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.

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.

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

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.

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.

hahaha.

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.