Is anyone interested in pursuing this thread a bit further?
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Is anyone interested in pursuing this thread a bit further?
What do you mean? A bit further.
Many martial artist were never taught any kata bunkai. Most were only taught kata for competition and belt tests. Many kata have many joint locks,throws, and nerve strikes. Many do not have the patience to study kata. Many of the hidden applications were never taught to the Americans bringing the arts back to the states. Many Japanese were never taught by the Okinawans (because the Okinawans didn't want them to know many of their secrets), The Japanese not knowing these secrets or unwilling to pass them on did not teach the Koreans that were studying in Japan and eventually went back to Korea to teach what they were taught, mixing it with the indigenous korean arts. Many of the US servicemen that started learning karate,taekwondo,etc. back in the 50's and 60's also wanted to learn the fighting, but did not see all of the value of kata. Mainly because they were not taught what secrets that the kata held. Remember we has for the most part just beaten them in the war and were gaijin (outsiders). I think that the Japanese and Okinawans were affraid that these much larger people might use their secrets back on them. Only a select few were taught any real secrets. At least that is my take on it from my research.
The idea that kata contains groundfighting is quite a stretch. I have never seen it demonstrated from an Okinawan source, it is not present in the known precursor Chinese arts and Okinawans martial artists already practiced a separate grappling style that is now called "Okinawan sumo," but used to be called Tegumi. Kata contain standing holds, but that's not the same thing.
You're right, there's a distinction. But as Abernethy points out in his book on bunkai jutsu, it's a distinction that may not make a difference if it turns out that here are horizontal applications of techniques presented vertically in the kata. IA gives an example from Pinan Godan and comments that
In the [standing] choking technique [illustrated], the opponent is unable to breath because the airway is restricted due to pressure from the forearm. On the ground-fighting technique, the opponent is also unable to breathe because the airway is restricted due to pressure from the forearm. The principles being applied are identical, even when the physical position of the combatants is not. So whilst the principles can be applied vertically or horizontally, the kata prefers to show them vertically to encourage the karateka to remain vertical
He gives an illustration of this same point from Wanshu where the movement to a Crane stance, presented vertically in the kata, has a straightforward, essentially identical horizontal bunkai yielding a knee press on the down's attacker's head.
The crucial point that IA makes here and elsewhere is that there is a strategic difference in terms of ground fighting between karate and the spectrum of UFC styles---namely, kareteka will, given their core fighting strategies, want not only to avoid at all costs getting to the ground but also, if they do find themselves there, want to get vertical again as quickly as possible. So the adaptations to the ground he suggests from the standing kata forms, Ne Waza, are those which either conform to the one strke/one kill strategic principle while on the ground, or give you the best chance of getting to your feet quickly (in contrast to the approach in BJJ/wrestling/etc., where the fighter needs to stay on the ground to apply the system). In his book on kata-based grappling methods, IA gives many more examples.
I do TKD, which (so far as I can tell, anyway) is way, way behind karate in terms of sytematic, detailed analyses of the bunkai for individual hyungs; I only know of one person who is publishing results in this area. But Abernethy's take on ground fighting seems to me to make a good deal of sense...
The thing is that this isn't really interpreting the *intent* of the kata. It's grafting on something new. And you have to ask yourself if that isn't better served by learning to grapple directly, the way Okinawans did (and do; tegumi is not dead, but it's very obscure. I read an article about marines in an "Okinawan sumo" match not too long ago).
Kata do include standing grappling and throws, but the strategy is meant to be supported with wrestling. Tegumi's rules set is excellent for this, because it's a kind of halfway point between freestyle and sumo. It's intended to help you keep on your feet.
even in the begining of martial arts there were people who have hated kata. the main reason, they want to fight and not practice on their katas to improve the things they need to fight.HICH
LOL! That's what I was going to say! I always used to hear, "I just want to learn how kick some but!"
It is funny, I believe that practicing poomse(tkd) or kata(karate) often actually makes you a better fighter. While you practice forms you are perfecting technique, you perfect technique then you have a better arsenal.
LOL! That's what I was going to say! I always used to hear, "I just want to learn how kick some but!"
There are lots of other ways to practice techniques besides kata.