css1971

Um, how do you defend yourself against your attacker's mates if you are on the ground? How do you run away if you are on the ground? Although you're practicing ground fighting, shouldn't getting up as quickly as possible be the primary goal?

I have to be honest, it completely revolutionised the way I look at and practice karate. He also has an excellent set of articles on his web site which everyone should read even if they don't have the book or videos. http://www.iainabernethy.com/articles/BasicBunkaiPart1.asp It has 6 parts so far. Another which is worth reading for more advanced practitioners is a book by Bill Burgar called Five Years One Kata. It's hmm, radical. Recommending that we each develop our own kata from the favourite techniqes we've learned.

I'm not sure that makes sense, bunkai is the analysis of kata. It's a search.

Every class. kata -> bunkai -> kumite (of various types from punching and kicking to rolling about on the floor.) Obviously with lower grades, simpler and arguably more effective techniques. I think one of the aspects is to teach the independant analysis of kata. A lot of clubs have broken the link between kata and kumite, which is a shame, it devalues the art. If you think you don't do enough bunkai, or don't link it to kumite there's a book you should read. Actually, it's a book every karateka should read. Bunkai Jutsu: Ian Abernethy

The style doesn't matter. It's completely irrelevant. What is important is how good the instructor is. How much he really knows and understands about all the aspects of fighting. Choose the class which performs the analysis of kata on a daily basis, and then practices the techniques. This includes grappling and ground fighting. And all real fights lack any kind of form. The stuff you see in the movies and in competition isn't real, it's fairytales.

Karate is a mixed martial art which includes grappling, throws, locks, chokes, strangles. As well as strikes. It always has been. If you're not practicing it that way you're practicing kickboxing, not karate. e.g. http://www.iainabernethy.com/books/chapter_karates_grappling_methods.asp

Ian Abernethy's Bunkai Jutsu. Plus the videos. It's all about real practical karate. It completely opened my eyes to some of the long forgotten and truly brutal techniqes encoded into the kata and to the meaningless irrelevance of styles. If you never read any other book on karate, this one is something you absolutely must read. also Ian Abernethy's Karate's Grappling Methods This book shows the true nature of karate. A mixed martial art from the beginning. It isn't just kickboxing.