This video shows a two-person bunkai flow-drill for Pinan / Heian Sandan. The video is a short summary of several hours of practise and therefore it should not be viewed as an “instructional clip”.

The flow-drill shown puts several piece of bunkai from Pinan / Heian Sandan end to end in the same order they appear in the kata. It is but one form of practise and the bunkai also needs to be drilled live (Kata-Based-Sparring), individually, and in alternate sequences. A four minute video can obviously not convey the entirety of a training regimen.

The opening part of the drill shows the “soto-uke” (#) and “double blocks” as attacks to the enemy’s elbow joint. The arm is then redirected over the top of your head (soto-uke to the front) before a slam across the chest and winding throw (nuki-te and turn).

For the sake of the drill, the enemy is able to resist the winding throw so a grip is established. The next part of the kata we use is the head-lock (turn and hands on hips) before executing a “cross-buttocks throw” (commonly mislabelled as a “forearm block”). We then release and punch (as the kata does following the third of the throws) before executing a hip throw (turn with “rear elbow and punch”).

The basic drill for the last sequence has us go straight for the hip throw. To avoid repetition we first assume a side grip in this longer drill. This is more realistic as it is easier to get the hip throw from this position than it is from directly in front (although both are possible and should be practised).

If you wish to have the component parts of this drill explained in more depth please watch “The Pinan / Heian Series: The Complete Fighting System Volume 1” which is available from iainabernethy.com as a DVD or download.

The drill is shown here on one side, but it should obviously be drilled on both sides.

I hope you find the clip of interest.

All the best,

Iain

(#) – Labelled “uchi-uke” in Shotokan and some other styles.

PS The YouTube link can be found HERE