Kata: Just wanted to know how everyone else does it

[Shorin Ryuu]

Hello everyone.

 

I've been reading quite a few posts about kata and the like. This question is for all of those that take it seriously or everyone else (meaning I just want to hear what everyone has to say).

 

THE QUESTION: Do your instructors give you one bunkai (usually very simple) for each kata, insist that you find it out yourself, give you multiple explanations, or any combination of the above? Also, at what point in your training do they do this?

 

To answer it for me and to give an example, my instructor gave us bunkai for every kata as we learned them (I know all the way through Kusanku Dai in Kobayashi Shorin Ryu, which is a shodan kata). He gave us simple ones (such as kicks and blocks) and gave us advanced ones (such as pressure points or joint manipulations). Also, for every test on every kata (yes, even for yellow belt), he made us explain each movement in the kata we had to know. He also encouraged exploration and bunkai that we thought of ourselves, if they were at least believable.

 

Please let me know what your instructors do or what you wish they would do, or just drop a note to say hi.

 

Thanks everyone for reading and have a nice day.

[gheinisch]

Our Hanshi explains the bunkai of the kata we do in a way that is very easy to understand and often asks us if we know why we blocked a certain way or moved in a certain direction to get us thinking about why we do what we do. Tonight for instance we were learning a new kata and the last move could have two different applications. He had been taught both ways and explained both to us as well. One being more logical too me. He also tells us to explore the different applications of the techniques and to keep an open mind on how they could be used. He often uses us to demonstrate a section of a kata as we are the attacker and he shows how the blocks and strikes are used to counter these attacks. When actually seen, it makes a lot more sense to me and helps me understand the moves and techniques associated with the katas. I hope this made some sense, it's sometimes hard to put down in writing what I'm trying to say.

 

Good question, I'm interested in seeing more answers.

 

Respectfully,

 

G

[mArTiAl_GiRl]

Well, first we learn a kata at our Dojo. Then, when everybody have learnt it, we start with the Bunkai. And usually, we learn and practise this for competitions. And in the other hand, we learn it for understanding what the techniques and movements are meant for in the kata.

[cross]

At our school once we learn the kata we then learn about 5 different combos of bunkai for one technique then we move onto the next and keep going

[WhiteBelt]

My school has a class dedicated to bunkai atleast once a month. Basically they go over a few applications at different points of kata, and then ask us to come up with our own. This class is for every level of karateka.

[hobbitbob]

Some of the Kata (Sesan, Ananku,etc...) have Yakusoku Kumite sets designed around them. Most of the time in advanced classes we take a single kata and "take it apart".

[Sho-ju]

In my club we have a shorin/shogen sensei come in to teach bunkai from the Okinawan Kata. It just makes more sense then the JKA bunkai is b.s. We do struggle with the shotokan bunkai but it just won't work in the street.

[hobbitbob]

If you wish to see kata devoid of anything but block/punch/kick applications, look at the Oyama lineage kata. Most of the techniqes have been modified so that there are no possible Kakushite!