The Secret Karate Techniques - Kata Bunkai (eBook)

Helmut Kogel (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2010 | 1. Auflage
248 Seiten
Meyer & Meyer (Verlag)
978-1-84126-961-0 (ISBN)

Infos

This book is aimed at both the experienced Karate student and those just starting up in finding their way through the theoretical and historical background of Karate and in the practice of the so-called 'secret techniques'. In reading the book it becomes easy to see Karate's relationship to other Asian Martial Arts systems. Its content includes Basic Techniques, Tuite (Lever) Techniques, Chin Na-Techniques (Hold and Control), Nage Waza (Throws), Shime Waza (Strangling Techniques) and Kyusho (weak points) Techniques. In this book we have tried to analyze Tuite and Kyusho Techniques from a modern anatomical point of view and to this aim have put together a new type of graphic illustration. At its hub is the Karate Kata, which contains all of the techniques mentioned above and which is invaluable for daily training once the various levels of the Bunkai (application) have been understood. The depth of these levels of understanding is layered according to the Omote (obvious interpretation) for the beginner and the Chuden Techniques (middle level) for the more advanced. The hidden, or secret, techniques open themselves up to the higher Master levels, which are described as Okuden.

Helmut Kogel learned a modern system of Karate fighting combinations from a western point of view when he started training in 1973. In 1992 he began to train in German Jujutsu. He also learned Philippine Arnis, Kobudo and Nihon Jujutsu. During several study visits to Japan, he gathered experience in several martial arts and in Kyusho. Under the guidance of Japanese Grand Masters he achieved the degree of 6th Dan in Karate Renshi, 5th Dan in Kobudo and 2nd Dan in Nihon Jujutsu. Kogel founded a Dojo in Germany and was head of a Karate group at the University of Ulm.

Textauszug

 

Omote

A Karate student spends the first few years learning its technical particularities. This means learning correct execution of the movements to ensure the right body posture and building up speed and strength of technique. This applies equally to Kata training; primary importance is placed on the correct external form. The actual background of the Kata, its hidden applications (Okuden), is not taught to beginners at this stage. This does make the Kata less attractive for many students, particularly in the western world. On the surface, the various Kata do not seem to be appropriate for use in a realistic situation involving self-defense. It is difficult for a teacher at this “beginner” stage to infect his students with enthusiasm for the Kata. This was particularly problematic in the past, when generally only a few Kata were taught.

Okinawa’s old Masters believed it necessary to practice only a few Kata, or sometimes just one, in order to perfect individual techniques and increase their effectiveness. They maintained that one single Master-Kata contained the entire repertoire for a realistic combative situation and for the required measure of self-defense. Today we know they were right. Yet it is understandable that a student might fail to appreciate the depth of the kata. The obvious techniques in the Kata are known in Japan as Omote. The variations in application due to individual differences are classified as Oyo Bunkai.

Tetsuhiro Hokama explained that the Kata in Karate can be compared to a large jug. Whereas a beginner and a student will only see the surface (and at best the bottom of the jug upon raising it), it is the Master (mostly from 3rd and 4th Dan) who enables an advanced student to view its core. Therefore, for an average student, the teachings of martial arts are mostly confined to the Omote – the obvious, easily recognized, simple techniques. Most students do not advance beyond the status of a beginner performing the Omote and their knowledge of the martial arts remains superficial.

Chuden

This refers to the techniques taught to a more experienced student at an intermediate level. They are more complex and can only be executed with a good deal of practice.

Okuden

The hidden, secret uses (Bunkai) of the Kata were passed on by the old Masters only to those students who had earned their complete trust. In Japan these techniques are described as Ura Waza. The secret techniques were also known as Okuden. As already mentioned, it is still common practice for those techniques which hold the true content of the Bunkai to be shown only to the higher Dans, and then only selectively. The passing on of advanced or hidden techniques is also carefully sifted. The particularly clever and refined techniques are only shown to especially trusted students (Uchi Deshi). The fact that Karate techniques belonging to the Okuden were not written down in earlier times makes it difficult to define the separate Kata, now, in the way they were probably defined 100 or 200 hundred years ago. Unfortunately, a lot of knowledge will remain hidden to us.

Oyo

Employing a Kata, however, need not remain confined to known techniques which have been passed down by word-of-mouth. Many Karate Masters have studied the techniques very closely and developed their own interpretations. These individual interpretations of a Kata are known as Oyo, and can distance themselves even further from the original Kata.

Although it is usually easy to recognize the most obvious uses (Omote), it is still often difficult to differentiate between Chuden, Okuden and Oyo.

Various methods are used to research the secret techniques of the Kata:

1.	Comparative analysis of Parallel Kata

2.	Analysis of related Kata

3.	Tracing back to the Original-Kata (Koshiki Kata)

4.	Analysis of similar patterns of movement

5.	Decoding hidden techniques

6.	Taking acupuncture into account with regard to sensitive body points (Kyusho)

7.	Comparing Bunkai interpretations with rules taken from the “Bubishi” (plausibility check)

8.	Viewing the versatility of one single technique in terms of Kyusho (sensitive points), Tuite (joint leverage) Shime Waza (throttling techniques) and Nage Waza (throwing techniques)

9.	Checking the practicability of a Bunkai sequence. Can this interpretation also be applied in both “left” and “right” versions (for attacker and defender)?

10.	Checking the practicability of a technique in a defensive situation. Reject what does not work.

With these methods we hope to rediscover important rules and movement patterns within the so-called coded Kata forms. We need to find the key before we can begin to translate the secret language of the Kata. We need to remember the acupuncture points of Chinese medicine when trying to recognize and analyze particular assault points in the Karate techniques of the Kata. Still, these methods cannot guarantee that we will rediscover and correctly interpret the versatility of the applications (Bunkai) which was so sought after and valued by the Masters of the past.

The following rules apply for a true Master-Kata:

1.	There is more than one interpretation for a single Kata sequence.

2.	There is no block in Karate; all techniques are an assault on sensitive body points and joints.

3.	Each application must follow an overall strategy which is consistent with the individual Kata (given it represents the entire repertoire of one Master’s combative art).

4.	The techniques need not follow the fixed ordered sequence of the Kata. Each sequence should function as a separate technique within the segment.

5.	The exercise must be successful against a persistent opponent.

6.	Each technique must be capable of ending combat on its own (one strike, one blow).

7.	Kata stances are not ballet, they need to be suited to the exercise (purpose).

8.	Forwards movements are always attack; movements in retreat are not only defense.

9.	Do not hang on a given Embusen (movement pattern), move as required by the situation.

10.	There are no unnecessary movements in the Kata. Each movement has a deeper meaning and is absolutely economical. Combat does not allow for wasted time.

11.	The backward movement of the hand to the hip comprises one application. It is not an end in itself nor merely a required part of a technique.

12.	The Kata contains the correct angles of attack according to the rules of Kyusho.

13.	Touching your own body in the Kata (Morote Uke) means attacking your opponent’s body in the same place.

It is almost impossible to decode the hidden techniques visually or through literature. Instruction from an experienced Master and working together on analyzing the techniques within this framework is what will help to open Karate’s inner soul. This is extremely difficult with Shotokan Karate, as the kata have been modified according to Qi Gong with the aim of promoting physical health. With this in mind, Gichin Funakoshi’s remark: “Execute the Kata correctly, the actual fight is another matter” is clear for those in practice. Modification of a kata without the necessary background is falsification and leads to a distortion of Karate and the techniques lose their effectiveness and flexibility. This is, in fact, what the Old School Okinawan Masters say has happened thanks to modern Japanese styles.

Obviously, the rules of the Kata are very complex and not comprehensible for a beginner who is, by necessity, fully occupied in the first few years with external forms. According to Japanese tradition, one is only qualified to receive the Mekyo-Kaiden “permission to authentically pass on a Martial Art” after having achieved complete knowledge and full appreciation of the secret techniques (Okuden) of the Kata – which is understandable considering the complexity of the Kata. Furthermore, the Kata have been continually modified by various Masters, which makes it impossible to clearly differentiate between the different categories of Bunkai (Omote or Shoden/ lower level, Chuden and Okuden or Ura, and Oyo). We have no choice but to refer to either an obvious technique (Omote) or an advanced technique (Chuden to Okuden). This is where the greatest difficulty...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 29.7.2010
• Verlagsort: Aachen
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Sport ► Kampfsport / Selbstverteidigung
• Schlagworte: anatomy • Chuden • Daily practice • History • Illustrations • Kyusho • Martial Arts • Okuden • Omote • theory
• ISBN-10: 1-84126-961-1 / 1841269611
• ISBN-13: 978-1-84126-961-0 / 9781841269610