No bunkai until shodan?

[Nidan Melbourne]

16 hours ago, Spartacus Maximus said:

It is much easier to learn what kata techniques mean and how they are applied at the same time than no having a clue until shodan. 

Ideally, one would start learning the bunkai and applications(basic oyo) soon after learning each kata. Longer kata might be split into shorter sequences for this. 

perhaps another reason why this changed is because karate was usually taught in private or very small groups. It’s a lot tougher to effectively teach/learn bunkai to 25 at a time than it is with 3~5 people. 
 

 Rereading the posts here reminded me of something that my sensei once told me (he mentions it every now and again in class when teaching it). 

So his biggest gripe is with our Seeiunchin Bunkai; is that allegedly during a demonstration Goshi Yamaguchi performed a Support Middle Block to a Roundhouse Kick and broke his arm. Put continued on with the whole demonstration nonetheless. 

Now I don't know the validity of the story; and I'm not 100% sure if I have the correct Yamaguchi Off-spring correct. 

Also in my mind; Bunkai is a good starting point, but shouldn't be the end all of explaining kata.