Practical Kata Bunkai: Start of Bassai-Sho

This video looks at the bunkai for the beginning of Bassai-Sho (Shotokan version). It was filmed during a two day seminar in Dresden, Germany in April 2015. The seminar covered bunkai for the whole of Bassai-Dai and Bassai-Sho; as well as comparing the differences and commonalities between the two forms. I am of the view that the two forms complement each other very well.

One thing to note is that Bassai-Dai tends to work on straight lines; whereas Bassai-Sho expresses similar concepts, but in a more circular manner. In this short clip you can see the circles in the way the arm is trapped, the initial throw, the follow on should the throw fail, the second takedown and the following strike.

This is a very short clip taken from a full weekend of training; it therefore should be obvious that this clip is no substitute for having been there. Nevertheless, I hope what is shown is of interest and of some value to all viewers.

Thank you for your support of these videos! I’ll be back with more soon.

All the best,

Iain

[jmateua]

Oaw. First bunkai for this kata that makes sense to me. Very, very interesting. Thanks!

[josephmalone]

Very nice Kaitenage linked to kokyunage at 1:40-1:42!

[Eric_Dan-_MD_PhD]

Bassai-sho meant (according to the traditional teaching I took in Japan) to fight a stick, Bo. That is why the kata is CIRCULAR. Still, this bunkai is interesting and valid. ANY bunkai is valid. Thank you.

[riversidema]

Great, as always.  Love when you have one doing the kata next to the interpretation.

[KaratedoTiger]

This Bunkai is interesting and Practical.Unfortunately many of the old Bunkai is not practical.Sensei Ian has got it right like Sensei Patrick ent.Rly Naka Sensei from JKA admitted in an interview.That Shotokan never really looked deep into the combat side of things in their Bunkai.So much Dojo time was wasted in doing drills that were never going to work in a real situation.Thank you Sensei Ian for Practical drills from the Kata that can be used in Combat.

[Ash-Man]

I’m sure you noticed but that beginning throw looks almost identical to the part of Seiyunchin where one arm comes up and the other goes down while in a deep stance.

[stuarthughes]

i was always aware of this as a bo defence based kata & was taught as such ...sensei enoeda books cover this