Kata Bunkai Waza. What makes this trinity of training so important?
Kata Bunkai Waza: What makes these elements of martial art training so very important. And sadly, in modern days, these are very, very misunderstood.
I know that many people in the martial arts believe that Kata, the base foundation of everything is worthless. Black Belt magazine has printed countless articles over the years stating this also.
And again, sadly they miss the boat.
There are many martial art masters of old who did not like forms. James Mitose being one. But the reason they did not like them had nothing to do with the forms themselves, but rather the frustration of trying to get students to open their minds and see the deeper meaning.
And there is always deeper meaning. Unless you subscribe to the "woke" generation.
Kata Bunkai Waza
I have spend years with the concepts of Kata Bunkai Waza and realized recently I was also only seeing a small fragment of the information. I was taught that A+B=C, and too bad that is only a small fraction of the teachings.
Training in Kata for a true student of the arts leads to something called Bunkai. And Bunkai is a discussion about a topic, and with the case in point a Kata. And the issue with martial arts of the western culture is this discussion is for the purpose of "knowing" not learning. The reason for knowing is to move on to the next level. EGO based. When EGO flourishes learning stops.
Back years ago I had a Black Belt in my school who truly understood Bunkai. The reason was because he realized that Kata was a study, and a study without end. Roadblocks yes, but no end. He could talk for hours on a Kata with 6 movements. I hope Steve White is well, maybe he will see this!
Kata Bunkai Waza
And something very important about Bunkai, a discussion is not 3 sentences. The art of discussion is dead in the Western Culture today. It is about being RIGHT today, not a give and take of learning. Another reason the Western Culture is DEAD and needs to be buried.
People once had discussion to learn. Now it is about being RIGHT. The funny think is there is no such thing. I did many things in life I thought were RIGHT, and they were at time. But today they are mistakes, and far from right. An understanding of Yin/Yang teaches this.
Kata Bunkai Waza - Bunkai to Waza
Bunkai as part of Kata Bunkai Waza, leads to Waza. What is Waza? The definition is a trick. Or more understandably a technique. Today techniques are created out of thin air rather then as part of a study. The problem is people make Gods out of Waza because they like them. A=B=C right? Yeah, no Waza or techniques are a one size fits all idea, and do not WORK.
A+B=C is not real. This is a teaching point only, because there are the other 23 letters of the alphabet to consider and the endless combinations of them. You can take Kata Bunkai Waza, study them, but you must let go of the information, looking to learn more.
And there is always more if your mind is open to learning above all else. The White Belt Mindset, full circle of life.
Kata Bunkai Waza in Conclusion
A true master of the martial arts knows he or she has only begun to learn. And they also see something others do not, and that is they see similarities but not absolutes.
Similarities show the path, absolutes are roadblocks most people never go beyond.
When you think you know something that is the time you need to realize you know nothing.
"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing." Socrates.
Thank you for taking time to read this article called Kata Bunkai Waza.
Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!
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