AngelaG

Sorry but I maintain that if you are standing forward and you want to do a kekomi in front of you then you HAVE to pivot the foot or either risk bad damage to the knee or have a kick with no leg/hip power at all. I also don't buy the "it's quicker" line. The pivot and thrust are simultaneous, so the pivot should in no way slow down the technique, instead just helping with the power and best bio-mechanics. We train all our students to kick so that the pivot is done at the same time (anything else would mean that the power was being projected at the wrong time anyway). The technique should flow naturally, especially at the higher grade level. And no, I am not JKA. ps. the examples in the kata mentioned are not the best as bassai kata kicks are not kekomi, they are actually kansetsugeri, and the kekomi in Nijushiho is done to the side anyway so the foot is already at a half pivot point anyway... plus the kekomi in Nijushiho are a modern addition.

You can see an example of the kind of bunkai we look at in my dojo, with a sampler of my Sensei's book available for download: http://www.karateacademy.co.uk/bassaisampler.pdf It also shows the kind of bunkai we don't do!

What about strikes and locks? If you are to use the uke techniques at all in any other way than a basic "block" (urgh), then you will need a bit more finesse to the technique or you will be using brute force.

If you do not pivot your foot in kekomi you will not be able to stick your hips in effectively and the kick will have no power. If you pivot on the ball of the foot you drive power INTO the kick. Pivoting your foot in kekomi is a necessity if you want a powerful kick and you do not want to tear all the ligaments around your knee.

Zanchin is awareness, Ki is lifeforce, or spirit.

This kick can be devastating. Forget groin, forget ribs.. take it right down to the ankle. We practice this with thick pads in front of the ankle and it's still *nasty*. You can also come up a bit higher to the knee, or inner thigh. So although the kick may come up to chin height when there is a partner in the way it's going through the lower leg.

This does occur in Shotokan - or at least we do it where I train. I think it's just that for some pf the sports clubs it's not really necessary as they just use the moves as big blocks, so they have lost the subtleties.

I'm not sure about that. I think it's just something about fudo-dachi. I see fudo-dachi (in Shotokan) as a rooted stance... an end position. It really does not lend itself to stepping through, as in a kata, and therefore movements may look forced. Fudo-dachi is a stance for when the opponent is already under your control.

LOL. That's scary. We're all going to be wondering what the other people are thinking as they are stood there watching us now.

Usually when I am in a gi I am working hard, which means I am hot, bright red and sweaty... not an attractive look

Perhaps the psychological value is more on the person doing the technique, rather than the person receiving the technique. Does positive mental attitude help? If I believe a technique will hurt more, will I automatically apply extra pain levels? Interesting thought actually. It kind of relates to something I am looking into: Verbal Prompts, and whether they work... And do they work from the point of view of the attacker and/or the defender.

To be brutally honest with you I thought the standard of technique wasnt the best. Sorry if this offends AnonymousOne, do you have a video of your own ability anywhere for us all to see? I ask because this is not the first time that you have been "brutally honest" about someone's video, and I think it's all very easy sitting back and critiquing from behind the safety of the computer screen. At least these people have had the guts to put something out there. Seriously, I'd love to see a video of your technique etc. so that you can show us what you consider to be good technique/form/movement/transition.

I think that on the whole women do not NEED to kick other women in the groin. Most fights I have seen between women tend to be screaming / hairpulling / scratching affairs. Kicking someone in the groin in such a situation would, in my opinion, be overkill; and I think that anyone doing such a dangerous thing when the attack did not warrant such, would be in the wrong. On t'other hand, if I ever meet a woman that really wants to hurt me then I will do what I need to, to keep myself safe.

As I said on the Bassai thread, I think that thinking of kata in terms of techniques is fine for beginners, but by the mid/high kyu grades students should start thinking in terms of principles. The response should be natural, because the principles should be trained until they happen almost instinctively. (Build on the natural instincts in order to make this easier - i.e the flinch reflex) Practicing kata is great, and doing partner work is great, but it needs to be done in an effective manner against realistic attacks, and slowly built up to resisting partners. Practicing against things like front kicks and side kicks is great for sparring, but is not realistic for a real fight. Pushes, grabs and haymaker punches need to be trained. The defender needs to realise that if there are multiple attackers then one does not wait around whilst his/her mate gets beaten up. To the orginal poster.. do you mean Kime as in the oft misused meaning of a bit of tension at the end of a technique... or do you mean something more like focus/decision??

That's not what I myself would personally call Bunkai, but rather an exercise. I think it's important that students realise that stuff like 5 step kumite and unrealistic set pieces with multiple attackers are just exercises, and not instructions in how to fight.

It's very close, except for our system the thumb is inside the other four fingers as there isn't going to be a need for the finger tips to be the strike point. However we do use that particular fist for eye gouging attacks. Kakuto would be the reverse side of that strike.

I don't think so, if used properly. I think there is when used with some of the more questionable hocus pocus type PP instructors. The best way to check for suggestability is to not tell the receiver what should happen, and see if it does anyway.

Sounds a bit like Washide, or eagle’s head: http://www.kclaglio.it/tecniche/foto_tecniche/washide_kakuto.jpg.

Blurgh, dipped vinyl. As headguards they are completely useless and in fact can cause greater problems than they solve!

Actually the bunkai we study at my dojo would have each move as a finishing move. Then again we don't use the "uke" techniques as blocks.

I believe that kata are a tool to introduce us to principles and to develop those principles. As you advance through the kata so you are introduced to more principles. The ultimate goal would be to have the principles ingrained, so that there is no technique log-jam, but instead an indepth understanding of how to move one's own body and manipulate another's body. Fighting is not a set-piece and to practice it as such gives one a false understanding and confidence in what one can deal with. (IMHO)

Not to be picky, but although the accepted translation of Bassai Dai is "To Storm a Fortress Major", the actual meaning is nearer "The Major Way of Removing Obstacles". Batsu means to Extract or Remove and Sai means Obstacle or Blockage. The kata is all about hip usage, without proper use of hips this kata is nothing! It's a kata I love, and is probably closer to my heart as my sensei has written a book on it, which I reviewed in ShotoMag. If you are interested in the book it can be bought: http://www.karateacademy.co.uk/shop.htm

I think as long as the class is well controlled then age should not be a factor. The class needs to understand that tap means realease *now*, and that the pressure needs to be applied very gently. They also have to realise that they should not be heroes when it comes to the tap and hold out.. instead tap as soon as the technique starts to work. As long as the class is run in this manner then there should be no damage to developing joints. The main problems occur from things like knuckle push ups, and bunny hops.

Congratulations. The fact that you know you deserved it will make it feel even sweeter! Well done!

If they cut off the trouser ties you'll be taking advantage of a great deal more than that!