This video was filmed in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2012. It covers some general bunkai concepts and primarily looks at an arm-lock and associated escapes found within Heian Shodan (Pinan Nidan). The second part of the video also shows how a flow drill can be created by getting your partner to counter the counter, which is in turn countered using a motion found in Heian Yodan (Pinan Yodan). This is just a short impromptu clip taken from a full weekend of teaching. I nevertheless hope you find the information presented in the clip interesting and useful to you.

All the best,

This video shows bunkai for age-uke (“rising block”) and gyaku-zuki (reverse punch) against a clothing grab. It was filmed at the dojo during normal training. One thing to note is how the hiki-te (hand on the hip) is put to active use in controlling my partner’s arm and helping to open up targets. When looking at any movement in kata it is important that all parts of the movement are put to practical use: if a movement did not have a purpose it would not be in the kata.

This video was filmed at a seminar in Belgium where we explored karate locking, escapes from locks and counter-locking. It should be remembered that locking was once considered a fundamental part of karate.

Gichin Funakoshi (founder of Shotokan) wrote, “In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and joints locks are included … all these techniques should be studied referring to basic kata.”