The fundamental principles of the martial systems as provided in Steven J. Pearlman's book, "The Book of Martial Power," is the basis for this post. In general, there is kata and there are the principles and this is to provide a view where to two meet and provide balance - Yang-Yin.
There are five sections to this book on principles where I would loosely associate those with the five elements in Chinese belief, i.e. wood, water, earth, air, and fire. I would then promote my belief that this set of principles can be divided into two major categories, i.e. principles of the body and principles of the mind.
We also practice kata in karate. The purpose is to catalog our many system techniques. The next is to piece them together in a form or pattern for learning and passing along to the next generation of practitioners. Then the third is to use our kata to learn and practice all the fundamental principles of the martial systems. We would make them an intricate part of bunkai, i.e. to take the kata apart into pieces; to analyze them and to practice them in their entirety.
When this is done we don't just derive the technique and its applications but rather associate that particular one to those principles that make it unique and applicable to the situation. Even those bunkai that are associated indirectly with the fundamental technique purpose and application we can also derive those principles, all of them to specified degrees of implementation to application, that will maximize the use in fighting, etc.
When we speak of and discuss the fundamental principles of martial systems we can move them along with all the training and all the levels of training over the entire life of the system and the individuals practice of it. Each step, each phase, each scenario, each drill, etc. will need to discuss what principles, a part of the complete bunkai, are inherent in that specific. Practice of kata are unique to this type of training and promotes a validation to kata never discussed openly in any forum that I have found. Make your kata practice and training complete by consciously including application of fundamental principles a kata bunkai.
分解する - Bunkai suru: take apart [to pieces], analyze, decompose, be decomposed, break down [my addition: the physical technique + the applicable fundamental principle]
p.s. as you adhere to this maxim of kata training/practice take into consideration that if you cannot discover and promote a kata technique/combo/drill with all the fundamental principles then consider its usefulness in combat/fighting/defense/protection.
p.s.s. consider this, if you take bunkai apart, see how the principles apply, then determine how those principles cooallate to maximize that particular bunkai then you can compare all the perceived bunkai and then select the best and keep it as the primary bunkai. We are taught it self defense to choose those techniques most beneficial, natural, and most likely to become instinctive, this is a way.
p.s.s.s. take it as a means to keep bunkai in the quality range vs. the quantity one.
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
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