Ideally, we should be working our kata bunkai/application drills with partners, so that we can pressure test our applications with partners who exhibit varying degrees of compliance. However, many of us are still sheltered in place, and this video can help us to create solo-practice drills to develop, experiment with, and practice our kata/kihon bunkai applications. This video examines the opening sequence of Pinan/Heian Sandan, working a pre-emptive strike. The chest block is viewed as an upper cut strike, and the simultaneous low block/chest block movements are viewed as pulling down a limb (low block) and an upper cut strike (chest block). This drill also works angles, getting off to the side of the enemy, moving away from the enemy’s free hand that remains a potential danger.

Best,

David