Uselessness of kata in the real world!

[Prince_Alarming]

As a side issue, 'passai' is often translated 'storm the fortress', but I've read in Redmond's Kata:the folk dances of shotokan (I think) that the kanji more accurately translates to something like 'sieze the high ground', and that kind of suggests to me that with its backward blocking motions and sudden surges forward that what's meant is more like 'regain the advantage'. Any commentary on this?

 

[Same Trick]

A more important point: Most karate techniques can be used against a variety of attacks. A Phillips head screwdriver was designed to drive screws. Yet, it has been used as a weapon, to punch holes or even to break apart frozen food (I've used it for the last two examples but I'm capable of using it for the first as well) even though that was not its designed originally intended use. I've taught using a high block against a club and an open hand middle block against a knife. These moves are also found in kata. Should I assume those blocks were invented for weapons defense?

Yes, there are many moves in many kata that can be applied against a club or bo, or even knife (or gun if you're feeling lucky) but that does not mean those were the originally intended uses of the technique. I have no doubt that Mabuni demonstrated a move found in a particular kata being used against a bo, but he could have chosen from 20 moves from 20 kata to demonstrate that as well. This is the broader lens you have to look thru. There is a difference between meant to be and can be.

Kata may “teach” positioning and entering opponents attack and comfort zone using superior timing, when considering this then for example an Age-Uke(upper level/rising block) becomes not a block at all but instead something else that is realistic in a sensible combat scenario.
When we think of “blocks” one should also consider the footwork accompanying/supporting the “block”, and not only that but also consider the full spectrum of the arms/hands movement before the finality position of the “block”.
One may find a much “softer” approach in dealing with forceful attacks, using attackers force against his favor.

 

[Badhabits]

Here is a photo from Mabuni's book.
Bottom of page is his explanation. Click on the pic to see it, doesn't show without expanding the picture.

 

[Cri70]

I hear you, but the questions this post makes me ask are-
Why does Kobudo include nun chukkas, oar, gig pole, tonfas, small scythe (don't remember what it's called). Those are all fishing and farming tools.
What did fisherman use for knives if they couldn't get metal? I can't imagine any fisherman not having a knife.
I guess that's what I'm imagining here- someone trained in self defense getting robbed somewhere by a poor peasant with a small fishing knife of something fashioned from broken glass or some such. The "old masters" said karate wasn't for fighting. It is for a life or death situation. If I'm going to rob you, I'm going to have a weapon. I'd be stupid not to. It still seems crazy to me that karate wouldn't be expecting a weapon if it's meant for that type of situation.......
Lol but if the poor couldn't get knives that would explain why we see examples of defense from the bo in the old katas!

All good questions. For the metal: there was certainly some, imported from outside (China first, Japan later) including the kama. Kobudo includes them because it was - like -te - a rich person's hobby, not a peasant. Or a warrior/guard's.

Not an expert at all, but not sure fishermen used knives. For example, the oldest fishhook known to us is carved from shells and it's from Okinawa, and a shell would come handy to cut a fish is needed, or rocks to sharpen a wooden spear to catch bigger prey.

For the rest, I think it's just down to probabilities. Almost anything can be used as weapon. For example, it's forbidden in many countries (at least here in Europe) to carry a knife, but nobody objects to a screwdriver, and yet you can easily kill with one. Even a fork is a deadly weapon in the right hands. There's no martial skill that can take in account all the possibilities. You get to develop calm under stress, speed, timing, evasion and the likes.

Besides, then as now, people who ended up trying to mug others weren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, and unlikely to have much training. -te teaches you to avoid attacks by untrained opponents, exactly because he will telegraph his move, display excessive momentum and imprudent commitment, and so on. It would not really work that well in a battlefield full of armed people with combat training, but it seems likely to do against your average mugger of the time.

 

[Cri70]

Here is a photo from Mabuni's book.
Bottom of page is his explanation. Click on the pic to see it, doesn't show without expanding the picture.

Whoa, trying to grab a bo towards it end can be a very painful affair. The thing moves. Arm a kid with a stick and try! The only way I know to attempt to block a clubbing attack is to get in very close so to work the shoulder joint - and one has to survive the trip, so timing is everything. Tough stuff.