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Unsu Bunkai: Turning Sequence (Heito to Gakuzuki)

This video looks at the one-legged turning sequence in Unsu kata that starts with a ridge-hand and ends with a reverse-punch. The karate of the past had a significant throwing component. Because many modern karateka don’t appreciate that throwing is a part of their art, many throwing actions in kata are misinterpreted. This sequence is a good example of that. What is clearly a throw, gets misunderstood as turning “block”, delivered on one leg, with the hands on the hip for no apparent reason! When you see the throw done, you can see the motion makes much more sense and all the parts of the motion are accounted for. Understanding that throwing, locking, gripping, choking, trapping, etc are found throughout the kata is very important when it comes to understanding those kata and, more importantly, practising karate as a holistic combative system.

All the best,

Iain

PS The YouTube link can be found HERE

“In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included … all these techniques should be studied referring to basic kata”. – Gichin Funakoshi

“There are also throwing techniques in karate… Throwing techniques were practised in my day, and I recommend that you reconsider them”. – Shigeru Egami (a student of Funakoshi).

Unsu Bunkai: Turning Sequence (Heito to Gakuzuki)