Katsuyuki Shimabukuro 島袋勝之 was a student of Chibana Chosin, later Higa Yuchoku, now Tokashiki Iken.
In Okinawa, Naihanchi is performed with both open and closed hands. The bunkai are not exactly the same, but they are related. It’s like variations on a theme..
The kata has profound importance in traditional karate. In fact, Kentsu Yabu, a student of master Anko Itosu, famously stated that “Karate begins and ends with Naihanchi”. This highlights the kata’s fundamental nature in martial arts training. Naihanchi (also known as Naifanchi or Tekki) is a critically important kata in Okinawan karate with deep historical roots.
Update with Bunkai-Drills
This video demonstrates the kata Naihanchi (also called Naifuanchin or Tekki), warm-up drills for the kata, associated application practices developed by Motobu Choki (1871-1944), and of course the best part of learning — mistakes.
Shorinji Kempo Ryu is a purely Japanese martial art that combines Chinese Shaolin martial arts with Japanese budō principles.
Shorinji Kempo Ryu of the International Shorinji Kempo Association is based on the techniques and philosophy of Shorinji Kempo, which originated in the northern Shaolin Monastery (Shàolín-sì 少林寺) in China, where Buddhist monks trained their bodies and minds to master not only self-defense but also inner peace.
The practical background was also to defend the monastery from roaming gangs. Doshin So (born in 1911 as Nakano Michiomi), the founder of Shorinji Kempo, traveled to China in the 1930s and studied these ancient martial arts and the associated philosophy.
In 1947, in the city of Tadotsu on Shikoku, he founded Shorinji Kempo, an art based on the principles of Zen Buddhism and the Chinese Shaolin arts.
The 6 pillars:
ken zen ichinyo – Body and mind are one
riki ai funi – Strength and love go hand in hand. Strength without love is nothing more than violence, and love without strength is powerless.
shushu kōjū – Defend first, then attack
fusatsu katsujin – Do not kill, but give life. The saying “one blow, certain death” is not found in Shorinji Kempo Ryu. The goal should be to stop evil and convince the opponent to desist.
gōjū ittai – Hard and soft are united. Shorinji Kempo Ryu as self-defense serves the purpose of protecting oneself from attacks. See below for the principles of Juho and Goho.
kumite shutai – Joint training comes first. So Doshin repeatedly and clearly condemned thinking in terms of victory and defeat and striving to defeat others.
Vince Morris is a seasoned karate sensei and founder of Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do, known for blending traditional Okinawan techniques with practical self‑defense and law‑enforcement tactics. Sensei Morris has revised classic kumite methods and developed training programs for civilians and police, earning respect for his clear, realistic approach to modern martial arts.
Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do
Practicality: techniques must work realistically under stress, not just look correct in the dojo.
Bassai Dai (Passai): a powerful, combat‑oriented kata meaning roughly “storming the fortress.” It teaches how to break through an opponent’s defense using strong hip rotation, precise kime, and solid stances.
The sequence mixes heavy blocks, straight punches, elbow and shoulder strikes, and frequent turns and direction changes. Shifts between low and mid stances build stability and flexibility; explosive breath (kiai) and hip-driven power produce penetrating force. Bunkai illustrates applications for multiple attackers, close-range fighting, joint locks and control techniques. Versions vary by style (Shotokan, Shito‑ryu, Goju‑ryu, Okinawa); Bassai Dai is central in Shotokan, while Passai forms are older and more diverse.
Presented by One Minute Bunkai from zentokukai.com
Shotoryu Goshinjutsu is a system of self defense based on the kata of Shotokan. Basic Premises:
Traditional Karate is an art of self defense
Historically karate was taught primarily through kata
Therefore kata should teach self defense
To be of practical value, the primary defenses should be against the most likely attacks. Evaluating Applications
Traditional Training Tips
Here are a few changes we should make to traditional training in the Shotokan style. Honoring and respecting tradition does not mean to follow it blindly.
Here are some impressive kumite fights from the renowned Sensei Frank Brennan of the UK. He was a complete fighter, dangerous with both hands and legs in any situation. As you can see, these were incredibly hard-fought bouts for both sides.
Rick Sensei started training in 1970 at the West Wind Dojo in Florida. In 1976 he inherited the dojo and since then has remained its instructor. Originally a member of the USKA, Rick Sensei moved to Richard Kim’s group in 1989 and since that time has endeavoured to train and learn from as many instructors as possible.
Rick Hotton sensei teaching at SMK Spring keiko 2022, Petaluma California
He is also a long time student of Matsugi Saotome, who is considered to be one of the best Aikido masters in the world today. For the past three years Rick Sensei has been the NSKF representative in North America under the guidance of Pemba Tamang Sensei, who was the first foreigner ever to do the JKA instructors’ course.
Karate-Do Core Principles – Sensei Rick Hotton
The do suffix implies that karate do is a path to self-knowledge, not just a study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from – jutsu to do around the beginning of the 20th century. The “do” in “karate do” sets it apart from karate-jutsu, as aikido is distinguished from aikijutsu, judo from jujutsu, kendo from kenjutsu and iaido from iaijutsu.
Uechi-ryu (上地流 Uechi-ryū) is a traditional style of Okinawan karate.
Uechi-ryū means “Style of Uechi” or “School of Uechi”. Originally called Pangai-noon, which translates to English as “half-hard, half-soft”, the style was renamed Uechi-ryū after the founder of the style, Kanbun Uechi.
Uechi-Ryū is a traditional karate style with strong Chinese roots that emphasizes compact, natural movements and techniques based on the tiger, crane and dragon. It is characterized by open hand techniques, body conditioning and the central Sanchin kata, which trains breathing technique, stability and inner strength. Compared to other karate styles, Uechi-Ryū is shorter, more explosive and places particular emphasis on resistance and efficient body structure.
Karate with Lionel Froidure – practical applications. In karate, or any other martial art, you can intervene in several different phases. In karate, these are called: go no sen, tai no sen and sen no sen.
He attacks Oi Zuki, I block and strike after his attack. I absorb his movement, strike and come back out. We could also do a Go No Sen by pivoting, striking and coming out. It’s still a go no sen. I intervene after the strike. He throws, I block and strike. So it’s in 2 steps.
Tai No Sen
Tai No Sen, it’s the body that moves, the 2 bodies move at the same time. When he attacks, I also attack at the same time, but I step out of his line of attack. I’m in a form where the 2 bodies move, I pivot but attack at the same time. There’s no longer any blocking, just an exit.
Sen No Sen
I must return during the attack. I attack his attack. I have to have a perfect reading to be able to leave at the slightest fault he makes. As soon as he starts to move, I intervene. Even with just peripheral vision, you can do it. As soon as you see something moving, you attack. You have to be under power to move instantly. If you’re behind, you can’t get away. You must attack his attack: Sen No Sen.
Sensen No Sen
In the last sensation, we’re more in a self situation, for example. He’ll think about attacking me. He pushes me and the situation escalates. The attack is imminent. Instead of letting him attack me, I attack first. I attack his intention. I attack before he launches his attack. It’s Sensen No Sen. I attack not an attack, but his intention to attack. I intervene even earlier in time.
So before he attacks, it’s Sensen No Sen. When I attack his attack, it’s Sen No Sen. Tai No Sen, I take out the body. Go No Sen, I absorb, block and strike.
In this article you will gain insight into the decoding of the kata using bunkai rules from experts. It is assumed that the kata and their deeper application are encrypted and were only passed on by masters to trustworthy students. This secret knowledge has been modified in such a way that many movements do not reveal their effective application. This means that when I see a kata, I only recognize the obvious and not the deeper meaning or fighting strategy.
Karate bunkai refers to the analysis and application of techniques and movements in karate kata. Kata are predetermined sequences of movements used in karate training to teach basic techniques, strategies and principles. Bunkai literally means “dissection” or “analysis” and refers to the process of understanding the movements in a kata and recognizing their practical application in real combat situations.
Through bunkai, karateka learn how to effectively apply the techniques from the kata in self-defense situations. It helps to understand the deeper principles and concepts behind the movements, which are often not obvious when practicing only the kata itself. Bunkai can be practiced in a variety of ways, including partner drills where the techniques are applied in controlled sparring situations.
Chojun Miyagi
Don’t let the embuse fool you.
Defense techniques include the attack, attack techniques include the defense.
There is only ever one opponent.
Every movement has a meaning.
The withdrawing hand always holds something.
Use the shortest route to your attacker.
Control the head and you control the opponent.
There are no blocks in the kata.
The kata shows the correct angle.
Touching your own body means touching your opponent.
Hard on soft and soft on hard.
There are no pauses.
Bill Burgar
Every movement in kata has a meaning.
Kata applications are always against realistic attacks.
There are always several applications for a kata movement.
The applications are usually only against 1 opponent.
There are no blocks in kata.
Every kata movement is an attack on vital points (Kyusho).
The withdrawing hand usually holds something (hikite).
Large turns are mostly throws
George A. Dillman
The kata must be interpreted against realistic attacks.
The kata does not contain any blocking techniques.
The kata is designed for practical applications throughout.
The kata contains important information for the applications.
The actual technique lies in the intermediate movement.
There is more than one correct application for each movement.
Each kata technique contains vital point attacks (Kyusho-Jitsu).
Lawrance Kane & Chris Wilder
There are always several applications for a technique.
One Minute Bunkai presents 6 videos about Naihanchi Shodan or also called Tekki Shodan as a bunkai serie. This kata really counts in close quarter combat in the street. It is a fundamental master kata and can be seen in almost all karate styles.
Sensei Guy Brodeur, a highly accomplished martial artist with a 7th Dan ranking in Traditional Shotokan Karate. He boasts an impressive background, having been a four-time National Champion in various traditional styles and winning the SKI’s World Championship in Team Kata in 1985.
Despite his success in competition and his strong foundation in Traditional Shotokan Karate, Guy felt a need for further development in his martial arts journey. In 1998, he encountered Sensei Steve Ubl, which significantly altered his perspective and approach to karate. This encounter redirected his path while maintaining his dedication to Traditional Shotokan Karate.
The narrative highlights the transformative power of training with a different sensei and how a single experience can revolutionize one’s martial arts journey. It also emphasizes the importance of solo training. We are happy to give you a brief insight into his skills and ideas here.
Demonstration: Concepts within Kata Bunkai
Demonstartion: Delivering body mass through technique
