Practical Kata Bunkai: basic drill for the application of “blocks”

www.iainabernethy.co.uk/
In this video we summarise a basic drill for the bunkai of what are commonly, and inaccurately, referred to as “blocks”. The drill also looks at the use of hiki-te (pulling hand), muchimi (sticking to and redirecting the enemy’s limbs), and the use of stance and angles.
The drill has the techniques switch from one side to the other. This is deliberate as it affords the karateka the opportunity to repeatedly practise re-direction and sticking. This also requires the karate to constantly switch stance which will aid the development of footwork as well as underlining the transitory nature of stances in application.
This drill is not a “fighting combination” to be applied “as is”. Instead it is a kyu-level drill to promote the aforementioned skills as well as allowing for the time efficient practise of the core techniques that comprise it.
The video was filmed as a summary for those who had already learnt the drill. It is therefore not instructional in nature and maybe difficult to follow for those who were not at the event. I nevertheless hope the video is of interest.
All the best,
Iain

[@RICHARDGRANNON]

I wish they taught me this when I did Karate. Ever excellent. Thankyou for uploading.

[@waaagh3203]

I think Karate is interesting because there are layers. I used the motion of an inside block, outside hook block, and down block, albeit much faster and not as exaggerated, to great success in kickboxing. Gedan barai is the same movement I often did to catch front kicks and sweep them to the side, and dump or sweep out the standing leg. Also, there are deeper, up close applications as well, which I believe is where the hikite really comes into play (I see hikite as anytime you grab and pull, not just to the waist, like pulling an arm to the side etc).

[@davidward3407]

I loved that opening bunkai move and also the hook..brilliant

[@billevans396]

That is a great flow drill! Never saw many, if any flow drills in my karate training from years ago. Brilliant!

[@leom122180]

Great video! And a great treasure chest of knowledge. I see so many likes. I don't know what the five that disliked this video was thinking but this is Gold! I really wish I was taught this way when I was in a dojo. Thank you sir from all the way from NYC! OSU!!!

[@NorthAugustaMartialArts]

I LOVE this material. Thank you so much for helping to improve modern karate.

[@chrisbaker3066]

It is more to do with modern karate ( competition based) changing ancient karate. These drill were not part of the karate that I learned early on but were very much part of the Koryu practice I went on to study later in my training life.

[@akrocuba]

GREAT VID!! Haven't done drills like this in years. Thanks for loading

[@kemtaedott]

excellent drill sir! keep up the great work!

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thank you iain, always great info !!!

[@NickKnowles262]

This is a brilliant drill! love it!

[@ebecharles7729]

really you are genius sensei, i would like to learn more from you

[@jonetsu7246]

Simply wow, just what I needed

[@yopchagi79]

I see every technique working except the oi zuki. It's hard to pull off with the exaggerated distance of kumite without throwing a kick or sweep to cover the distance. In kickboxing many karateka have gotten knocked out in the middle of the stance change.

[@vocartagmailcom]

It's ment to be for self defense with no rules, not for sport combat, so there are different criteria like surprise effect etc., you don't have time to create a strategy or wait for openings for few rounds:)

[@teeemartinez]

Wow ! Thank You !!

[@MartyNozz]

Ooooo, new drill. Christmas has come early.

[@kkr7398]

Excellent

[@qaannat]

thank you

[@1983gladstone]

Very cool. Similar to Kali techniques too

[@coombeadrian]

Awesome

[@Markus-_-]

Can you make a tutorial of bas rutten's blocking techniques? Thank you

[@papijelly]

Ossu, thanks

[@razorramon8398]

Looks Like INSIDE and outside hubud

[@thibautklinger5178]

Hey Iain, I tried some of these blocks on my heavy bag but I was not satisfied with the power in my shots. I know they are not big knock out shots but I still want them to be as powerfull as possible. Is there a way to create more power in for example age uke, shoto uke and uchi uke(the one where the opponent grabs you and you move to the side to strike the back of the head)? Maybe some way to get the double hip into it? Thanks in advance for your answer.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

It could be a technical issue, but I’d need to see you doing the movement in-person to correct that. One other thing to bear in mind is a bag - while great - is not a perfect analogue for a person. For example, the flat sides of the bag make doing the rising age-uke difficult because you have nothing to rise into. Working the methods on the focus mitts on a human shaped dummy will help get a better feel for them. All the best, Iain

[@thibautklinger5178]

@@practicalkatabunkai thanks for the advice. Maybe it really is just the shear mass of the bag that makes it feel weak. I will try it with pads to see if it gets better with that.

[@grahamnicholas937]

Tie a belt around the bag ,it gives resistance and imagine it's somebody's arm.