Kata bunkai is, without doubt, the original methods and principles of Okinawan karate and its Chinese origins. The originator of the kata would have his own effective fighting system and methods, and in a clandestine time a record of these effective methods and principles would be needed to pass on to trusted students and future generations. An opinion worthy of consideration would be that kata was a physical record, a mnemonic, of an effective fighting system and served as a means to pass on this knowledge, as well as a training regime to practise the methods and principles.
During the early 1900’s Anku Itosu was in the process of introducing karate into the schools of Okinawa as a means of physical exercise. Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to the universities and school of mainland Japan and the drills and forms were seen as excellent exercise to prepare young students for military service. These exercises promoting "character improvement" meant that the original self defence principles were no longer needed. Many of the original techniques were disguised for teaching to children. From the 1950’s onwards when karate's popularity spread to the western world, the original intentions and bunkai behind the movements within the kata had totally disappeared.
Today, there are dedicated karateka who now question what has previously been taught to them and look to the past to try and rediscover the original intentions of the kata bunkai. Unfortunately most of the original fighting methods recorded within the kata have gone to the grave with their creators. We cannot know what the original kata bunkai and methods were intended for, but we can, through a process of thorough study and dedication, reverse engineer the kata to try and find some true and worthwhile meaning.
To begin to unlock the kata bunkai we need to have an understanding of the nature of physical conflicts. The events and habits that generally lead to a full blown encounter are generally the same across cultures and have probably been the same since mans existence. These habits can include intimidating shouting and swearing, closing the distance, finger pointing, pushing and shoving and then some form of grab with a view to punch. The kata bunkai would contain methods to cope with all of these situations The main point being is to be pro active and pre-emptive. There is no such thing to block in a real situation. My own understanding of the term "uke" is to receive rather than to block
Another point to consider is that in real situations blows are normally always aimed to the head and face. In kata we usually find punches and strikes are generally at chudan/middle level. It is here that we need to consider the preceding technique which is usually to cause a predetermined response. This generally brings the head to chudan level, so although in the kata we are striking to chudan level, in the kata bunkai we are actually aiming to the face or head.
As a basic example consider the movement from Heian Shodan where you make gedan barai, then step forward with oi zuki. The kata bunkai for consideration could be From a clinch you kick the opponent towards the femeral triangle region of the inside of the thigh, or maybe the groin (the step into gedan barai). This would cause your opponents head to come forward and down (predetermined response). Your left arm would still be in contact with the opponent from the clinch so seizing either some clothing, limb or muscle you pull the opponent towards you making hikite whilst slamming your forearm in to the side of his neck attacking the pressure points and carotid sinus making gedan barai. So much for basic kata And we haven‘t even got to the oi zuki!
The kata bunkai will consider all aspects of the fight, from the opening exchange, (verbal abuse, shoving, finger pointing etc.) through the exchange of limbs to the clinch and grappling. The kata bunkai would therefore include methods and principles for pre-emptive striking, grappling, takedowns and throws and then ground fighting. It is my belief that originally most kata would have taught the methods and bunkai in the order that a fight progresses. Throws and ground fighting bunkai would come towards the end of the kata form. Tou must also consider the emotions you will experience during a real encounter. Your kata bunkai applications must be effective under the adrenalin dump and high stress you will feel so keep it simple.
To fully understand the real reason behind kata we need to concentrate on unraveling the kata bunkai. In order to unlock the secrets of kata bunkai we need to understand the common acts of violence that occur in an altercation. When we begin to understand the kata bunkai we then need to develop training drills to ingrain the kata bunkai into our subconscious minds. We would therefore be on the path to understanding and having at our disposal an effective and thorough fighting system for use in a civilian environment. For this was surely the original purpose of kata.
If you want to further your knowledge of kata bunkai, the following two books are highly recommended:
Bunkai-Jutsu: The Practical Application of Karate Kata
Five Years One Kata: Putting Kata Back at the Heart of Karate
