Bunkai surprise in a Pre-Grade

[Harkon72]

Our Sensei likes to give us insight into new Bunkai of Kata at the most surprising times. He was most of the way through our Pre-Grade tonight when he asked for a Sempai and showed us the most devastating application to the opening of Pinan Shodan! I'd never seen it before, and it blew me away. By God you pick your moments Sensei!

Has anyone else had moments like this in Martial Arts?

[Wastelander]

Since my Sensei goes over kata applications all the time, I'm rarely surprised when he shows us something new. Sometimes, they are very straight forward and practical, and sometimes they are more advanced (take more skill to do under pressure), and sometimes they are just fun .

What was the application, out of curiosity?

[Harkon72]

Uchi Uke, Tetsui Uchi, Oya Ude Kai.

Forearm Block, Hammer fist, Stepping Arm Smash.

The last technique threw the opponent off their feet; done at full speed the smash would have sent Sempai's head into the floor. The contact was made with a bent arm, similar to Mwashi Kote.

[Wastelander]

Uchi Uke, Tetsui Uchi, Oya Ude Kai.

Forearm Block, Hammer fist, Stepping Arm Smash.

The last technique threw the opponent off their feet; done at full speed the smash would have sent Sempai's head into the floor. The contact was made with a bent arm, similar to Mwashi Kote.

I'm familiar with the sequence of movements in the kata, I'm just having a hard time figuring out how you're applying them. What is the attack you are defending against, what do you do with that attack when you receive it, what is the target you are striking with the hammer fist, and what is a "stepping arm smash"? It almost sounds like a Naihanchi application

If you're not comfortable sharing more details, that's perfectly fine--I'm just perpetually curious when it comes to kata application

[Harkon72]

The forearm block is a rising block deflecting a punch or grab attempt, the hammer fist attacks the bridge of the nose, then the arm strike is done stepping through, making contact with the throat, similar to a clothes line. The contact point in the bent arm or bicep, not the fist. As the hip comes through, the head and shoulders of the opponent are driven towards the ground. At speed, it looks like a block and strike with the same arm followed by a clothes line like strike and takedown.

[sensei8]

I'm never surprised, but rather, I'm educated!! Just as soon as I was able to wrap around my brain that Bunkai/Oyo is forever extremely open to effective applications.

I eagerly await for my next Bunkai education!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

oh there are some applications for techniques in kata that can be absolutely devastating. gotta love it when my sensei shows them to us

[JonWal]

I loved a Bunkai application i saw from Iain Abernethy on the Pinan/Heian Nidan first movement, where you step out on the left into Neko ashi Dachi, cat stance with what apperas to be a hammer fist with the (left) front hand.

He said the initial movement could be, an attacker grabs you from behind wrapping both arms around you and meeting in the front. You lift both your arms up above your head from your sides, taking the attackers arms up with yours. You secure the attackers left hand/fingers with your left hand, bringing them down to your left sharply in a hammer fist motion breaking them in the process. At the same time, your right hand comes down elbowing the attacker (still behind you) in the solar plexus/stomach.

I know there are a multitude of possible applications for each movement in Kata, but I found this one to be a pretty good application.

[yamesu]

The forearm block is a rising block deflecting a punch or grab attempt, the hammer fist attacks the bridge of the nose, then the arm strike is done stepping through, making contact with the throat, similar to a clothes line. The contact point in the bent arm or bicep, not the fist. As the hip comes through, the head and shoulders of the opponent are driven towards the ground. At speed, it looks like a block and strike with the same arm followed by a clothes line like strike and takedown.

We call this Pinan Ni in Kyokushin, but its the same sequence.

I have learnt this exact application, as well as other variations ending with the aforementioned clothesline.

In fact, this style of takedown is very common in self defence applications in my dojo. Great thing is that it focus on the weakest part of the body, and a set of joints that is easily manipulated (think clinching), and so it works well against someone bigger quite well.

[Harkon72]

Yes, I'm pleased that this application is known elsewhere. The Sempai didn't know what hit him!