(Definition of “Bunkai”: Self-defence application for a move / sequence of a Karate Kata).
Many Karate-ka are approaching Karate Kata Bunkai for self-defence, with the idea that each move, or set of moves, can have many different interpretations. I respect this approach; however, I am a believer of the “unique Bunkai” theory. This article will be focused on explaining what it is, and why I believe many Karate-Ka actively practicing Kata Bunkai to improve their self-defence, can benefit from adopting the “unique Bunkai” theory.
I don’t think there ever were any clear intent to document Kata Bunkai in writing until early 1900. That’s when some of the Masters 1st books were released, and soon after, Karate was revealed to the world. Even if some of the Kata Bunkai was ever recorded before, it was in a language that only people in Okinawa / Japan understood, and only a limited number of people had access to it.
Nowadays, many Dojos practice Kata Bunkai with only the multi-interpretation Bunkai in mind. This means that unlike myself, they believe that a single Kata sequence always have many efficient Bunkai against an array of corresponding attacks/situations.
I believe the automatic adoption of multi-interpretation Bunkai is mainly due to the fact that, the channels to learn original Bunkai from trusted sources have been thinning out through the years, and many instructors / Karate-ka outside of Okinawa, are left with nothing else, but making their own multi-interpretation Bunkai, base on their own experience and knowledge of Karate. If you are a student in this situation, you could benefit from using the “unique Bunkai” theory / methodology.
What is the “unique Bunkai” theory / methodology:
I believe that originally, each kata was created by a Karate master with a unique and specific Bunkai for each move/sequence in mind. A specific Bunkai would have been tested in real confrontations, and would have proven to be working efficiently.
The specific Bunkai, would have also been created in response to a specific type of attack/situation.
I am suggesting that, initially, a Karate-ka should settle with one of the many Bunkai taught in their Dojo for a specific Kata sequence. Just pick the Bunkai that makes the more sense to you at the time you learn it, the one you can imagine yourself doing in a real confrontation, and stick to it until you find something wrong with it. As your skills and understanding of Karate improves, you will regularly replace this preferred Bunkai for a specific Kata sequence, with another preferred Bunkai that you see as being better. Eventually, you will also reach a point in your progression when you are able to replace the taught Bunkai with your own Bunkai, in response to an attack/situation that you also defined yourself. And so on.., until one day, you finally get to the original Bunkai.
A good starting point is to focus on the “main sequence” of a kata, the one repeated usually 2 or 3 times in a kata, as this usually is the most important teaching of each Kata. It also contains the Bunkai which is the most likely to have been preserved through time. Understanding this main sequence can also help you understand other parts of a Kata, as often Katas have themes (not to confuse with the translation of the Kata name) that are found repeatedly throughout the Kata, under different forms (Example: The “Kushanku / Kanku” Kata theme as I understand it = Deflect / Grapple / Pull off balance & strike).
But because the relevance of the Bunkai is also directly linked to the type of attack/situation, you need to be constantly experimenting with different realistic attacks/situation, and find a Bunkai that deal with the situation in a realistic and efficient way. You will never find the original Bunkai until you find the original attack/situation. For example, when working on a Bunkai with a punch attack, you should always consider different type of punches, not just a straight punch to the face, which is the least likely to happen in a real confrontation. Instead, consider: Uppercut to the chin, Hook punch to the face, Stomach inverted punch, etc. One thing that can help in this process, is keeping in mind that Karate was never made to be pretty, only efficient against many types of attacks in getting attackers off your back, and it always considers a confrontation to be a multiple opponent’s confrontation.
Bunkai from Goju-Ryu Kata Seiunchin by Master Yoshio Kuba (Sorry no English, but self explanatory..)
Reasons to adopt the “unique Bunkai” theory:
- The evolution of Katas through what I call the “Japanization” of original katas from Okinawa, and all the inevitable changes that ensued through time, makes it hard to decipher original Bunkai intentions in any Kata. Unless you are lucky enough to learn from someone from a clear lineage, who was immersed in Okinawan Karate, or someone who has acquired their skills directly from a Master, you might have to use this “unique Bunkai” methodology in order to find the “original Bunkai”.
- Most of the multi-interpretation Bunkai made for a Kata move/set of moves, have usually never been tested in real confrontations, and are also often an answer to unrealistic attacks practiced in many Karate Dojos. As a result, most of the Bunkai would probably never be required, nor work in a real confrontation, although it appears to be working at the Dojo.
- When you have many Bunkai in mind for a Kata move/set of moves, you will most likely never be able to picture any Bunkai while practicing the Kata. Adopting the unique Bunkai theory could allow you to easily picture a single Bunkai per move/sequence, while practicing your Kata, and keep the dynamic connection between the theory (Kata) and a unique application all through the Kata.
It is unfortunate that the true knowledge of Karate Katas is hardly accessible, and that so much has to be done in order to get to the original and efficient self defense knowledge. I encourage all of you Karate-ka who really care about realistic self-defence, to adopt the “unique Bunkai” theory and methodology. Practicing at a reliable Dojo with a clear Lineage is definitely the 1st and best thing to do, wherever possible, so you may never have to even consider using the “unique Bunkai” methodology described above, while being presented the original Kata Bunkai at your Dojo on a silver platter!
Also read the article: Timing in Kata practice
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