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Building and Rebuilding Bunkai

May 9, 2009 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: Bunkai,How-To,Kata,Martial Arts,karate,mindset

In general, bunkai is seen as a definition. By that I mean, kata represents a word which can then be defined by bunkai. For example:

Hypotenuse: the longest side of a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle

Block Left: A punch is coming in with the opponent’s right hand and I block with my left arm

See the similarity? Using this framework, people often develop a step-by-step dictionary of what they think their kata means. Through rote memorization, they can perform their bunkai on command when necessary. Unfortunately, when utilized as the sole method of bunkai learning, this method tends to get stuck and can be restrictive to learning.

Memorization is good until……..sorry…..I lost my train of thought.

The problem with memorization is that it is prone to failure. Time, distractions, creativity…they all get in the way of memorized techniques. Furthermore, locking in explanations for techniques prohibits the mind from exploring new options.

The concept of shuhari suggests that we must follow, transcend, and break away. Of course, this isn’t a step-wise process and is in fact circular, as we constantly learn new things, understand them, and then internalize them.

By thinking of bunkai as sheer memorization, we are limiting ourselves to shu (follow).

The First Phase of Learning Bunkai

The first phase of bunkai is almost always shu. Can it truly be any other way? We all have to learn the basics of our systems. Through the practice of kihon, drills, kata, and self defense skits we learn how to introduce our bodies to the art of fighting.

Unfortunately, getting stuck in the first phase is all too common. It is warm and comfortable in the first phase. “He strikes like *so* and I block like *so*. See? Nothing to it.”

It is also tempting as a teacher to simply hand bunkai to students, saying “here! do this!” But once again this is the path of least resistance; one that leads to little investigation of the core concepts traditional styles are trying to teach.

The Hard, Messy, Frustrating Way to Learn Bunkai

To turn bunkai into ti chi ki (or “what the hand is doing”) you have to engage in building and rebuilding. By that I mean slowly (very slowly) analyzing what your techniques are doing and what opponents could be doing. Instead of a single solution to a single problem, concepts like distance, timing, and scenario are factored into the equation. You also must look at where exactly you could be striking, grabbing, twisting, or throwing. As you can imagine, there are a lot of possibilities.

Going slowly and methodically like this leads to memory overload. In fact, it is not unusual for a practitioner to forget what they did at the beginning of a kata by the time they get to the end. The reason for this is the extreme concentration the person is putting on every single technique. At first it seems like you might be running into the same memorization problem as before, but in fact its due to an excess of learning as opposed to simply forgetting what you generally do.

With this messy version of bunkai, progress always seems slow. What you discover one week can be gone the next. To make matters worse, there might be different bunkai partners who offer various height, weight, and intensity challenges.

The Payoff

If learning bunkai and ti chi ki like this is so unpleasant, then why do it? The answer is long-term payoff. By examining techniques individually and presenting yourself with constantly shifting situations, you are forced to analyze all aspects of the technique. For example, sometimes a block can be a block, but other times it can be a strike. Other times it can be a joint lock. When, where, and how is for you to discover through trial and error.

Eventually, through this practice, techniques and situations will become ‘familiar’. Pieces of kata will start to remind you of other pieces in other kata and connections between the techniques can be made. Instead of “if person A does this person B does this”, you can begin to see “here is how my body will naturally react with an appropriate technique.”

Taking time to fail and try new things is the best way to really learn a kata. It is also one of the most effective ways to shift kata from a mechanized workout to a live, ever-changing platform to explore technique.

Remember – a technique is more than just how it looks at the end. There is space, time, and events occuring between stances and punches. Find out what’s going on!

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This entry was posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 and is filed under Bunkai, How-To, Kata, Martial Arts, karate, mindset. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Marc G.

An excellent post Matt! I completely agree. The main purpose of kata was the perfecting of technique and application of karate. In essence, becoming better able to use these techniques if needed. They are a basic blueprint for combat. But, because a fight can happen any of a thousand different ways, karate-ka have to be adaptable and so does kata training. There can't be any single correct bunkai. If there was kata would just be another performing art...not a Martial Art.
MikeOliveri

The training curriculum at my dojo is pretty straightforward: they teach the kata (the movements), then teach the interpretation (bunkai), then run it "rapid session" with attackers (a higher rank attacks in at least three places in the kata and you block/strike as appropriate -- with control, of course!). I think this is mostly in convenience in teaching the kata (and the official Shuri-ryu interpretations) and fitting it into the curriculum than anything else.

That said, our school's director or my Sensei will often discuss alternative interpretations of each, sometimes stuff that we think we see or things we've picked up in other books or from other styles.

I'm still a rookie with most of this, but it is fun to explore other possibilities within the kata. I concentrate on the "official" interpretation within class for progression, but I still try to take the time to see where the kata came from and what they could mean. I also find it helps to learn some of the interpretation with the kata as it helps me remember the movements better. If I know what I'm supposed to be doing, it helps me visualize the attacker and the techniques.
Jordy Voesten

Cool post :) I recognize it from my own shotkan practice. Our Sensei always shows us multiple bunkai that are possible for pieces of the kata and this is always related to the soon, sooner, soonest principle you talked about in an earlier blog. I love how all this stuff has so much thought and wisdom behind it and even though I am still a beginner this mountain of knowledge in front of me doesn't scare me because I see progress in little steps.
William Joseph Hill

Excellent post. In my own practice, I've seen various teachers demonstrate many different interpretations for the same kata. In some cases, the really complicated and "cool" looking bunkai doesn't really fit if you perform the kata without modification. Sometimes the basic and obvious bunkai actually fits better. And sometimes the same movement in the kata would have different bunkai depending on whether the opponent was grabbing you or punching you. It would probably take decades just to sort out the different interpretations of Naihanchi Shodan, for example. That's why karate is a lifelong study.
Matt__A

Thank you Sensei Hill! I very much agree with your sentiments there. I just spent a day training with Bill Hayes Sensei - I think his depth of knowledge about nai hanchi shodan is deeper than my knowledge of all my kata put together.
blackbeltmama

Great post! I think that a lot of people (like me for example) get stuck sometimes (ok, always) because I'm unsure how far I'm allowed to stray from the kata to demonstrate my knowledge of the kata/bunkai. It's fun to play around, but when you're preparing for testing, how far of a stretch is too far of a stretch? Do you have to address every little pivot and move? Ugh, that's what trips me up frequently and I tend to limit myself and what I allow myself to do. I want it to fit so nicely into that kata box, that I won't allow myself to explore. So, how much variance is too much? My fear is that I do my bunkai and then people say, "What kata was that anyway?"
Matt__A

That's the tough question - what is the true nature of the technique? What are the underlying principles that make it work? Once you figure that out you'll know when you've stayed within the essence of the technique and when you've shifted to something different.

In order to figure this stuff out we have to keep probing, asking, and consulting those further down the path than us.
mike

What a great post. I have been going to Batto Jitsu training for four years and can just about grasp what you are writing about. I would not have had the same level understanding even two years ago. What you wrote, rings true.
Matt__A

I know what you mean - it's amazing when we look back at ourselves only short whiles ago and think - man, I was really in the dark then! Which means I wonder how I'll look back on myself two years from now! haha