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.
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.
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.
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
Mixed martial arts champion Erik Paulson from @CSWAssociation tests ancient Karate techniques from Okinawa. These bunkai (kata applications) are found in Bubishi – the Bible of Karate.
What is MMA?
MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts and is a full-contact combat sport that combines techniques from various martial arts and combat sports. MMA allows a variety of techniques from boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, judo and karate to be effective both in standing combat and on the ground.
Prohibited techniques in MMA include attacks to the back of the head, spine, eyes and genitals, kicks or punches to the head of an opponent lying on the ground, headbutts, biting, hair pulling and unsportsmanlike behaviour such as holding on to the cage.
Further applications and examples of self-defence can be found here under the heading Bunkai Videos.
From the archive: Martial Arts Gala 1994 of the “Kampfsportschule Aarau”.
Karate demonstration by Dieter Lüscher and Sivathana Samedy. This gala was organized by the Aarau Martial Arts School. 2500 spectators were present in the packed Aarau hall.
Traditional karate is one of the most efficient self-defense systems. The basis of karate is formed by simple basic techniques that are internalized automatically and are quickly retrievable under extreme psychological pressure. Women have a realistic chance with Traditional Karate even against physically superior opponents.
However, Traditional Karate is much more than self-defense:
“Karate is a holistic training for body and mind. It incorporates a higher philosophy, hundreds of years of tradition, a code of honor, and many health, energy, and even spiritual aspects of a traditional martial art.”
Kata, the foundational element of Karate, serves as the bedrock upon which the entire art is built. These choreographed sequences of movements are not mere rituals to be practiced mechanically; instead, they serve as repositories of martial principles, tactics, and strategies handed down through generations. The essence of bunkai lies in deciphering the enigma woven into each kata—extracting real-world applications from seemingly choreographed patterns. This process transforms kata from a mere routine into a dynamic tool for practical self-defense, promoting a deeper connection between traditional forms and modern combat scenarios.
Self defense applications for the Kata Kanku Dai Produced by Tom Leeman.
These videos were shot in Freiburg in 1968 and made possible under the direction of H.D. Rauscher (Deutsches Karate-Do Archiv).
Kumite Combinations
Hirokazu Kanazawa (jap. 金澤 弘和, Kanazawa Hirokazu; b. May 3, 1931 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan; † December 8, 2019) was one of the most distinguished karate masters of the present day. He was a holder of the 10th dan. In 2012 he was awarded the honorary title of Meijin, making him the only living title holder of the highest honors in Budō at the time. He was one of the last active masters to train with the legendary Shōtōkan founder Funakoshi Gichin.
Chinto Kata and Application by Maywood Academy of Okinawan Karate during Shorin Ryu Shidokan Michigan National Training Seminar (NTS) 2006.
It seems that the kata was most likely spread into the Shito Ryu and other lineages via Sokon Matsumura (1809-circa 1902). In particular, historical records indicate that he learned it from a Chinese sailor who may have been shipwrecked on Okinawa. However, it has been pointed out that this Chinese man, referred to as Chinto or Anan (both names being associated with two different kata, of course), probably taught a small number of other karate masters around 1800, and that the spread of karate in Okinawa may indeed be through more than one Matsumura.
The late Sensei Sherman Harrill, a student of Grandmaster Tatsuo Shimabuku, demonstrates “Chinto Bunkai,” at the Seishinkan Dojo in Queens, NY. Filmed in 1999.
These bunkai are found in kata applications across all styles of Karate. The tutorial also covers counters and reversals to these grappling techniques (gyaku-waza) so you can learn how to defend and escape the submissions with counter-lock.
One Minute Bunkai:Hakko-Ken is the first of the three old “Animal” family Kata adopted by the famous Kojo Family of Okinawa. Hakko-Ken means “White Tiger-Fist”.Continue reading Hakko-Ken by Kojo-Ryu→
