Shihan Kousaku Yokota's New Book - "Shotokan Myths" (More Than Just Shotokan)

Shihan Kousaku Yokata, 8th Dan, is about to release a new book, called "Shotokan Myths".   Having read his articles in Shotokan Karate Magazine, I know his work to be well informed, well researched and insightful.  As such I have done a review on this new book which you can read here at http://bunkaijutsu.com/?p=982.

New FREE On-Line Magazine: Bleeding Edge

There is a brilliant new on-line martial arts magazine.  The best part is, it's FREE.  To find out more, visit their website at www.BleedingEdgeMag.com.  In the November issue, they have printed an article by myself and I'm expecting to have an article in the Dec edition. 

 

I highly recommend that you check out this magazine and register to receive it free.

DVD Review: Mixed TaeKwon & Skills Of Hapkido

9thDan.com are promoting 2 DVD's.  The first one is called Mixed Taekwon, which looks at applied Taekwondo, mixed with Hapkido.  An interesting but logical mix.  Here's a trailer for it:

 

 

The second DVD is called Skills Of Hapkido and here is a trailer for that one:

 

 

 

 

I have reviewed both of these DVD's, which you can read on the main Bunkai Jutsu blog.

Kata Bunkai for Nujishiho

In my last posting, I sent a video clip of Karate bunkai for a sequence from near the end of the kata: Nujishiho.  Last time I run out of memory on my SD card so I wasn't able to complete all the applications that I wanted to.  So here is a bit more kata bunkai for that same sequence:

 

 

You can see a fuller write up here:  http://bunkaijutsu.com/?p=971

Fw: Beyond Bunkai Now Available!

 Also worthy of note is Iain Abernethy's grappling program which is coming up early next year.  This will focus on grappling movements within kata bunkai.  Below is a section from Iain's own newsletter to tell you all about it.

 

Regards

 

Charlie

 

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Karate Grappling Program (Jan 2011 to May 2011)

 

It is now almost 10 years since “Karate’s Grappling Methods” was published! To mark this anniversary – and to meet requests I’ve been getting for some time for an in-depth program of learning – I’ve organised a special training course for all those who believe that karate should be a holistic and pragmatic system.

Starting in January of 2011, I will be running an in-depth training program on karate grappling for a limited number of people. The course will run for 5 months (1 full day per month) and people must be able to attend all days. The course will be certificated by me (see sample image), is open to just 20 people (1st come, 1st served) and will cover the following topics:

• How to Recognise Grappling in Kata

• Integrating Striking and Grappling

• Grappling when Weapons are involved

• Simple Gripping Skills

• Chokes and Strangles

• Effective Seizing and Gouging

• The Principles of Joint-Locking

• Throws and Takedowns (including the nine throws of Gichin Funakoshi)

• The Role of Grappling in Self-Protection

• Grappling and Multiple Opponents (i.e. how to get out of there and avoid grappling)

• Realistic Ground Fighting (i.e. do damage and get up)

• Traditional Karate Grappling Drills
 

The course will be open to all grades, will start in January of 2011, and will be certificated. This is a special course to mark the 10th anniversary of the Karate's Grappling Methods book and will be open to a maximum of 20 people.

 

More details can be found here:

 

http://iainabernethy.co.uk/news/karate-grappling-program-jan-2011-may-2011

 

Fw: Beyond Bunkai Now Available!

 Iain Abernethy is a master of grappling moves within kata bunkai.  He now has a new DVD just out called Beyond Bunkai.  Details are below from Iain himself so check it out.

 

Regards

 

Charlie

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Iain Abernethy - Newsletter

Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 8:47 AM

Subject: Beyond Bunkai Now Available!

Beyond Bunkai DVD Now on Sale!

 

Hi All,

The new Beyond Bunkai DVD is now on sale! The DVD is for the more experienced bunkai practitioner who is ready to drill the applications of Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan in a flowing, unscripted and realistic way.

The drill makes use of applications for the entirety of Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan and progresses on nicely from the information presented in Bunkai-Jutsu 2 and The Masters Seminar: Seminars Vol. 3. If you are someone who has a solid grasp of bunkai training, I feel sure you’ll really enjoy this one.

The DVD presents the drill in a series of elements so that the drill can be advanced by adding in the additional elements as progress is made. If you read the “blurb” below you can find out more about the nature of the drill and the DVD.

As long term newsletter subscribers will know, we filmed this DVD earlier in the year and we are delighted to be able to bring it to you before Christmas! This is entirely due to the great job done by Harbour View Productions and Outpost Editing who pulled out all the stops to bring this DVD to you. The replicators have also done a great job and the DVD covers and disk images have came out great. Needless to say, I’m really happy to be able to get this one out to you all!

While many martial artists use the “my mate has a video camera” approach to DVD production, we always use professional people when filming and editing our DVDs. The results are always well worth it because a DVD made on the cheap looks cheap. Whereas a DVD that has cost thousands of pounds to produce looks like it has cost thousands of pounds to produce! As I say, I’m delighted with this one, both in terms of content and style, and I would rank it as my personal favourite.

As I say, I’m excited that the DVD is now available and I look forward to hearing what you all think about it!

All the best,

Iain

PS Thanks to all for the very kind words on the “My Stance on Stances” podcast! I appreciate it!
 

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Beyond Bunkai Now On Sale!

 

This DVD presents a unique non-scripted flow drill that includes all the motions found within Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan. Ideal for the more experienced bunkai practitioner, and essentially infinite in its variations, this drill shows the depth of Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan and includes gripping skills, head-butting, biting, gouging, seizing, locking, controlling limbs, chokes, cranks, takedowns and close-range kicking.

This drill is also unlike most flow drills in that it is not carefully scripted nor does it involve giving up a position of advantage so your partner can have their turn. The drill instead enables the practitioner to dominate at close-range, flow past any obstructions the enemy may present, safely escape, and practise applying the bunkai of the kata in a realistic context. This DVD also includes a breakdown of the kata itself and a discussion on the history of Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan.

Iain Abernethy is one of the world’s leading exponents of kata application and practical karate. He has been invited all over the globe to teach his approach and to help people return to the original combative nature of the traditional martial arts.

 

Please follow this link to purchase online: http://shop.iainabernethy.com/acatalog/DVDs_UK.html

 

Both PAL & NTSC versions (suitable for all regions) are available!

You will automatically be sent the right format for your country.

 

 

This new DVD costs just £24.99 (including UK shipping).

Rest of Europe +£1.50 / Rest of the World +£2.50

 

Please follow this link to purchase online: http://shop.iainabernethy.com/acatalog/DVDs_UK.html

 

Note: This DVD is not available as a download at this time. The download version is expected to be available in the spring of 2011.

 

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Buy 2 DVDs and select a 3rd for Free!
 

When you add the third DVD to your shopping cart, the website will automatically reduce the cost so that third DVD is for free!

 

Below are some suggested DVDs that will be ideal companions to Beyond Bunkai.
 

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Three DVDs that support Beyond Bunkai

 

Bunkai-Jutsu: Practical Kata Applications Volume 2 - Naihanchi / Tekki & Passai / Bassai-Dai (DVD)

Bunkai-Jutsu is the analysis of the karate katas (forms) and their application in real combat. The fighting applications of the katas is one of the most fascinating and sadly misunderstood aspects of karate practice.

Volume two covers Naihanchi (Tekki) and Passai (Bassai-Dai). Today, Naihanchi / Tekki is often undervalued due to its simplistic appearance. This DVD shows the highly effective close-range fighting applications of the form and reveals just why the kata was so highly regarded by the masters of old.

The second part of the program covers Passai / Bassai-Dai kata and demonstrates the strikes, throws, takedowns, locks, neck-cranks, chokes, combative strategies etc that have made this form one of the most popular in the history of karate.

http://shop.iainabernethy.com/acatalog/DVDs_UK.html

 

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Kata-Based-Sparring (DVD)

Kata and sparring are two essential elements of karate. The kata were created to record the techniques, concepts and methodology that the past masters used in civilian combat. However, in many modern Dojos sparring is now entirely based on the rules of competitive karate and therefore has little in common with the principles of traditional kata or the needs of self-protection.

In this unique DVD, karate expert lain Abernethy returns to a traditional approach to sparring, with the kata as its foundation. Learn the building blocks of lain's kata-based-sparring concept through the numerous live drills shown on this DVD, and gain the confidence and ability to apply the combative methods of the kata when it really counts.

http://shop.iainabernethy.com/acatalog/DVDs_UK.html

 

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The Masters Seminar: Seminars Vol. 3 (DVD)

This DVD records Iain's teaching at the Summersdale Master's Seminar in August 2005. This landmark seminar saw some of the UK's leading martial artists - from a variety of differing arts and styles - teach together for the very first time.

On this DVD you'll get to see Iain Abernethy 5th dan Karate (BCA & EKGB) teach a detailed session on covering and clinching. These vitally important close-range skills are a must for all martial artists, regardless of style or system.

Aside from the simplicity of the techniques themselves, what is remarkable is that Iain clearly shows how the techniques taught are found within Naihanchi / Tekki kata! This aspect of Iain's teaching enthralled both karateka and non-karateka alike. No other DVD on the market shows how Naihanchi / Tekki records all aspects of fighting from a clinch. Indeed, this aspect of the kata has never even been previously presented in Iain's own works!

The techniques shown include covering, clinching, taking away the opponent's weapons, escaping from the clinch, striking from a clinch, countering an opponent's grip and more! All aspects of clinch fighting are covered and this DVD is a must watch for any martial artist wishing to enhance their understanding close-range combat.

 

http://shop.iainabernethy.com/acatalog/DVDs_UK.html

 

Fw: Learn Slow vs Learn Fast

For anybody who not on Russell Stutely's mailing list, then I recommend that you click here to go over to his site and sign up.  Russell is an expert at pressure point fighting within Kata Bunkai.  Every now and then you get little snippets of useful information like the message below from Russell's latest newsletter.

 

Regards

 

Charlie

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Russell Stutely" <russell@russellstutely.com>

Subject: Learn Slow vs Learn Fast

> Learn Slow to Learn Fast!
>
> Why do I say that you have to go slow to learn?
>
> Well, it's a bit obvious isn't it?
>
> Let's take a simple example:
>
> You are new to Boxing and the Coach tells you that he is going to
> teach you a Jab.
>
> He demonstrates it at full speed and power and tells you to "copy
> that" and walks off to the next student.
>
> Are you going to understand all the nuances of a good jab?
>
> Compare that with a Coach that explains all the consituent parts
> of the Jab, footwork, balance, distance, timing arm position, body
> position etc ec
>
> He then explains the mechanics of the Jab and how it should feel
>
> He then tells you to practice it very slowly as you are just
> learning HOW to do the movement at the moment.
>
> You are then watched and instructed how to increase the speed and
> the power and how to then TRAIN the jab once you have LEARNT it
> slowly.
>
> Which method do you think is best?
>
> Who do you think will teach you the quickest?
>
> That, my friend is why we learn slowly.
>
> That is why I can transform your Martial Arts.
>
> That is why I can make you a Pressure Point Fighting Expert.
>
> Till next time
>
> All the best
>
>
> Russell
>
>
>
>
> Russell Stutely Productions
> Helping you become a Pressure Point Expert
> The Store: www.russellstutely.com/ashop/index.php
> Members Area: www.russellstutely.com/blog
>
> Join the Russell Stutely Platinum Training Program and become one of our Internationally recognised Coaches.
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Kata bunkai Nijushiho

There is a new posting on my main blog looking at kata bunkai for the Nijushiho.  This looks at the rather unusual sequence near the end performed in horse stance where you elbow strike upwards, shuffle in with a punch and then shuffle back with a lower block.  At least this is the Shotokan Karate version.  If you do this sequence differently in your style, then please visit the blog and tell us about it.

 

See it here at:  http://bunkaijutsu.com/?p=846

 

Charlie

Karate Bunkai: Sochin kata

Here's more karate bunkai, this time looking at Sochin kata.  I've forwarded videos by these people before, and I love their style of presentation.

 

Review: Inside Bassai Dai

The following is a review of my my new DVD: Inside Bassai Dai.  It is by Matt Apsokardu, 4th Dan Okinawan Kenpo Karate from his website www.ikigaiway.com.  You can find the full review at:  

http://www.ikigaiway.com/2010/review-inside-bassai-dai/.

Here it is:

 

As long time readers here know, I have a great passion and interest in Bunkai. Bunkai is the application and inspection of meaning in kata, and to me it is as integral as the movements themselves.

Recently I got a chance to watch a new work by Charlie Wildish and Keith McKay Cormack entitled "Inside Bassai Dai".

Wildish operates the blog Bunkai Jutsu and decided to create a DVD entailing his breakdown of the kata Bassai Dai. In the video Wildish is joined by his friend and 'partner in crime' Keith McKay Cormack. The interesting thing about this duo is the diverse backgrounds they bring together, Wildish a Sandan in Shotokan Karate and Cormack a student of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu.

The video is staged in front of an unadorned yet attractive stone wall, which seems to set the mood of the entire video. Wildish and Cormack are friendly and down to Earth in their explanations, yet stay very focused on the task at hand, wasting little time in frivolity.

Wildish begins by demonstrating the kata from multiple angles, then breaking down each segment into possible explanations. Following Wildish is Cormack who demonstrates how the idea of the technique appears in his Chinese background, and how he might approach bunkai from a Kung Fu perspective. It is enjoyable to actively see the similarities and differences played out.

This video is unpretentious, straight forward, and focused on content instead of flashiness. As such I feel it does justice to the spirit of Karate.

**************

As a bonus I was also able to check out Wildish's "10 Kicking Tips", which guides the viewer not through specific kicks, but through some of the basic physics and ideas that make kicking effective. This DVD was also an enjoyable watch, especially as Wildish described ways in which kicks can be thrown in a true straight line.

All in all I would recommend these resources to individuals who either study Bassai Dai or are looking to enhance their overall understanding of Bunkai. The procedures used in these DVDs are sound fundamentally and can be relied upon to elicit positive results.

Gojushiho Kata Bunkai

Here's a look at Gojushiho kata bunkai by Matt Apsokardu, 4th Dan Okinawan Kenpo Karate.  Being a Shotokan stylist, I always like to see the Okinawan interprutations of Karate bunkai as it goes back closer to the true roots.

 

New DVD: Inside Bassai Dai: Promotional Video

This a promotional video for our new DVD, Inside Bassai Dai, which looks at the kata: Bassai Dai and the kata bunkai.

 

Please check it out and if you like it, pass it on to your friends.

 

 

 

 

Bunkai for the humble "Yoi"

Please check out the new posting and video on my blog, BunkaiJutsu.

 

This one looks at karate bunkai for the humble "Yoi" (or "ready") position.

Tai Chi Course: Open To Martial Artists Of Other Styles

In ancient China, the monks used to learn Kung Fu first, then Tai Chi later.  They would then revise their Kung Fu adding the Tai Chi principles into it.    Paul Mitchell, my Karate Sensei and Tai Chi teacher is holding weekend Tai Chi course on the 27th/28th November.  This is open to martial artists of any style.  Visit the BunkaiJutsu website to find out more about it.

Kevin O'Hagan Masterclass

Kevin O'Hagan will be running a new 6 month Masterclass from early next year.  Kevin is a 7th Dan at Combat JuJutsu and 6th Dan with the British Combat Association.  The people that Kevin has trained with almost like a who's who of reality based martial arts.  This will be a great course for any martial artist of any style. 

 

Find out full details at the BunkaiJutsu blog.

Kata: Training Beyond Technique

I've recently put a posting on my main blog that I think you might like.  It is about the mindset you should have when training kata (or basics for that matter).  Rather than just thinking about the physical side of kata bunkai which is important, kata is also a mental preparation.  So please CLICK HERE to have a look and leave a comment.  It would be nice to get some discussions going.

Karate bunkai for Naihanchi/Tekki

Some very good Karate kata bunkai from my friend Matthew Apsokardu in the US, for Naihanchi/Tekki.  What I like about this video is that as well demonstrating some of the kata bunkai, he then takes it a step further to demonstrate free sparing, using the principles of Naihanchi/Tekki.

 

I've looked at Tekki with my friend who does Wing Chun and we find quite a bit of overlap as Naihanchi/Tekki and Wing Chun both emphasis close quarters fighting.

 

Good example of Karate kata bunkai for Bassai Dai

This as really good example of kata bunkai, and I particularly like the presentation, which is very clear.  I'm also very interested in that it covers Bassai Dai which I have just made a Karate bunkai DVD about.  My only comment is that most of the bunkai demonstrated is defending against Karate straight punches and kicks which would not likely be the case in real life.  That said, they do also include some defensive kata bunkai dealing with grabs and haymakers, particularly at the end.  Overall, very good.

 

Rotary Martial Arts Festival

OK, these videos are not about bunkai, but they are from the Rotary Martial Arts Festival which I helped to organise; so I do have a special interest.  These are excellent displays from the Kenbudo (Japanese swordsmanship) and Aikido.  I think they are brilliant and I hope that you enjoy them.

 

 

 

Regards

 

Charlie

Blog Action Day 2010: Please check this out and support it

Bunkai Jutsu supports Blog Action Day 2010.  Please check this out and sign the petition, it will effect us all.

Matthew Sylvester: Lower Outer Forearm Block

Here's another bunkai video from a Taekwondo perspective from Matthew Sylvester, author of Practical Taekwondo:

Practical TaeKwonDo

Most times I'm posting about Karate bunkai, but this time it's TaeKwonDo's turn.

 

Here's a short video from Matthew Sylvester, the author of Practical Taekwondo

 

Kevin O'Hagan Female Self Protection Course

Not your conventional bunkai course, but Kevin O'Hagan will be hosting a Female Self Protection Course at Horfield Sports Centre, Dorian Road, Bristol, UK; on 14th November 2010, from 1100 to 1400.  With Kevin teaching, any woman who is interested in self protection and is able to make it should really be there.

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100978843301208

Bunkai for Empi

Some kata bunkai for the kata Empi.  I'll be honest, I'm not convinced with all the bunkai explanations, but there is plenty there that is useful and good to think about.

 

Training of Karate Kata bunkai: History by Patrick McCathy

Patrick McCathy, historian and world leading expert on karate bunkai, explains in this video how and why Karate training changed, adapted and lost much of the original kata bunkai that was for self defence and instead became part of a ritual or sport routine.

 

Below is an interesting interview with Patrick McCarthy who is a leader in the field of interputing kata bunkai and respected karate historian.  He is interviewed here by Matt Apsokardus on Matt's Ikigaiway blog.  Matt himself is a very good teacher and interpruter of Karate bunkai.

 

Interview: Patrick McCarthy, Author and Founder Koryu Uchinadi (Part 1)

October 7, 2010 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: Interviews,Kata,Martial Arts,karate,kobudo,modern arts,self defense

It's an honor to present this interview with Patrick McCarthy, 8th Dan and founder of Koryu Uchinadi.

McCarthy Sensei is one of the world's leading investigators in classical martial arts. He has traveled to many countries and for decades has acquired knowledge and information from some of the top instructors in various classical arts, putting together an innovative system known as Koryu Uchinadi (ko=ancient, ryu=style, uchina=okinawan people, di=hand).

McCarthy Sensei is a noted practitioner of Okinawan Kobudo and Karate but is also a cross trainer, integrating modern ideas and techniques into his personal skillset. He has proven himself in the realm of competitive kickboxing as well as traditional tournaments.

The following interview grants us a peek into some of McCarthy Sensei's ideas behind martial training, as well as some of the insights granted to him by his highly skilled instructors.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Q&A:

MA: McCarthy Sensei, what got you into martial arts in the first place and how old were you when you first started studying seriously?

PM: When I was nine years old a highly motivational documentary film was shown at my primary school. Produced by Josef Reeve, for the National Film Board of Canada, it was entitled, "Road to the Olympics," and highlighted Canadian Judo Champion, and silver medalist, Doug Rogers. I joined the Saint John Judo club immediately after that.

MA: Could you provide a brief overview of your training history and main instructors?

PM: I have learned from many teachers over the years but I think those who most influenced me taught me to learn for myself; John Grosdanoff [high school wrestling coach], Tiger Thompson [boxing coach], Wally Slocki [kumite coach], Sensei Richard Kim [principal karate teacher], Prof. Wally Jay [jujutsu instructor], Donn Draeger [Budo culture], Sugino Yoshio [Japanese swordsmanship], Takada Nobuhiko [shoot fighting], and Kinjo Hiroshi [karate teacher]. If you're interested, here is a Facebook link to some of the many sources I came into contact with during the Japan years. [Note: To learn more about McCarthy Sensei's background, visit his biography page here.]

MA: What was study like under Kinjo Hiroshi Sensei? Was his focus on sparring/kata/application/etc?

PM: Keeping in mind that I was already a 5th dan and 31 years old when I met O-sensei (who was then in his late sixties), learning under him could be likened to being a university student; the lecturer delivered the target lesson and it was up to me to do the required study (training) in order to achieve the required outcome. Following this, O-sensei would check my progress from time to time and make corrections as required. His focus was always upon technique, application and contextual premise.

MA: It is said that Kinjo Sensei is a great repository of karate knowledge. Has he spoken often of karate before the integration into Okinawan school systems? What were the major difference pre/post war, in his mind?

PM: O-sensei is always a great repository of karate knowledge (now nearly 92 years old). In fact, in addition to the many books he's written, he's currently in the process of writing yet another! To tell you the truth, all O-sensei ever talks about is karate; he's still very sharp mentally and remarkably fit, especially for a man so advanced in age.

He always talks about karate in general and has spoken much about the old-days, the "old ways" and many of the authorities with whom he's come into contact with along the way. Also, my wife Yuriko and I have had the opportunity to translate many articles, either by or about O-sensei. All of this has been quite insightful. He learned directly under Hanashiro Chomo, Gusukuma Shimpan, Oshiro Chojo and Tokuda Ambun. As these men were also the senior students of Itosu Ankoh, and the principal instructors to first teach karate in Okinawa's school system, O-sensei has a lot of interesting stories about the old-ways. As I have also spent a lot of time studying the past, with a special emphasis upon the old-ways, I can tell you that this is one topic we've discussed many times over the years.

One of the biggest things that separate the past from the present, according to grandmaster, is method, organization and systematization. In the old days karate training was very personalized and never as stylized or as commercial as it is today. Also, most of the local Okinawan instructors were all friends of each other and frequently enjoyed "cross-training," and social gatherings. Little emphasis was ever placed on competition whereas today it's virtually the opposite; competition is everything! The idea of kihon [learning strikes, blocks, kicks, punches, and postures] separately before learning kata was unheard of; this was a new concept developed in the 1920's and 1930's. Old-school training, prior to karate being introduced into the school system was all about private/personal training, two-person drills and kata.

MA: One of the trademarks of Koryu Uchinadi is it's two-person tegumi drills. Can you talk a bit about how you came to establish these drills and why you chose to name them in honor of Okinawan Tegumi? In what ways do you suspect they are similar/dissimilar to the ancient version?

PM: I first came across the term, "Tegumi," while I was still residing in Japan and working on the Nagamine Shoshin book translation "Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters" for Tuttle publications. The term is made up of two separate ideograms; Te – meaning hand or hands, and gumi/kumi, which holds several meanings, such as braid, construct, assemble, unite, cooperate and grapple. More interesting was identifying that the term was also kumite written backwards! Learning this I remembered that as a young kungfu student*, my sifu used the term, "crossing hands," in the same way that swordsmen used the term, "crossing swords," as a way to describe fighting.

Asking Master Nagamine about it, he told me that the original, and far more brutal practice of Tegumi had fallen quietly dormant during the end of Okinawa's old Ryukyu Kingdom Period [c.1879]. Following it's demise, a modified rule-bound version of stand-up clinch wrestling ascended from it called Okinawan Sumo. In spite of several efforts to popularize the more modified version, the new cultural recreation fell short of gaining widespread recognition.

Considering myself more than a novice history buff, and having spent considerable time in Okinawa, I was surprised that I'd never come across the term "Tegumi" anywhere before. One only need look around at the publications of that era to clearly see that the term "Tegumi" was not in use anywhere within the karate community. As I was also occupied with searching out the origins of various two-person strength and conditioning exercises**, used in old-school karate practices, you can probably now imagine why I liked the dormant term straight away. Having traveled to Fujian in search of what southern kungfu styles used these two-person hand practices, I'd learned a wide range of drills and was searching for a user-friendly name under which to deliver them to others. What better name for such two-person hand practices than Tegumi?

MA: You often suggest that kata are mnemonic templates that are "geometrically choreographed" to elicit understanding of techniques that can be used against habitual acts of physical violence (HAPV). Can you break that down a little more and explain what that means?

PM: As karate is a defensive tradition, what could be more important than learning to identify which acts of physical violence it was developed to defend against? Wouldn't the ability to defend oneself be left entirely to chance otherwise? Only a naïve mindset imagines that all "fighting" is about standing toe-to-toe with an opponent! Even then, this approach concludes one has the luxury of facing their attacker! The KU approach varies drastically.

The original idea that karate is a defensive art presupposes that if an "opponent" was facing you, irrespective of whatever threatening gestures and verbal taunts were being made, unless you were literally set upon, the better (wiser) person also learned to evade the potential threat, hence preventing the need to harm someone. As such, the need to actually defend oneself arose only if and when an attacker actually seized a hold of you.

In civil/domestic circumstances***, "one against one, empty-handed unwarranted acts of physical violence" (HAPV) represents the contextual premise upon which the art of self-defense was originally forged. My research revealed that pioneers developed various engagement scenarios****, so that novice students could safely rehearse prescribed application practices. In KU TPAD [Koryu Uchinadi Two Person Application Drills], aggressive resistance serves as the catalytic mechanism through which learners are able to achieve functional competency. By bringing together various prescribed application practices into solo routines, something greater than the sum total of their individual parts appears; kata! In KU, this is how we see kata as mnemonic; i.e., a practice that culminates the lesson already learned in TPAD. Moreover, as creative mechanisms through which to express individual prowess, kata also serve a popular means of strengthening one's overall mental, physical and holistic conditioning.

As such we believe that the HAPV premise crosses the boundaries of time, culture, and gender and therefore are as valuable now here in the West as they ever were in the beginning.

MA: One of your primary methods of exploring bunkai is reverse engineering using HAPV. Do you suspect that karateka of generations past spent far less time exploring bunkai because the applications were introduced first, with the kata then coming after to reinforce those already established lessons?

PM: I do, in fact. With few if any of the distractions, as exampled in today's highly commercial-based traditions, old-school training methods focused much more upon prescribed application practices.

That said, tradition was never meant to be about blindly following in the footsteps of the old masters, or even preserving their ashes for that matter. In principle, tradition has always been about keeping the flame of their spirit alive, and continuing to seek out what they originally sought. This timeless message is how practices are kept functional, and it is why tradition should inspire learners, not inhibit them!

MA: When exploring bunkai do you have personal checks and balances to determine if you've let your creativity veer too far away from the core concept of the kata? How do you keep your imagination inline with the kata's intent?

PM: Aggressive resistance is one "check" that helps keep us within the boundaries of reality. Another is simplicity; methods that require cognitive thought in the midst of unpredictability and all hell breaking loose, tend to be time-consuming and have little place in practical application. Finally, if and when the prescribed practice meets these criteria, its solo representation MUST still resemble the kata mnemonic. There's a cute little saying we use in KU about ambiguity; "If it has feathers, quacks and flies, it's a duck!" So too, if the said prescribed template (i.e., a group of self-defense techniques from the kata) meets the criteria, and looks exactly like what's in the kata, then until someone is able to show me/us something "more functional," I/we consider this, "the application!"

Incidentally, this does not suggest that the said template cannot be used in another context exactly the same way, only that the premise doesn't have to be the same!

MA: Do you still practice kata in your personal training? What value do you derive from it these days?

PM: Oh, yes! I love kata…it is the true art of karate and I am very much inspired by its continued study.

FAST Defence Course For Kids (6 to 12)

I've felt for a long time that there are 2 main areas missing from a lot (but not all) of martial arts training.  One is realistic interprutations of the kata and movements and the other is dealing with the emotional response to the pre-fight build up and/or freezing when attacked instead of fighting back.

 

My blog deals with the interputations (bunkai) side of things.

 

As for the pre-fight tension, how to be assertive to avoid being attacked and not freezing when attacked, FAST Defence is a good option.

 

Below from their website are details of a course in the Bath, England that is for kids:

 

Charlie

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the latest dates for our award winning kids course.

Date:   24th November 2010, 6pm - 7.30pm
Venue: Willet Hall, King Edward's School, North Road, Bath, BA2 6HU
Courses available: Kid's Stop Bullies FAST (for 6 - 12 year olds)
Cost:   £20 per person

This course will cover:

• Undestanding adrenaline and fear;
• Passive, aggressive and assertive behaviour;
• How our reaction influences others;
• Listening to your very own 'Spider Sense' to avoid trouble;
• Using your voice and your body language to build a fence around you;
• Using that fence to deter attackers (verbal and physical);
• Real practice against the instructors playing attackers;
• Click HERE for a youtube video of Stop Bullies FAST.

If you'd like to sign up, please go to this PAGE where you'll be able to reserve your place and pay with a credit card.  We use the secure paypal system.  You don't need to have a paypal account, just click the paynow button and follow the instructions.
Please note: you need to pre-register and pay for your place as soon as possible as spaces are very limited. 
Once you've paid, I'll send you full course details.

If you'd like to forward this email to friends, please feel free.  There are links on the right that will allow you to do it easily.  Remember ANYONE is able to come to FAST Defence.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Dik Chance
European Director
FAST Defence
07968 190360

Bunkai Jutsu Newsletter

I have just started up a new Newsletter on the BunkaiJutsu blog.  This is to keep people updated on what's new on the blog, courses that are coming up, DVD releases and general articles of interest and so on.  You can sign up for the Newsletter here.

 

If you have any relevant items of interest that you want to share, you can contact me on the blog and ask me to add them to the next Newsletter.

 

Charlie

Bunkai and Kicking Tips DVD Reviews

Having released a new DVD called Inside Bassai Dai, which covers a brief history of the kata followed by the kata bunkai, the DVD has been reviewed by Bob Paterson on the Blog Critics website.  This is a powerful blog which gets about 100,000 hits per day and for those who understand Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it is a PR7 domain.  For those that don't understand SEO, it means that it is very highly rated by Google :)

 

Anyway, Inside Bassai Dai received a very positive and open review which can see here:  http://blogcritics.org/video/article/dvd-review-inside-bassai-dai/

 

Along with Inside Bassai Dai, I am (for a while) also giving away a free DVD called 10 Kicking Tips.  This is not about teaching techniques from scratch, it is more about the principles behind the kicks.  Once you understand the principles then you can apply them to all your kicks (and in some cases, to your hand techniques too).  10 Kicking Tips has also been reviewed on Blog Critics here:  http://blogcritics.org/video/article/dvd-review-10-kicking-tips1/

 

You can find out more about the DVD's and how to purchase them at the BunkaiJutsu Store page.

 

As for Bob Paterson, who did the reviews for BlogCritics, he has his own martial arts website called Striking Thoughts.

Charlie Wildish

Inside Bassai Dai Review

Our new DVD on the kata Bassai Dai and its bunkai, called Inside Bassai Dai, has been given a very a good review by Bob Patterson on BlogCritics.org.  This is quite significant as BlogCritics is PR7 site that gets about 100,000 visits per day.  To see the review, CLICK HERE.

Geoff Thompson Endorses New Kata Bunkai DVD : INSIDE BASSAI DAI

Geoff Thompson has just given the following endorsment to our new DVD, called Inside Bassai Dai:

"Shotokan has always been my base system, so it was fascinating for me to watch the Charlie Wildish DVD on Bassai Dai, and I come away with so much new information about this powerful kata and its origins.  I particularly like the historical element about Sokon Matsumura (who created the kata) and how, when & why he created the "grappling kata".  I got a lot from this DVD and highly recommend it".

For a limited time, if you buy Inside Bassai Dai, you will also receive a free DVD, called 10 Kicking Tips.  Geoff had this to say about the 10 Kicking Tips DVD:

"I thought your kicking DVD was very good too.  You presented well and the info was strong".

You can find out more about these DVD's or buy them from our On-Line Store.

 

 

About Geoff Thompson:

Co-founder of the British Combat Association and a pioneer for reality based martial arts training.  His experiences as a martial artist (now 6th Dan)  and working as a bouncer gave him a great insight into what does and does not really work when under pressure.  He put this experience into his own teachings and was polled as the number one self defense instructor in the world by Black Belt magazine USA.  From there he has become the author of thirty-four books, five multi-award-winning films (two BAFTA nominated, one BAFTA winning), two stage plays and hundreds of published articles.

New Martial Arts Newsletter

At www.BunkaiJutsu.com, we now have a new newsletter to bring you up to date on what we've been up to, future courses and promoting practicality in traditional martial arts. 

 

Please click here to join the newsletter

 

Please spread the word to any other martial artists that you know.

Choy Lee Fut applications

Although the Chinese styles don't tend to call it "bunkai" here are some applications from Choi Lee Fut master, Doc Fai Wong:

 

Shorin Ryu bunkai

Here is some kata bunkai from the Okinawan style of Shorin Ryu, upon which Shotokan is based

 

Capoeira

OK, I usually post about bunkai (applications to traditional martial arts).  However, this is funny and about Capoeira.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Bunkai for Nijushiho

Bunkai for kata Nijushiho:

 

Team Bunkai: Anan - Japanese Female National Team

OK, not all of the bunkai demonstrated here is realistic or practical.  However it is a great display of skill and ingenuity.  It is a show, so enjoy it for what it is:

 

Kanshiwa Bunkai

Some interesting bunkai which is probably not getting as much attention as it deserves on Youtube:

 

Thought provoking karate video

I usually look for videos about kata bunkai, but this one is different.  Although not about bunkai, it is quite thought provoking and well worthy of being passed on

 

Xingyiquan

Here's a look at Damo Mitchell, founder of Lotus Nei Gong performing Xing Yi Quan (one of the rarer Chinese martial arts).  Although I normally promote videos with a more instructional break down of bunkai (applications) this is still a great video, by somebody who really knows what he is doing.  I'll vouch for that as I've trained with him, and I would highly recommend him and the Lotus Nei Gong Association.  If you are interested in learning internal martial arts and qi gong properly, with no "new age" nonsense, then you should check out the Lotus Nei Gong website and see if there is a club near you.

 

 

 

7 Questions to Enhance Your Bunkai

From Ikigaiway.com

 

Without bunkai (applications), kata is little more than pre-arranged dancing. The hands can be flowing in exciting and vibrant ways but if we never discover the meaning of the motion then our time would be much better spent hitting a heavy bag or sparring.

Bunkai is the key to developing useful and effective techniques preserved for us by those individuals who developed and tested them in fierce, life protection situations. Over the course of time much of the true meaning of these movements has either been lost or purposefully disguised. If your desire is to unlock some of the skills of our predecessors, you'll need to know the right questions in order to find the best answers.

The following are seven things to ask yourself that might illuminate your kata in a different (and hopefully productive) way. These are in no particular order and are not prescriptive. Use some when you can and invent others.

 

1. Can I change the angle in which I address my opponent?

Many times during bunkai we assume that an opponent is coming straight from the front or from the sides, and that we must stay directly in front of them and try to defend. What happens if you cut a 45 degree angle during your technique? What if turning from left to right allowed you to arc around the same opponent instead of addressing a new one?

2. What came just before and what is coming right after?

When we learn kata, it generally occurs in a set cadence. Step1 – block up. Step2 – block down. Step3 – punch kiai! That being the case, our mind generally sections itself off in those little boxes. It is our job to look at what is occurring right before our current technique and right after and how the body moves from one to the next. Stringing techniques together makes for a more devastating outcome to your opponent.

3. Am I utilizing all of the technique or just the end piece?

Techniques are often more dynamic than we give them credit for. Take for example the knife hand block. When we perform a knife hand block we generally step somewhere, prep the block, and then shoot the block out. The block itself is what we use to defend against an attack, but what about all the stuff that came before it? Can't we use that too? Can't the body shift be used to off-balance or attack our opponent, and can't the prep be used to either defend or attack?

4. Can I condense the number of opponents I have to face to get through my applications?

If you find yourself going through a dozen bad guys for your bunkai you may be too segmented. In order to mentally escape from a tricky technique we often dismiss the current bad guy and invite a new one in from a different direction. Worse yet, if we are using two hands at once and don't really know what's going on we might invite two bad guys to attack us at once from different directions. Multiple opponent training is valuable, but kata is not suggesting that GuyA is likely to kick low while GuyB punches from behind. Those scenarios are too unlikely and miss the real intent of what's happening. Condense the number of opponents as much as possible.

5. Are my opponents behaving naturally and with likely techniques, or am I forcing them into increasingly unlikely scenarios?

Patrick McCarthy Sensei developed the acronym HAPV, or habitual acts of physical violence. The point of HAPV is to keep focused on the techniques you are most likely to encounter. Furthermore, the longer you make the string of actions done by your uke the more unlikely an actual attacker will follow that pattern. Therefore, when performing bunkai, we want our opponents acting as naturally as possible. If the opponent has to punch, step back punch, step back punch, step back block up and receive your strike, you've asked your uke to behave in a way they never would in real life.

6. Have I affected my opponent in a way that makes more technique work?

Let's say you manage to block your opponent (so far so good). You then put them in a wrist lock or arm bar in order to control them. That progression seems very effective, especially after years of training, and generally works in the dojo. However, if you've ever come across a live opponent who is experiencing adrenaline dump you'll know that manipulating that arm is extremely difficult. Your attempts to bar or lock it will be met with iron resistance and counter punches to your face. Always be sure to negatively affect your opponent as soon as possible, then go into more technique.

7. What is the emotional content of my encounter?

What kind of scenario is your kata taking place in? Is it a school yard pushing match? Is it a life or death home invasion? The emotional environment you place yourself in is going to alter your bunkai dramatically. Your technique may need to restrain or it may need to kill.

Mental Gymnastics

With all of these questions/problems/complications we have to address the concept of simplicity. In a real life altercation, your simplest and most effective techniques will be the ones that help you. Thinking about responses in the heat of the moment will keep you one step behind your opponent.

Why then bother with all of this business about bunkai? Shouldn't we simply practice a series of basic, effective techniques and avoid the mental gymnastics?

The short term answer is yes. For the first 5-6 years of your training you need to become "brilliant at the basics", as Bill Hayes Sensei would say. Without a rock solid foundation and instinctual integration of your style's stances, punches, and basic techniques nothing else can be built firmly. However, once you do achieve that level of proficiency, you acquire the privilege of exploring your art even deeper and improving the way you go about your business.

Simple techniques practiced a certain way seem like the best option until you learn how to improve them. That doesn't necessarily mean complicate them. Instead the goal is to find ways to improve your angle, distance, timing, striking locations, and technique progression in order to enhance what's already been built. This style of study leads to an understanding of tichiki, or "what the hand is doing", which can be used extemporaneously with great percentage of success.

Tai Chi practical applications

OK, Tai Chi does not use the term "bunkai", but they still have their applications, and here are a few of them from Graham at Bath Tai Chi.

 

 

Practical TaeKwonDo

Some more TKD bunkai (applications) from Matthew Sylvester, the author of Practical TaeKwonDo.

 

Tae Kwon Do Bunkai

Most bunkai that I forward is from a Karate/Kung Fu perspective.  This is mainly because I do Karate and my friend who I work with does Kung Fu.  However, I would like to include a few more applications from the TaeKwonDo perspective.

 

If any TKD practitioners have any interesting applications that they would like to share with the wider community, then please submit them to my website at www.BunkaiJutsu.com

 

 

Bunkai for Jitte Kata

Here is my Sensie Paul Mitchell in action, demonstrating karate bunkai for Jitte Kata.

New DVD: Inside Bassai Dai (Karate Kata Bunkai)

By BunkaiJutsu

Break down of Bassai Dai and its bunkai, taking into account the historical context in which Bassai Dai was created and the requirements of its author, Soken "Bushi" Matsumura.  As Head Bodyguard to the King of Okinawa, Masumura and his men were unarmed (by Japanese rule) and could well be outnumbered by men who were heavily armed.

Matsumura was a brilliant and dedicated (some say fanatical) martial artists.  Bassai Dai was his kata.  To get an insight into how this brilliant master may have coped with a situation that would over-whelm lesser men, we have to look into the mind of the man himself.  The only way we can do that today is to look Inside Bassai Dai.

One of Matsumura's needs would be to ruthlessly incapacitate people very quickly without worrying about locks, restraints or multiple techniques against each opponent.  It is possibly from this scenario that Karate developed it's maxim, "one hit, one kill".  For this reason we refer to what the World renowned teacher, Kevin O'Hagan, refers to as the "ABC of Manstoppers".

A = Airways (can't breath – can't fight).
B = Blood (stop blood supply to the brain, person passes out).
C = Consciousness (points of high probability to knock an opponent unconscious).

"This DVD delivers a down to earth and realistic look at the often misunderstood Kata of Karate.  Simple to follow and easy to understand.  It is great to see Charlie Wildish incorporating my ABC system of manstoppers in to his karate, it is must have principle for any serious combat martial artist.  Good work Charlie".

Kevin O'Hagan:  7th Dan Combat JuJutsu, 6th Dan British Combat Association.

As there would likely be superior numbers of men trying to restrain & control Matsumura and his men, they would need generic releases that work well under pressure and quickly turn the tables on the opponent.  My own Sensei, Paul Mitchell, always teaches that Bassai Dai is a grappling kata.  When you look at Bassai Dai with Matsumura's requirments in mind, releases and escapes where you regain the advantage very quickly are abound in this kata.

"This DVD is a must for any true Karateka who is interested in uncovering the essence of Bunkai, and understanding the true meaning of Kata."

Mark Winkler:  6th Dan Wado Ryu Karate, Qualified Systema Instructor

"Imaginative, practical and effective bunkai applications presented in a refreshingly relaxed manner. It's as simple as ABC!"

Rob Jones:  5th Dan Shotokai Karate.

When most Okinawans were practicing more circular movements from their Kung Fu influence, Matsumura was one of the main developers of the linear technique with which we are so familiar today.  He also taught Ituso and Azato who were Funikoshi's teachers and Funikoshi introduced Karate to Japan and from there the world.  Bassai Dai is at the heart of many styles of Karate with many systems using it as their primary kata for black belt gradings.  With Matsumura brilliance and impact on the development of Karate, it is very appropriate that his kata should have this honoured position.

As Matsumura's own training was mainly in Chinese based martial arts, it is also appropriate that we have Sifu Keith McKay Cormack's input into this DVD, giving you the best insights from both Kung Fu and Karate.

For a limited time, we will also offer you a free gift when you buy this DVD.

FREE DVD:  10 Kicking Tips

If you buy Inside Bassai Dai then  you will also receive another free DVD, worth £15, giving you 10 Kicking Tips to help you improve your kicks.  This DVD is not designed to teach you kicking techniques from scratch, it assumes that you already know most kicking techniques and are looking for ways to improve them.

"I have looked at both DVD's and they look quite instructive with a comprehensive overview and in depth look at Kata Bunkai.  I fully endorse their publication for the discerning karate student".

Arthur Wallace:  6th Dan Shotokan Karate.

Originally designed with low to intermediate grades in mind, some people feel that it is of benefit to advanced karate-ka too:

Well explained simple adjustments to improve kicking techniques. Top tips for intermediate and advanced karate-ka.

Rob Jones:  5th Dan Shotokai Karate.

Price:

Inside Bassai Dai:  £20.00
10 Kicking Tip: FREE, (but value =£15.00)

You get £35 worth of DVD's for just £20.00

 

FULL DETAILS AT:  http://bunkaijutsu.com/?page_id=341

Kata Bunkai: Tekki kata (with cross reference to similar Wing Chun moves) (Parts 1 & 2)

BunkaiJutsu take a look at overlap between Karate's Tekki kata's and Wing Chun

 

 

Bunkai Video: Heian Godan

Another video by BunkaiJutsu

 

 

Karate/Kung Fu Escapes From Being Pinned

Cool video by BunkaiJutsu

 

 

Karate Bunkai For Shuto Uke and Wing Chuns Fun Sau

By BunkaiJutsu

Today we look at Karate bunkai for Shuto Uke (knife hand block).  However, if you raise the elbow to the side and perform the strike/block with the forearm parallel to the floor, it looks very much like Wing Chun's Fun Sau strike.

Shuto Uke can obviously be used for blocking or striking, but here we look at other possible applications, in particular escaping from a double handed throat grab.

By Charlie Wildish 3rd Dan Shotokan Karate and Lotus Nei Gong Tai Chi and Keith Cormack, Wing Chun instructor, Choi Lee Fut and Shaolin.

Fighting Dirty With Karate/TKD/TSD's Most Commonly Used Technique

By Bunkai

 

The most commonly practiced technique in Karate, TKD, TSD and many styles of Kung Fu is Hikite, which is Japanese for pulling the hand back (usually to the hip), and is usually performed in conjunction with a punch, strike or "block".

Applications for Hikite are usually depicted as grabbing the opponents wrist and pulling them on, whilst the other hand/arm attacks the opponent, either by striking or applying some kind of joint lock/break. You can see this application in some of the video's below.

However, for this posting I would like to look at other self defence applications for Hikite when the fight get close in and dirty. I would like to approach this from the point of view of being attacked by an untrained thug, rather than a trained fighter (of any discipline).  A trained fighter might well be able to cope with some of these tactics, but an untrained thug probably would not.  And lets face it, we are more likely to be attacked by a thug, then by a disciplined and trained fighter.

Whenever a fist is made (in basics or kata/forms/patterns), it is quite safe to assume that it is either to strike or to grab. As Hikite is pulling back to the hip, then it is safe to assume that the fist in Hikite is grabbing.

First of all though let's look at Hikite more closely as it varies from style to style.  It normally starts with the arm extended, palm facing down. Some styles start with an open hand whilst others start with a fist. If the hand is open, then the first thing it does is to closes into a fist, which more or less gives all variations the same start point; a grab. From here, some styles rotate the fist to palm facing up as it starts to pull back to the hip. Other styles however, begin to pull back and rotate the fist to the palm up position near the end of the travel (as fist reaches the hip).

The applications covered in this article will work with either variation.  However, in these specific applications, the twist is used to increase the pain threshold.   I would therefore suggest that these specific applications will probably work better if the twist is performed at the beginning of the pullback, rather than at the end of the pullback.

The first application I would like to look at is pulling somebody's hair.  Although often considered "girly fighting", it can be a good way to control an opponent (pain compliance) and brake their structure/balance.  With a training partner try grabbing their hair and just holding, it will not be too uncomfortable for them.  If you then pull, it hurts them.  If you stop pulling, it stops hurting. This is why in a "girly fight", they grab the hair and keep pulling backwards, forwards and sideways, to keep the pain going.

Now grab your partner's hair and apply the Hikite. First just grab and twist. The act of twisting, drives the small knuckles of your fist into your training partners head and at the same time, maintains the pulling tension to the hair without you having to pull and push their head all over the place. Whereas with normal hair pulling, your training partner/opponent can move with the pull/push to lessen the effect, they cannot do anything to lessen the effect of your grab and twist. The pain is constant for as long as you keep the twist on.

Now pull back to the hip as usual and their structure and balance will be compromised as they are distracted with pain. It will also work if you pull first before twisting, but without the pain of the twist at the beginning, the opponent will be able to resist the pull a little bit more at this stage.

Once you have them prone, in pain with their head by your hip, if you judge the situation as being not too bad, then you may try to talk some sense into your prone opponent. If the situation is serious, then you can beat some sense into your opponent without them being able to resist very much.

This would have been particularly useful when these techniques were first introduced as many men wore their hair in a top-knot, which is quite easy to grab. However, today many men wear their hair short and many are, well . . . follicly challenged. In this scenario, grab the ear instead. There is a reason why many of us can remember parents and/or teachers grabbing us by the ears as kids; it because the ears are sensitive and it hurts. It just requires a bit more accuracy then grabbing hair.

Another application is grabbing the throat. This has to be reserved for all but the most serious of confrontations. Grabbing the throat and squeezing is always dangerous, but grabbing around the windpipe and twisting applies more pressure and can seriously damage the windpipe which can lead to death (and a long jail sentence).  A much safer way, but still very effective, is to use a flesh (or skin) grab.  This is common in many styles of Kung Fu, but has not been transmitted very much into Karate.  For this application, let's go back to when we first started to learn martial arts and we are taught how to make a correct fist. First, close up the outer set of knuckles (in the fingers), then close the last set of knuckles (where the fingers join the hand).

Try with a partner, clasping their neck, fingers one side and thumb the other side. Now close the first set of knuckles (in the fingers), but as you do so make sure that you secure some skin of the neck. Be careful with your training partner as this can be very painful and usually leaves marks.  Now continue to close up the rest of the fist, twist and pull (carefully). This is more painful than the hair pull, but you end up in almost the same prone position where you can talk or beat sense into your opponent.

If you are in a clinch and you are both trying to control each other, grabbing hair, ears or throats will be awkward, as obviously both of you will be trying to guard your heads from attack.   However, whilst so close to each other, your opponent may not notice if you lower one hand to the side of their body, preferably just below their ribs, then grab lower torso flesh by closing up your first set of knuckles as before. You don't need to grab large amounts of flesh, just some skin on the side will do. Then of course, grab, twist and pull. This should be enough to make them loosen their grip, off-balance them and give you the opportunity to land a clean blow.

Just be aware however that if the opponent is drunk or high on drugs, they may not feel the full effect. That said, as long as you can pull them off-balance, you can follow through.

Take another scenario where some thug has taken you to the floor and is sitting astride you trying to hit you. Grabbing the flesh around their waist, twisting and pulling will to say the least get their attention and probably stop them trying to hit you as they try to release your hands. From here, pull with one hand whilst pushing with the other to remove them sideways. This should be enough to move the average Joe thug; though again, be aware that if they are very drunk or high, they may not feel it so much.

Another defence if you are caught in this position is believe it or not gedan barai (lower sweeping block). The hand that you would normally "block" with is always pulled back to the opposite ear before sweeping downwards. Use this position to cover your head from your opponents blows. Your Hikite hand, slides down the centreline of your body until you find your opponents testicles. From here, your hand should already be in the palm up position (usually only here after twisting). Grab and pull at the same time as you sweep downward to push your by now very distraught opponent off you. You could actually twist your wrist in the opposite direction, just to add some insult to injury. If you opponent is too drunk to feel this, then he should be too drunk to walk, never mind fight.

Basics and kata/patterns don't just teach techniques, they teach principles and the principle here is grab, twist and pull (or pull and twist depending on style). The flesh grabbing can be applied to most parts of the body, not just the examples above. Anywhere that you can grab flesh/skin, be it torso, limbs, head, wherever, this Hikite principle can be applied.

It should also be noted that our biceps are our main pulling muscles and our triceps are our main pushing muscles. To get the best pull, we want out biceps to be able to effectively contract. They contract better when we twist our palms upwards as Hikite teaches us to do. Hikite therefore teaches us to use our body in its strongest alignments.

This actually leads to one more application, such as pulling clothes.   Although it does not directly cause pain, it can give a momentary jerk to the opponent (another jerk) which can unbalance them just long enough for you to hit them.

These techniques may not be fight finishers, but they can give you an advantage to distract (through pain) and break the opponents structure and balance.  It is a human instinct to try to correct the balance first.  If somebody has to re-gain balance at the same time that an opponent is trying to hit them, they will instinctively try to regain balance BEFORE they try to fend off the blow. This gives you a small window of opportunity to finish them off.  A small window should be enough for a well trained martial artist of any style.

Note:  This article appears in Issue (No 7) of Iain Abernethy's Jissen Magazine.

By Charlie Wildish, 3rd Dan Shotokan Karate and Lotus Nei Gong Tai Chi.

See and download the full gallery on posterous