice other kata and it's Oyho and teach seminars on other kata but Naihanchi is a different animal ! When studied at depth , and because Naihanchi doesn't have "Bunkai" in the popular sense then the strategies and principal based responses become intuitive, which for me makes the forms depth endless. All the best Mark