Chuck Merriman on Bunkai

[Wastelander]

This is just a short clip from Chuck Merriman Sensei's lecture on kata bunkai during our Ryukyu Martial Arts Friendship Gasshuku, which I thought some folks might find interesting

[sensei8]

Sweet and right to the point. Just because Bunkai isn't universal, doesn't mean that it's ineffective. As Mr. Merriman puts it, what works for one, may not work for another for various reasons. The various reasons must be considered AND understood before one can downplay Bunkai.

Who's Chuck Merriman?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Merriman

I was shocked to see that there wasn't much about him on Wikipedia, but just enough to wet ones curiosity. Of course, me being born in 1957, and being born in the MA in 1964, I'm quite familiar with Mr. Merriman, and I consider him in high regards, both as a person and as a MAist.

Thank you, Noah, for sharing the video!!

[JR 137]

Very well stated. What works for one person doesn't work for another, and what works for one person on one person doesn't work for that same person on a different person.

IMO there's no such thing as incorrect bunkai. Perhaps bunkai that's not nearly as good as other interpretations, no no incorrect bunkai.

According to Chojun Miyagi's successor, Miyagi tailored kata to the student's body type, strengths and weaknesses. What does that say about his view on bunkai and kata in general?

[sensei8]

Very well stated. What works for one person doesn't work for another, and what works for one person on one person doesn't work for that same person on a different person.

IMO there's no such thing as incorrect bunkai. Perhaps bunkai that's not nearly as good as other interpretations, no no incorrect bunkai.

According to Chojun Miyagi's successor, Miyagi tailored kata to the student's body type, strengths and weaknesses. What does that say about his view on bunkai and kata in general?

That his methodologies and ideologies are outside of the box; inspirational!!

[Maybetrue]

Here we go again, my dooms day posts.

There MUST be a wrong and right way of doing Bunkai for Exam purpose and retaining the Purity of your specific style. (i suspect that youtube clip was a interview that does not show the full answer to the question)

A good instructor will make it well known which is the correct way and the expected way to teach a specific move/bunkai. THEN, it will be explained that variations do exist.

Most times when a person uses the "excuse" of doing a variation of the original bunkai is to cover up not knowing the correct bunkai or just no caring enough to know the correct bunkai to begin with.

Disclaimer: Remember to always listen to your instructor over some random guy(ME) posting on the internet.

[Wastelander]

Here we go again, my dooms day posts.

There MUST be a wrong and right way of doing Bunkai for Exam purpose and retaining the Purity of your specific style. (i suspect that youtube clip was a interview that does not show the full answer to the question)

A good instructor will make it well known which is the correct way and the expected way to teach a specific move/bunkai. THEN, it will be explained that variations do exist.

Most times when a person uses the "excuse" of doing a variation of the original bunkai is to cover up not knowing the correct bunkai or just no caring enough to know the correct bunkai to begin with.

Disclaimer: Remember to always listen to your instructor over some random guy(ME) posting on the internet.

I recorded this video, so I can speak to your comments, a bit. Merriman Sensei did say that we have kihon bunkai to get people started, which I suppose it what you may be thinking of with "correct bunkai?" After that, though, he insisted that everyone should explore the kata and test it to find what works for them, even if that makes it different from what others are doing.

[sensei8]

Here we go again, my dooms day posts.

There MUST be a wrong and right way of doing Bunkai for Exam purpose and retaining the Purity of your specific style. (i suspect that youtube clip was a interview that does not show the full answer to the question)

A good instructor will make it well known which is the correct way and the expected way to teach a specific move/bunkai. THEN, it will be explained that variations do exist.

Most times when a person uses the "excuse" of doing a variation of the original bunkai is to cover up not knowing the correct bunkai or just no caring enough to know the correct bunkai to begin with.

Disclaimer: Remember to always listen to your instructor over some random guy(ME) posting on the internet.

I recorded this video, so I can speak to your comments, a bit. Merriman Sensei did say that we have kihon bunkai to get people started, which I suppose it what you may be thinking of with "correct bunkai?" After that, though, he insisted that everyone should explore the kata and test it to find what works for them, even if that makes it different from what others are doing.

Sounds like Oyo, to me!!

[Maybetrue]

Here we go again, my dooms day posts.

There MUST be a wrong and right way of doing Bunkai for Exam purpose and retaining the Purity of your specific style. (i suspect that youtube clip was a interview that does not show the full answer to the question)

A good instructor will make it well known which is the correct way and the expected way to teach a specific move/bunkai. THEN, it will be explained that variations do exist.

Most times when a person uses the "excuse" of doing a variation of the original bunkai is to cover up not knowing the correct bunkai or just no caring enough to know the correct bunkai to begin with.

Disclaimer: Remember to always listen to your instructor over some random guy(ME) posting on the internet.

I recorded this video, so I can speak to your comments, a bit. Merriman Sensei did say that we have kihon bunkai to get people started, which I suppose it what you may be thinking of with "correct bunkai?" After that, though, he insisted that everyone should explore the kata and test it to find what works for them, even if that makes it different from what others are doing.

I think the higher level instructors realized something was missing. There is always a correct way and variations.

that is the problem with the internet/vids/forums/etc. It is easy to take things out of context.

[Spartacus Maximus]

Too many karateka get stuck with the idea that this or that application or technique is the right one. Often it is just the one or two examples demonstrated by a senior instructor. This is usually the oyo bunkai or oyo kumite as it is sometimes called.

What Mr. Merriman means by the need to explore is that each kata has a set of principles. An application or bunkai only makes sense and is only effective if it follows these principles and the strategy of the kata.

A simple example of a principle is to "stun and unbalance before a throw or a takedown". If a technique is meant to be takedown or throw, it will not work if it is not preceded by a strike to disrupt and a move to unbalance the attacker.

[Maybetrue]

99.9999% of Karateka read/vids too much and worry about terminology and the end result is self fulfilling prophecy of understanding.

What a true Karateka should be doing is NEVER READ A BOOK for the first 30-40 years of your marital arts training. After training for Decades you read and learn about the terminology and realize what you "felt/feeling" is what book/sensei is explaining.

When i explain something in class like "go no sen" , the students will try and "force" that feeling. The correct way of learning "go no sen" is not knowing or being taught "go no sen" and kumite so much that you LEARN/REALIZE LATER that there is something like "go no sen" and that is what you where experiencing ... That is the true way.

STOP READING or watching videos. it is a detriment to your Martial Art.

NOTE: Your sensei will TELL YOU that you have that "sense, go no sen" Dont force it. Some will "feel" it once in awhile, very few often and MOST NEVER.