This video shows a Pinan / Heian bunkai combination that we recently worked in the dojo. It’s vital to understand that the kata is always showing techniques and drills as an illustration of concept. To realise the full value of kata, we need to look beyond the example given to the principles upon which the example rests. As one part of this, we should also look at how the kata examples can be varied and combined inline with the underlying principles. That’s what we are doing in this video.

In this video we cover a pad drill for the first half of Seipai kata. This impact drill mirrors a two-person bunkai flow drill; that the video also shows. These drills should not be isolated from the wider training matrix of which they are part. That training matrix also includes drilling individual techniques, alternate combinations, variations in line with underlying principles, and the free-flowing applications in both semi-live and live drills. It is obviously not possible to show the entirety of such a training matrix in one short video.

This video looks at some drills for the first half of Sochin kata (Shotokan version). The clip starts by looking at the kata’s illustrations of principle (i.e. example techniques). We then move on to drill the skill of moving past the limbs by applying those principles in a more free-flowing way. It’s important to understand that what is shown at that point is a drill for clearing the enemy’s limbs out of the way of the target. We therefore isolate that skill and extend the time practicing it. This is not meant to be a realistic recreation of combat.

In this video I discuss a problem I see forming on the fringes of the practical karate community. While the community continues to go from strength to strength, with more and more people adopting a practical approach, we have to guard against overlooking the need for high-quality technique. I don’t see this as a huge problem at the moment, but I see enough of it to warrant making this video.