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Are we training and practicing appropriate karate and martial arts bunkai for our times? We live in a different social environment and under different conditions then our karate/MA forefathers but in many cases we still train and practice BKDK appropriate, we think or theorize, for more ancient and primitive times on Okinawa and even Japan.
I completely understand when a traditional dojo practices the very things the system or styles originators created those many years ago in a way that pays tribute to them and the historical significance of the system or style. Where things tend to drop off is when modern students try to make those same historical traditional practices into modern self-defense or combative model.
Yes, in essence fighting tools are pretty much the same, i.e., the principles underlying every type of perception of said methodologies is universal and unchanging except in an individuals manifestation in the more outward rendition, i.e., principles don’t change but perceptions and models appear different making up the styles and systems. Yet, the environments and methods used for fighting to include socially driven perceptions and legal distinctions make things a bit different along with different repercussions both for the individuals, their families and society itself.
How we practice, train and apply those principles as seen as an outward book cover, i.e., comparing styles presentation of principles, can be either effective application of principled multiple defense methodologies or they can be inappropriate and ineffective defense techniques.
Two examples to provide a possible distinction to convey the idea I am trying to present. First, the proverbial head lock bunkai. In a school yard type scuffle between young adults may be realistic to that environment but in the world of fighting, combatives and self-defense - not so much. As to my personal experience the only time I ever saw a headlock used was in wrestling, the sport, or in some socially driven monkey dance between angry testerone driven ego status seeking men. In a real fight, especially in a real predatory attack, I have never experienced nor observed a headlock, Never! Lets look at a predatory attack of the kind I visualize, i.e., “A surprise attack from the rear or just off to the side rear; a total blitz that disrupted my balance and structure stealing away any type of response with force or power; the first of many a flurry of hits started just behind my ear, a real show stopper there.” No headlocks and no need for them. Attackers, etc., are well versed in what works and what does not work and I feel their using a headlock is not effective at all and does not give them the advantage that allows their success as predators.
Second, as I described above and that is presented by one professional in conflict defenses, etc., stated, “A surprise attack from the rear or just off to the side rear; a total blitz that disrupted my balance and structure stealing away any type of response with force or power; the first of many a flurry of hits started just behind my ear, a real show stopper there. (reworded a bit for this article but the idea is the same)” How many bunkai of BKDK have you seen taught, practiced and finally applied in a reality based adrenal stress-conditioned training environment? Oh, yeah, most BKDK training and practices never even try to incorporate the adrenal reality type exposure of which I write about here.
Again, historical traditional practices are awesome and I have observed and occasionally participated with those types of traditionalists and found them most illuminating - illuminating as to historical honoring of ancestral origins. When they also teach and preach those ancient ways as realistic self-defense systems, combatives for military use or simply fighting (both the illegal kind and the sport kind) I have my doubts.
Just something to mindlessly meander about in a contemplative way!
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3 comments:
About headlocks. This happened a few years back from my neck of the woods:
"...photo lineups used to identify Mr. Oddone as the man who put Andrew Reister in a fatal headlock at the Southampton Publick House"
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/Southampton/232118/Oddone-Reister-family-in-court-for-run-up-to-murder-trial
The victim, Andrew Reister, was a corrections officer moonlighting as a bouncer at a club when he was attacked and killed - with a headlock that cut the blood off at the carotid artery.
Headlocks -- they happen. Learn how to defend against them.
Thanks John for your input but I see those types of situations as social fighting where the possibility is - possible and feel my view is more about the actual predatory attacks a process/resource predator would use and headlocks is not one of them from my seat. I also see what you present as less a headlock and more of a choke hold. To me a headlock is about control while a choke hold is first a control the a submission through unconsciousness, etc.
A headlock can easily morph into a "choke hold." The pressure is always the neck, and unrelenting force produces unconsciousness, then death. A novice or wannabe has no grasp of what "control" is.
If the outcome of "social fighting" turns as tragic as a predatory attack, what's the difference? You feel that headlocks are not a go-to or effective (?) move for predators, but with the advent of MMA and a plethora of grappling arts that are now all the rage among young men that is no longer the case. The attacker that was convicted in the link I sent over was likely inspired by jiu-jitsu or sambo or something of the like he saw on a Pride or UFC match. To reiterate, because this wasn't an act or predation per se is rather meaningless given the end result.
I still endorse the teaching of headlock escapes. Don't you? For the most part headlocks are functionally similar enough to a choke hold to warrant serious consideration.
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