Studies
using this tool were not the way my Isshinryu studies were taught. But as time
passed, training with many others, I found many, many other styles which used
this. And not a member of those organizations, I worked to retain what I was
shown, not so much as to question the relevance of such attacking patterns.
Perhaps
after 15 or so years into my art (blending the Isshinryu I studied with valuable
other drills (wazza, kata, etc.) from other systems, I had blended in such
practices without critical thought. Something occurred giving me pause.
Then
one Sunday morning when working with some students on a defense against such at
attack one of my senior students commented he really did not see the relevance
of those attacks for self defense. He made a solid point.
Now
he trained with many of those who trained that way, he knew it was not my
creation to do so. I remember how his comments made me start to think about that.
I
began to work out for myself why there was a purpose to such studies.
1.
Everyone
has to start someplace. Using a standard basic attack is useful to learn how a
defensive (or other) technique can fit into the space around an attack and use
it to down the opponent.
2.
Then
progressive study with harder and more focused basic attacks also makes sense
learning more than basic understanding.
3.
More
important is that the standard attack is just a tool. While many actual attacks
do begin with an opponent striking at you, that does not mean they are going to
step in and attack. On the other hand the more common attacks in differing
areas of the world, are not necessarily a striking attack. Many places the
attack may begin with a grab (among other things), I could see there was a
problem.
4.
But
thing about it a grab often begins with a hand reaching out in a linear
fashion. The same trajectory as a strike. That makes the relevance of the
standard attack pattern, just allowing the study to be made against a faster
attack. Thinking this way made the study more relevant to use.
5.
Many
times at clinics such standard attacks are the tool of choice to show how a
defensive strategy works. There is never much more time to really do more in
the time available. That does leave an
impression that is all there is to it. Now such use made more sense, because
the instructor was not doing more than open the door. They were really not
teaching you everything they could share with a dedicated student. (Go back to point
One.)
6.
My
evolution of technique study had reached the point I no longer use the term
Bunkai. Rather I began to think of
technique study on a finer level. I began to refer to such study as Application Potential. Seeing how each
movement could be used against an almost infinite level of attack. Realizing
how the study of a movement would fit
a.
Using
the interior line of defense against an attack.
b.
Using
the exterior line of defense against an attack.
c.
Using
stepping away the interior line of defense against an attack.
d.
Using
stepping away the exterior line of defense against an attack.
e.
Using
stepping in on an angle the interior line of defense against an attack.
f.
Using
stepping in on an angle the exterior line of defense against an attack
g.
And
there are many others depending how one understands their use against an
attack.
7.
That
is just the beginning of the larger study to really understand a technique use.
I refer to that larger most important study as Application Potential Realized. Where one’s training has progressed
to the level the technique can work against reality attacks. This is a much
larger study, of critical importance, to where what you have learned actually
works.
8.
Moving
from understanding Application Potential to actually having that Application
Potential Realized is a much more complete study that many suggest. It has
moved very far from the initial step in and punch for the beginner.
When
you start to see the larger picture of what is involved, you more understand
that everyone has to start somewhere with each technique learned.
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