Talk:Bunkai

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"It refers to the applications or interpretation of the moves in a kata or other technique which may be practiced without an uke."

Isn't bunkai with a partner? jmcw 14:33, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Absolutely. In fact, the second paragraph of the article was contradicting that statement --Cubbi 21:38, 18 June 2007 (UTC)

Encoded or Extracted?

I actually agree with the today's "extracted" edit to the definition, now that I think about it. Although most references and teachers will tell the bunkai are "encoded". In traditional dojos of my style (shito-ryu) the bunkai are taught simultaneously or, sometimes, before the kata, and appear to have been passed down with the recent (70-100 years old) kata unchanged since the kata creation, but there are quite a few ancient forms where, logically thinking, there is little chance of faithful passage and more chance of religions or spiritual movements rather than pure encoded fighting applications. On the other hand.... let's find a reference that agrees with this thought. Like, when someone actually sits down and creates the much-needed in-place citations. --Cubbi 17:00, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Supporting references

According to Shoshin Nagamine in Essences of Okinawan Karate Do, "There are as many theories concerning the origins and execution of the kata as there are schools of karate." Is this a good enough reference? It only refers to karate, it's difficult to make generalisations when we are talking across such a wide range of Japanese martial arts.--Martinclewett 19:32, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

Obtaining bunkai from kata

Also, shouldn't there be a discussion about how to extract bunkai from kata? Making up hypothetical techniques and testing them etc. I'd be happy to write this but don't think I could cite many sources. --Martinclewett 19:32, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

There is an existing rule set which can be used to "decode" kata in a productive way to determine the original explanation for the movements in the kata. It essentially eliminates the "dead" assumptions that some teachers make when analysing them and reduces the search space. Chojun Miyagi (goju-ryu) either created the rules or more likely, published those that were passed down to him. The rule set is called "kaisai no genri". They were published in "The Way of Kata" and "Bunkai Jutsu" has an expanded and more understandable set. There are some references to this in the Seikichi_Toguchi page.

They are split into basic and advanced rules which go approximately:

Basic:

1. Don't worry about the shape of a kata. It's designed to start and end at approximately the same point in order to fit into a small space.
2. Techniques executed while advancing are attacks, those executed while retreating are defences.
3. There is only one adversary and he is in front of you. Turning to face another direction in kata does not indicate turning to face another opponent. Occasionally the kata deals with an adversary beginning behind you, but most are to the front.

Advanced:

1. Every movement in the kata is significant and used as part of the application. There are no symbolic or empty movements.
2. A closed returning hand has some part of the opponent in it.
3. There are no blocks in karate.
4. Angles matter. With the opponent in front of you the angle turned to indicates the angle you have to take to the opponent to make the technique work successfully.
5. Stances matter. The stance used in the movement is significant to the technique. Different stances have different effects on body movement.
6. Touching part of your body indicates you are touching part of the opponent's body.
7. All applications end the fight immediately.
8. The kata attacks vital points - weaknesses in the body.
9. Kata deal with habitual acts of violence, not karate style punches and kicks. This means things like grabs, chokes.
10. Kata contains all kinds of techniques, including grappling, locking and throwing not just striking.
11. Kata are stylised movements, the real application will not match the kata precisely but it will be close.
12. Kata doesn't assume predictable actions by the opponent but it does assume that the opponent's body will behave predictably when you do things to it.

131.228.216.128 (talk) 17:33, 19 March 2015 (UTC) Note: these rules were used to decode White Crane kung-fu forms which were brought over from China to Okinawa and integrated into Goju-ryu. Therefore they should be applicable to kung-fu forms. They should be applicable to any Asian martial art which makes use of Chinese kung-fu forms, such as TaeKwonDo, TangSooDo, Karate and Kung-Fu. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.228.216.128 (talk) 17:44, 19 March 2015 (UTC)