Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Video

Thoughts on Sanseru (video)

At a residential course in early 2014, we decided to take a look at bunkai for the Goju-Ryu kata Sanseru. It’s not a kata I personally practise, but we had fun applying the process and using bunkai principles to analyse the kata.

We did not look at the entire kata, we did not film all of it, and it was not filmed with the intention of sharing it. The resulting footage is therefore a little disjointed and is far from being the in-depth analysis that the kata deserves.

Continue Reading

Unsu / Kanku-Sho Jump Bunkai (video)

In this video we look at an application for the jumps in Unsu & Kanku-Sho. These two jumps are very similar. The difference is that Unsu turns 360 degrees, whereas Kanku-Sho turns 180 degrees (when using the direction of the preceding look as the reference point). I interpret this motion as a last ditch attempt to free a trapped leg. In Kanku-Sho, the enemy remains static … hence the 180 degree turn (as demonstrated in this clip). In Unsu, the enemy is thought to catch the leg and then circle 180 degrees in an attempt to throw.

Continue Reading

Practical Kata Bunkai: Unsu Ippon-Nukite (video)

In this video we look at bunkai for the downward ippon-nukite (“finger pokes”) found at the start of Unsu kata. While people analysing this motion tend to focus on the extended index finger, it is my view that that finger is largely inactive. The three bent fingers dig into the back of the jaw, the thumb goes into the eyes, the index finger has nowhere to go other than run down the side of the face. The arching foot movement moves behind the enemy’s leg as the jaw and eyes are attacked using the ippon-nukite hand positions.

Continue Reading

Seipai Throw (video)

This video shows a simple throw from Seipai kata. One thing that is key is the use of the elbow under the arm to impact and break balance. Without that, it can be much harder to pick up the leg and execute the throw.

Continue Reading

Seipai Flow Drill (video)

This video shows a flow drill for the opening sequence of Seipai kata. The drill shows an escape from a common choke attempt and then covers the concepts of limb-control, predictable response, and continuous advantage. Following on from the initial core sequence, the movements after the first turn in the kata show options should either the initial removal of the arms, or the arm-lock at the end of the sequence, fail. It is therefore possible to flow into these alternative sequences if the enemy’s actions necessitate it.

Continue Reading

Naihanchi Salutation and Opening Head Turns (video)

This video was filmed at a seminar I taught in Kansas, USA in September 2013. This particular section looks at the opening “salutation” and the following head turns that appear in some versions. The video also quickly discusses “salutations” generally.

The sound is not great on this clip, but I’m sure you’ll be able to follow it all OK. For professionally filmed, edited and produced footage of this sequence – and how that feeds into the entire kata – please see my “Beyond Bunkai” DVD.

Continue Reading

Naihanchi / Tekki-Shodan Bunkai (video)

This video was filmed at a weekend seminar I taught in Kansas in September 2013. This clip looks at the application of the “lower block, punch, step across, block” sequence.

This short clip is taken from a full weekend of training and viewers should be aware of that. The applications shown are part of a much larger methodology and the nature of this short clip obviously means the overall context cannot be communicated.

Continue Reading

Basic Ground Escapes Line Drill (video)

This video was filmed at a weekend seminar I taught in Denmark in September 2013.

In “Karate-Do: My Way of Life” Gichin Funakoshi (“The Father of Modern Karate”) talks about the Tegumi grappling drills of his youth. He discusses how this native Okinawan grappling art has influenced karate and how Tegumi drills are beneficial for the karateka.

Continue Reading

MartialPreneur TV interview Iain (video)

My video interview with MartialPreneur TV is live! It’s just over 50 minutes long and looks at my experiences as fulltime martial artist and gives advice for those who similarly want to commit to the martial lifestyle. I really enjoyed chatting with Scott and I think that comes across on the video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :-)

Continue Reading

Pages