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Bunkai: Fighting One, Two, or Multiple Opponents
October 19, 2008 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: Bunkai, How-To, Martial Arts, Tips and Tricks
One of the great things about bunkai (kata application) is how variable it can be. A single series of movements can be transformed a hundred times depending on scenario, opponents, tactics, and strategy. Unfortunately, despite all of this creative fruit for the picking, it is extremely easy to get stuck in a rut.
Base level bunkai is very useful and shouldn’t be over looked. By base level I mean: a block is a block and a punch is a punch. If kata tells you to block down three times in a row, that’s exactly what you do. You block a left kick, a right kick, then a left kick. After that you finish up with a punch, or whatever else kata tells you to do.
Deciphering base level bunkai for kata can take a very long time as many of the moves will seem cryptic and unwieldy. There’s no reason to be concerned by that, and no reason to rush it (as I explained in a previous post).
But sooner or later, you’ll probably find yourself scratching your chin and saying ‘yea…but what else can I do!?’
This is the rut I speak of, and just like with writer’s block, it can be tough to pull yourself out without an external nudge. I figured I might present a nudge here that tends to help me think outside the box when I need to.
Opponents: One or One Hundred
How many opponents are you fighting when you practice your kata? One? Two? A handful? More than you can count? This is a very important question as it will change the entire dynamic of how you perform your kata.
One Enemy
Imagine that you are facing just a single opponent. While keeping alert for other dangers around you, you are free to orient yourself entirely on that opponent. That means you can afford to be a little more stationary, and make small moves with your body to adjust for the maai (distance from your opponent). You can then use your techniques to slip slight angles as your aggressor attacks and counterattack with ease.
For example, let’s say you have a kata that blocks on the left 45 degree angle, then the right 45 degree angle, like so:
(Yea the guy in the picture has a giant head. so what.)
With a single opponent, you can use those techniques to intercept and retaliate:
**entering maai**
You’ll notice our brave combatant in the black intercepts the red attack and cuts the angle inward, reorienting himself/herself for a vital point strike to the temple, eyes, throat, or anything else he pleases. This small shift in angle clears him from the oncoming second punch of his opponent.
With a single opponent, this “block, block” becomes an invasive disruption. Since it’s just one attacker, the next step in your kata, whatever that may be, should be used to take this opponent out, or at least to the ground.
Two Enemies
One opponent was nice, but now you’ve started trouble with two guys. What did you do??
Well, whatever you did…they are looking for trouble. Let’s look at the same technique with two individuals coming at you in quick succession (or even at the same time)…
This time our hero in black has to move his body around a bit quicker. The subtle angles he used with one opponent aren’t as applicable because he can’t afford to get tied up with in-close fighting while the other opponent rushes in toward him. Instead, he uses a simultaneous block-strike motion as he shifts into each fighter. Many times in kata we find ourselves blocking or striking. Really, why have one hand in motion while the other remains stagnant? Many movements in kata have inherent counterstrikes built in; we just have to allow ourselves to use them in quick time.
Multiple Opponents
The last situation is that of multiple opponents. The exact number of opponents isn’t really important, but it’s obvious that there are a whole bunch. Let’s say they are pretty smart too, and manage to partially surround their target (our hero). Using this same technique, it would look something like this…
Our fighter is using a very wise strategy - get out of Dodge. The first thing he does is analyze as quickly as possible the largest hole in the encirclement. He recognizes that the right side, where the brown attacker is, is very cluttered. Instead, he breaks for the red opponent. Using the same kind of technique as before, he blocks and strikes to the face violently at the same moment. This time, he uses his angling to shift to the outside of his opponent and pushes the red attacker into the blue attacker. Bundling up the two closest individuals, he escapes as quickly as possible.
Final Thoughts on Opponents
When doing bunkai, it’s important to think about your opponents, especially regarding how many there could be. If you train in-tight against single opponents all the time, you might leave yourself tangled up with them too long for multiple opponent use. However, if you are constantly floating around to different attackers, you might miss the more intricate uses of technique and how they can result in takedowns and groundfighting.
Be wary of leaving opponents too soon. If you’ve successfully blocked an opponent, but haven’t dealt them a severe strike or takedown, it is probably unwise to move on to a new attacker.
Be careful not to get stuck in the habit of using 8,9,10 attackers in a kata. You may be moving around and facing different directions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every technique is intended for a new person.
***
I hope this was helpful. It’s just a method I use to expand the parameters of bunkai, but it can be a great way to add realism to your kata.
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9 people have left comments
Nice posting…keep in mind that when one is actually confronted with life/death self-defense/combat that the human body reacts in a specific manner making more complex actions difficult.
Basic bunkai should be the cornerstone of self-defense tactics within your strategy and then for training sake go beyond.
I have spent a good deal of years working with basic bunkai and only in the last five years has the light come on allowing me to naturally see the extensions available from the practice of kata.
Good point Charles. But can you explain it using pacman shaped graphics please??
hahaha.
I appreciate the artistic work put into this post Matt San! This post speaks to me deeply. Being that you’ve obviously had much more time and experience to look at these scenarios extensively, I love to pick your brain in class. This is a treat to me.
I feel you on that rut nonsense as well. I’m almost certain I’m treading deep in one now. Instead of branching off effectively, and interpreting different ideas, I seem to be only second guessing everything I and everyone else does. Not in a “thats ridiculous way” but more so in a “can I really accomplish whats being asked of me” way.
Who knows, maybe that tends to happen when you can’t make it to class for a few weeks.
[...] of my bias, over the weekend I noticed an article at Ikigai that talks about kata application. So last night I purposely went through my forms and [...]
Once again, very interesting post! No pressure…but keep ‘em coming! : )
Great post with fun, big-headed graphics.
I like training applications; it’s a component of learning, abstractly, how to teach my reflex system to respond properly.
We train applications so that the body (not the logical-mind) can learn proper mechanics, timing, and distancing with an aggressor. Applications develop accurate visual information for solo kata training.
Combines abstract components, applications, sensitivity, power generation (fa-jing), and leave us with an effective, natural, and reflexive responses to random acts of violence.
Your visions of advanced kata training are a major cornerstone. But I say, skip the beginner repetitions because they lack realistic spatial awareness, denigrating the natural intelligence of the body.
Again…Great post.
Nicely done…
I was just curious, what’s your opinion on Krav Maga? It’s what I’m currently training in, what you say is pretty similar to what we learn.
Take care
Roberto,
I hold Krav Maga in very high regard. I’ve always appreciated the straight forward and effective techniques that it teaches. In fact, some of the best knife self defense techniques I know came from the minor contact I’ve had with Krav Maga.
I agree that what I described above could be seen in a Krav Maga way. The reason why that is, I think, is because common sense should underlie techniques from any style. The temptation to fight a swarm of guys surrounding you is far too Hollywood dramatic.
I chose to stay with karate as my main style over something like Krav Maga because I really require the body-mind-spirit journey of the classical styles. Perhaps I’m mistaken in this, and KM practitioners can follow up with better info, but I believe Krav Maga is purely combat and military application. That would be the only thing keeping me away from further training with it.
Very interesting post. It’s interesting to read the differing opinions in the comments too. Being involved in a Self Defense Style of Martial arts, we always train for multiple attackers.
Together with assuming an attacker is armed, they are not bad assumptions to make. Deal with each attacker as quickly and effectively as possible and aim to get away to safety.
I am a big fan of keeping it simple, real simple. whether training with one person or multiple attackers.
Bunkai is an effective method to improve technique through distancing and timing.