Some thoughts about Motobu Choiki on Kata

We know Motobu Choiki was held in great regard in Okinawan karate because of his accomplishments. He wrote about karate, taught several kata to his students as well as developing some 2 person drills. His main kata study of Naifachin became the basis of his style of kumite. But what he felt about kata, is a bit something else, IMO.

 Found while I was reading “Motobu Choiki Karate My Art” by Patrick & Yuriki McCarthy.

 I want to begin with a quote by Charles Goodin; “With fewer kata, more time an effort can be devoted to bunkai. I do not think that Motobu-Ryu emphasizes bunkai because it has fewer kata. I suspect it has fewer kata in order to emphasize bunkai.” (Setting the record straight, 4^th quarter journal 2001, page 7)

 

Then ‘From Tales of a Great Bujun’ by Nagamine Shoshi, he writes

 Nagamine and Motobu – “The technique of kata have its limits and one must come to understand this.”  The technique of kata were never developed to be used against a professional fighter, in an arena or on a battlefield.  They were, however, most effective against  someone who had no idea of the strategy being used to counter their aggressive behavior. Motobu continued to say, “a small man can improve his technique as much as he can, and discover how it can be used regardless of time, place and opponent. In spite of a street encounter never being the same, the principles of the kata never vary.  However, one must learn how they are applied and how to blend in the winds of adversary.’

 

Motobu also said, “ Kata and waza are limited by themselves unless one learns how they’re applied in context”.

 

I am not a practitioner of Motobu-Ryu, and don’t accept everything even when written, but I think this is worth considering.