Karate Bunkai


Blind Shodan Sensei Mark Brown explaining karate Bunkai to Robert Poelcat.

Bunkai in Karate, is the breaking down of the complex katas into sections that can be used for explaining both how and what the kata was originally intended to do, and what else the moves in the kata can be interpreted as from a self defense point of view.

Bunkai's literal meaning of "analysis" or "disassembly" refers to the application of the techniques or fighting scenes that can be extracted from the moves of a kata. To explain Bunkai, the sequences are usually performed with a one or more partners of whom to execute the predefined attacks, one student should perform the role of an attacker while the other karateka responds with either the defenses, counterattacks, or other strikes that are based on the kata.

Sensei Mark Brown, the blind shodan sensei at Mill Hill Dojo is held in high regard when it comes to Bunkai, despite been totally blind, Mark can teach both traditional and implemented bunkai to every Karate Kata in his syllabus.


First Kata Taigyoku Shodan Bunkai




This is some basic bunkai for the first karate kata of Taigyoku Shodan as perfromed in GKR, the kata is near identical to Shotokan's version of Taikyoku Shodan. This bunkai, filmed at Mill Hill Dojo featuring Blind Sensei Mark Brown and Robert Polecat Johnson, explains and demonstrates both traditional bunkai techniques and also some techniques used in the Dojo's own style of Polecat Martial Arts.


Check out some Polecat Bunkai Footage from Mill Hill Dojo