Practical Kata Bunkai: Kata Based Sparring
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 19 июл 2024
- www.iainabernethy.co.uk/
In this video I talk about the Kata-Based-Sparring concept. I also share footage of methods from Chinto (Ganakaku), Naihanchi (Tekki Shodan), Jion, etc being applied in live sparring.
Live practise is a must and Kata-Based-Sparring is a core part of my four-stage approach to kata (explained in this video: • Iain Abernethy on The ... ). Kata was never intended to be an alternative to live practise. Kata is a repository of knowledge to inform us what to do in that live practise:
“Kumite is an actual fight using the methods of kata to grapple with the opponent.” - Choki Motobu
“Sparring does not exist apart from the kata, but for the practise of the kata.” - Gichin Funakoshi
“Through sparring practice, the practical meaning of kata becomes apparent.” - Chojin Miyagi
And so on.
The traditional link between kata and kumite has been severed in many schools. Skewed ideas about kata are all too common. Therefore, many people can’t see how their notions of “kata” and “kumite” can be reconciled. However, when both practises are viewed from the correct perspective, the true beauty of karate becomes clear.
All the best,
Iain 
Спорт
Great work, Iain. I wish more people could understand that the application of kata doesn't have to be neat and tidy. I think you once referred to KBS as a 'beautiful mess' or something to that effect. -Andy
"The right kind of ugly" was the phrase ... although I think yours is good and certainly more poetic :-)
You've made kata finally live and breath.
Thank you for making this video, this is awesome
More of this please sir, eye opening stuff!
Awesome examples! Thank you so much!
I love this - bunkai in general is an alien concept where I train. I wish I had a club like this near me. 20 years I've been training and I often feel like I'm never going to learn actual traditional karate. I don't suppose anyone knows of any clubs like this in the hertfordshire area?
Great work.
Great stuff!
thank you Iain !!!
The changing of directions of the patterns might be changing your directions on the opponent, but the fact that your always changing directions also gives you the footwork for multiple opponent scenarios.
Yes, thank you. Very interesting and informative. If you ever get around to filming kata based sparring from medium or longer ranges that would be great to see as well.
Hi Mitchell, Thank you! Because the kata are focused on civilian self-protection (non-consensual violence) they don’t cover long-range fighting skills (consensual violence).
“Karate is not intended to be used against a single opponent but instead it is a way of avoiding injury by using the hands and feet should one by any chance be confronted by a villain or ruffian.” - Anko Itosu, 1908.
Itosu makes it clear that the karate of his time - the karate of the kata - is not for fighting a single opponent, but for use in self-defence in a civilian context. We are not seeking to win a fight, but avoid injury / escape.
Fighting / duelling / consensual violence - where we are seeking a win - will involve bridging the gap, feints, provoking trained responses, back and forth footwork, inactive hands held in guards, etc. None of which are relevant to self-defence and hence we don’t find them in the kata.
We do a lot of longer range sparring in the dojo (part of the modern side of our take on karate), but we would class that as “fighting” and hence it is not kata-based. The only time kata-based-sparring has distance between the practitioners is when one is running away from the other(s).
I hope that helps. Thanks once again for the kind words!
All the best,
Iain
Thanks for the reply, very interesting!
My pleasure! There's more on it in one of the free eBooks on the website. If you email me (iain@iainabernethy.com) I will send you a copy over.
practicalkatabunkai thanks, I will
These two old podcasts are also worth a listen:
iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kata-based-sparring-revisited-principles
iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kata-based-sparring-revisited-structure
Hi Iain, I noticed that you often grab your opponents back of the neck when grappling. But would it not give you more leverage to break posture if you'd grab a bit higher? So what is the reason for grabbing lower?
Good question! The lower grip means more of the forearm is pushed into the enemy’s chest / shoulder and hence the grip is stronger (harder to pull the elbow out of push it up) and better limits the effectiveness of the enemy’s striking on that side (they can’t rotate into the strike). The hand can be shifted higher up to tilt the head forward and break posture if appropriate (as discussed in this video: ruclips.net/video/2juMhXuzEjc/видео.html), but as a default position, I hook the hand on the back of the neck for the aforementioned reasons. I hope that helps. All the best, Iain
Awesome! I love Karate lol
I love your stuff! I started in Shorin Ryu as a kid of about 4. I have moved around the US a bit, not always finding Shorin Ryu. 40 years later I find myself getting back to training, only in Southern Shaolin Kung-fu, with a Shaolin monk. He is a legit monk. I was wondering if you may know someone that breaks down Chinese styles as you do.y first love will always be Okinawan Karate, just can't find it within an hour of where I live.
Tim Smith of “The Kung Fu Podcast” is an amazing resource. kungfupodcasts.com/
practicalkatabunkai I love you. Just sayin! And there hasn't been a 40 year break in training, just a break in what I have been training in. I misspoke. Sorry.
how do I get my instructors to incorporate kata based sparring? Currently we do bunkai. We do step sparring, which is all just lunge punch based (I have no idea why we do it still.. this is what I wish we replaced). We do slow free sparring.
Also, it seems every good bunkai comes from western practioners with some background in grappling outside of karate. Is there actually any book by an Okinawan instructor showing good bunkai?
I suggest you look up the book by Patrick McCarthy called Ancient Okinawan Marital Arts, he clearly explains that grappling was very much a part of Karate and is the original form of kumite. And also look up Iain Abernethy's book Karate Grappling methods which is where he will explain the drills to practice grappling in karate which will lead to kata based sparring.
@@MrMattias87 Thanks!
How can you even consider the clinch as something to do in kata based sparring? Kata are documented to be used for self defense in a no rules scenario, so how is the clinch a good hold/control method if it gets both your hands busy and the hands of the opponent free to eye gouge you, grab your groin, tear off your ears, etc? It's an overwhelming risk. And in exchange of what? Some head control?
The enemy can grab you. You need to be able to establish dominance when they have done so in other to land strikes, apply gouges, disengage safely, etc. Old style karate included clinching because it is a combative necessity.
@@practicalkatabunkai Control over the opponent is a combat necessity, clinch isn't. What about the endless limb control methods in kata? Is it not preferable to be in control of the opponent's limbs or out of their reach (positioning, tai sabaki)? Clinch is a combat sport control method. No matter how you look at it, the opponent having access to your eyes and other sensitive areas at all times in self defense situation is a terrible idea.
I’m sorry to inform you that grabbing is very common :-) We don’t want to get into a clinch, but we need to be prepared if that happens. It’s very naive to believe that you can never be grabbed. It’s not the way it works. If you want to totally miss out fighting from within a clinch, then that’s entirely your prerogative. I will continue to practise it and teach it because I know it is both a necessary part of realistic training, and a part of the old school karate that fascinates me. I hope that explains why I do it, promote it, and will continue to do so. All the best, Iain
@@practicalkatabunkai Yes grabbing is common, and I never said the opponent won't grab you. You will be grabbed. But if the opponent has enough leeway to reach all your vital spots (if he's free enough to clinch he's free enough to eye gouge you, hit your throat, rip your ears off, etc) then that means your limb control over the opponent is nonexistent, and obviously a fight strategy in which the opponent has so much leeway is terrible. It's an awful underestimation of kata and of the old masters to assume that such a demonstrably bad tactic is what they did when it would have cost them their lives.
iainabernethy.co.uk/article/karate-grappling-did-it-really-exist