Sochin, Kenneth Funakoshi, Kata and Bunkai

[brinnonvallere]

thats some solid punches he is throwing out

[likeke34]

He is in fact related to gichin so idk why people are saying he's not. His dad in fact trained w/gichin (distant cousin) although he did not. He was taugh by kanazawa, mori and asai sensei one after the other (JKA champions at the time). so idk why people are hating, claiming his bunkai is wrong lol

[eisbombenhagel]

@likeke34 Why are you supposing that the people you named knew what the kata mean? There are testimonials by students of Itosu that say that he didn't know all of the meaning in the kata and there were movements only for the show. Miyagi said that karate is a mystery for him and that he doesn't know many of the stuff. Motobu claimed that Funakoshi didn't know what he was teaching and hide that fact with eloquence. Now you are talking about men that didn't even learn from Funakoshi (besides of

[eisbombenhagel]

@likeke34 #2 a few "seminars" where most probably Funakoshi was sitting in a corner and was just watching or taking a nap as it is reported). Also Funakoshi was against fighting and using karate in fights. So if those guys didn't know the bunkai of the kata – what is most likely if you compare the JKA bunkai video with "real" applications of similar forms in China – then it's no suprise at all. They never learned it. That's why there is "japanese karate" and "karate" if you ask an Okinawan.

[TheGankaku]

this was good practicle bunki for the less experinced students and nice excucution for an elderly karateka the greased lightning bunki has a place so does this at my age 57 i can not react or do what i could 15 years ago well done thought i was loosing it some were?

[deejin25]

he has power and form, but being an acupuncturist I think he's suffered a lower body injury at one point. I started out in the JKA, so I'm comparing him to many Shotokan guys I've seen over the years.

[IEKUKATAKA]

After all this time I had not realized how really terrible he is in reality.

[Gendolavigna1]

where is sochin dachi(fudo dachi?)

[IEKUKATAKA]

My last teacher was Mr. Nishiyama. He was a student of Funakoshi and knows Kenneth. I have heard him say several times that they are not related.

[dawid30m]

whou care about positions..in real fight short positions,short block fast atemi atack,kyusho tuite...kata is just like fit exersise (or kihon)with good real bunkai make sens.this bunkai is to easy for black belt..not prepar for real dangerous.

[AikiNick102]

The funny thing about katas is that you can do it alone much better once you understand the meaning behind movements. But you can't do it with partner unless you know well how to do it solo. Paradox, isn't it?

[deek77]

Interesting point, but it has some parallels. Like in boxing, they have you work on technique, footwork, and stamina long before you get to spar. But boxing's still different because after while, you need to spar more in order to get better. Granted black belt training involves more sparring, but it's still a more balanced approach.

[kakumaku]

The best he does is his left side kick on this kata. Application for this kata seems like a stretch. No one attacks while stepping back. He looks like a Naha-Ti karate person rather than Shuri-Ti.

What is his back ground? Foot ball?

[deek77]

You mean at 1:27? Could be just a follow-up technique or counter. Sometimes you can step/ back and attack with the lead side, or fire back with a reverse technique after blocking your opponent's countermove. Not a high-precentage scenario, I'll agree, but it can happen.

[i18jun]

Let me say what i know about Mister Funakoshi. My GrandFather went to school with Mister Funakoshi. My grandfather told me that he was a exceptional athlete. Starting Linebacker on football team, Swim team Caption with college scholarships, great musician,etc. But most of all, i heard from my grandfather that mister Funakoshi was one of the toughest guys in school. Mister Funakoshi was a exceptional Athlete and this is not mentioning that he is a legend here in hawaii as a street fighter.

[psymodeller]

on 1:21 after the left punch if he decides to make a right kick on the genitals what we can do in fudo-dachi? Or zenkutsu? Can somedy please explain that to me? If shotokan is a martial art and not a sport or a show these techniques or variations of them (bunkais) should be applicable on the street many thanks

[Bassai]

Your understanding of Shotokan defense is confused. The stance we use on the street will always be in fighting stance (kumite-kamae). The use of zenkutsu-dachi is only a split second, at the point of impact of a counter attack (to use full body momentum on impact), then return to fighting stance. Techniques in kata are self defense ideas which you have to adjust in fighting situations, and not to be taken too literally. Kata is just A-B-C's of the technique. Hope this helps...

[IEKUKATAKA]

@psymodeller Here is the explanation you want! It's a sport. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, it is a sport. They trained me in Japan and I trained with them for decades. I now study Okinawan ko ryu. Shotokan is a sport, believe me.

[mimexicanalinda]

buen estilo de kache me encanta las artes marciales

[DenshaBoy]

too bad !

[Thome90]

gotta respect this man but his sochin-dachi isn't that proper...

[njtr]

Very good teacher. He does it nice and slow so we can see it. Very helpful.

[ThePurdude]

is kenneth funakoshi related to gichin "the man" funakoshi

[R0CKY44]

Distant cousin sort of thing, yes.

[eisbombenhagel]

@ThePurdude More precisely: Kenneth Funakoshi is the son of the third cousin of Gichin Funakoshi. He was born on Hawaii and did not learn Karate from Gichin Funakoshi – though his father Yoshio Funakoshi did for some years. He started with Judo and then Kajukenbo. Kenneth Funakoshi started with Shotokan in 1960 under Masataka Mori and continued under Tetsuhiko Asai. So he is JKA-related and doesn't share much with the Karatedo taught at the Shotokan or even with the old-style Shorin-Ryu.

[sweetypie000]

had a training session with Kenneth Funakoshi and he's the man

[agentgates]

very nice

[makandeli]

Ladrón, vos no sos nada de O Sensei, sos un chorro!!!

[onebigkiss]

I would think that if a guy has been doing Karate longer than you are old,he may know more about it than you.

[jbabiuch]

ok well ill put in my two cents for what its worth. my instructor is stressing combat kata against one person and one person only. each sequence you do should be able to take down, grapple, and strike. the application i came up with for this form was not this basic. it had several throws in it. for the actual martial artist watching this check out the book The Way of Kata.

[IEKUKATAKA]

Bunkai is measured by effectiveness, which includes realism. Karate-do was developed as unarmed self defense and in the period 1600-1868 (approx) much of the bunkai developed were against weapons (katana, bo, yari etc). It is rare to see bunkai against weapons and even rare to see realistic bunkai. However, many will not publish bunkai outside the dojo because of liability concerns (karate is about killing and maiming). Maybe that is what is going on here in poor bunkai. CHW, JKA since '64

[wskfqld]

It is always interesting to see the more mature students of karate performing. I actually enjoy a practical demonstration over a show pony version.

[DocLoony]

I don't think there is any sense in learning, doing, or demonstrating "bunkai" in this way. It doesn't explain the kata or the principles of shotokan at all. Each sequence in each kata is winning a live or death situation.

[IEKUKATAKA]

No it is not. Not all techniques in kata have a logical bunkai, some are kamae and some are deception as assigned by the originator. Some original kata are performed along with secret techniques done in the mind of the originator. Some techniques are simple practice, some are done as icons that remind the originator of a situation (bunkai) he was confronted with. Bunkai can be assigned by the practitioner, however, it should be traditional technique and require the mechanics in the kata.

[hafka77]

Omg, don't you see this is a demonstration? Instructional film, that shows you, how to start? Sure, kata is slow. You cannot see properly fast techniques, that's why. Sure, oponents don't try to defense them selves because they are figurants. This is basic bunkai and you probably never could use it in real fight. But everyone needs to start from basics!

[johnsawyer45]

mmmmmm that would work in real life......as long as attackers came at you one at a time and waited until you were ready for them.......oh and attacked just the way you wanted them to.

The bunkai is a nonsense.

[njtr]

Uh... This is just kata practice. It is only one aspect of shotokan training that contains a lot of technique. Check out the video "Shotokan Art of War," and tell me if you think that would work in real life. Something tells me that the only thing that really "works" though is what you do. You are the master. LOL What is your style? How is He supposed to teach TEACH the bunkai at full speed? He is just demonstrating, but you are already a leathal weapon right?

[xenadon]

Obviously you've never done any serious martial arts. It's not all about beating people senseless. It's also about learning to control your body, and stuff like that.

[christwarrior56]

very good

[shushyoustupidfool]

His "reglar" speed is about is as slow as a turtle.

[BKellyS]

Most of you sound juvenile, what are you, 12? I don't know this particular kata but Sensei Funakoshi obviously does it well, his excellent stances and precise movements obviously reflect years of training and mastery of the art.

[larafunakoshi]

Salott38 is correct, kungfushus is wrong.

[larafunakoshi]

Actually, Kenneth Funakoshi is related to Gichin Funakoshi. We know our blood lines.

[IEKUKATAKA]

Not according to senior JKA instructors still alive that studied with Funakoshi. I asked and was told the relationship does not exist.

[KingOkami]

you people are retarded! i would love to see u come to my dojo and talk shit....maybe i can show u how to apply this bunkai. this is correct and anyone who says otherwise is no a karate-ka!

[johnsawyer45]

Hi, I am sorry to let you know but, this bunkai is about as real as...........Santa Claus.

It simply is reverse engineered rubbish to fit the moves of the Kata.

I would happily visit your dojo and show you the sort of things I teach and then you could choose which you think is the more realistic.

[njtr]

These people really are idiots. He is demonstrating. These people obviously don't understand kata. They probably get drunk and throw beer cans at the TV while watching UFC. Jacks of all trades, masters of nothing...

[chatanyarasan]

shotokan should go back to the original roots in okinawa, the kata shown here needs more x factor from okinawa shorin ryu( kobayashi)speed and power I heard from okinawa masters.

[BandanaBoy123]

This bunkai is utter crap. I am sorry but it is and it as not karate at all. What a load of BS

[guitarninja83]

Basic.. easy, one meaning so?... Im sure you instantly knew all when you started right?

Immediately trying to show a beginner advanced applications like Abernethys bunkai would be careless and stupid. Perhaps you should stick with WWE....

[njtr]

I wouldn't want to train with a knowitall like BandanaBoy. However, I would love to show him a few kata moves at full speed and power. But, not to hurt anyone, just to demonstrate. Dojo kun #5 states that we must refraim from violent behavior, but it is tempting sometimes. You are absolutely right. Master Funakoshi is kind enough to show us the kata, and bunkai at slow speed, but this guy already knows everything. What a shame.

[tomgesch]

he sucks so damn bad....

[Magikano]

the hell r u talkin about? look how solid his form his and how fast his strikes r

[azato5]

sochin, is exactly this way, and the applications are correct, it does not matter how u analyze the kata, as long as it works, realize that he is doing this slowly so people can see.

[BandanaBoy123]

BUT IT DOESNT WORK!!!!!

Please check out Iain Abernethy, Geoff Thompson and people like that. What you are watching is NOT true bunkai.

[salott38]

YES, Kenneth Funakoshi is related to Gichin. I happen to know him personally and I know he is. This bunkai is just another way of showing what the kata means. Why are you putting it down? I thought karate people were supposed to be respectful. The comments here are not respectful at all. I do not put down any other styles or instructors. Why do you?

[KOF89]

He was in Poland , and Shichan and his son is very fast .

[larafunakoshi]

Thank You salott38. Kenneth Funakoshi always teaches to respect others. I've known him for 38 years and he not once spoke about others like kungfushus did.

[kungfushus]

THIS IS JUST LAUGHABLE!!

[azato5]

then u do not really understand the sochin kata....

[kungfushus]

I also agree. This Bunkai is a JOKE JOKE JOKE. By the way, KEN FUNAKOSHI IS NOT RELATED TO GICHIN FUNAKOSHI...I wish people would stop saying that! Funakoshi is like "Smith" in America. They are not related AT ALL! If he is, someone prove his lineage. It wouldnt be that difficult.

[R0CKY44]

He is related by cousin if I remember correctly, it's in the video interview at the end.

[larafunakoshi]

You are correct Rocky 44.

[azato5]

i dont know who u learned sochin from, but this is the real sochin, shotokan kata, and it is just that way, and yes he is a cousin of Funakoshi Sensei.

[larafunakoshi]

Actually Kungfushus, Kenneth Yoshio Funakoshi is related to Gichin Funakoshi. Also, 'Funakoshi' is not the same as "Smith" since there are not many Funakoshis. Kenneth Funakoshi only has 2 brothers and 1 sister and he has 2 sons and 1 daughter. We are not a huge family. Our last name used to be Tominakoshi. I can prove his lineage. Kenneth is my father.

[larafunakoshi]

Actually, They are related. Don't need to prove anything.

[Madza01]

Oh come on!!Who is this?1st Sochin kata is in sochin-dachi or known fudo-dachi and not in hangensu-dachi, 2nd his gedan-barai...even a child could

brake his arm,and his constant heel problem?That is why karate bacame so comercial,this is a shame!

[cbciccio]

Please, Study a little bit more of Karate Shotokan and maybe you'll discover that sochin is a very difficoult katav and very few people in the world could comment it... I think that here in youtube no one should be so brave to consider himself a "great master" and comment any kata from a grat master like kenneth funakoshi!!! Please think and study before talking

[larafunakoshi]

His name is Kenneth Funakoshi. Maybe you are so rude because YOU did not have the same success. Kenneth Funakoshi has kept everything the same as Gichin Funakoshi originated it.

[KaceKlosed]

This is just silly...bunkai shouldn't be applied to a continuous fight. Why would you play around with 4 guys trying to probably trying kill you? Check out the "Applied Zen" website for some real insight into bunkai.

[R0CKY44]

Kata is exactly that, defence against multiple attackers.

[eisbombenhagel]

@R0CKY44 No, it's not. A kata is a collection of movements, techniques and principles arranged in an exercise to pass on a fighting style. Kata also exist in other traditonal arts in and outside Japan.

You will find many of the movements in other fighting styles around the world where those movements are related to techniques against one single opponent. People who are fighting several opponents in their bunkai most probably don't know what they are doing because they never learned.

[borrux]

Nice kata but it's when bunkai is shown like this, that makes people think karate is a joke. Even as a demonstration of the "do" aspect it's lacking and doesn't work. The multiple attacker format that Shotokan seems to favour when showing bunkai is implausible at best and inaccurate in application. No reflection on Ken F personally - it is generally the same all over. I wish they would show it properly....

[simplykarate]

i agree. imho, there are 2 ways of showing the bunkai; 1 is solely based on the staright forward basics as shown in the clip. 2 is to base on the self protection style which inevitably use a lot of wrist / elbow or joint locks and throws / sweeps. those who dont understand shotokan karate deep enough obviously thinks it a joke when seeing 'fight' like this. :)

[kempobrad]

they are attackers from different directions, you can separate them if you like genius. multiple attackers attack simultaneously not one at a time. its defending in all directions.

[niseikenpo]

A good example of the JAPANESE insistence of SHIKATA in that it must conform to the cultural morays of what existed for. ancestoral concepts .That means use of the sword the prime distance for the sword is two sword lengths away from each other at all times.The original bunkai was quite differentWho fights or attacks from 2 sword lengths away.But the kata was well done.

NISEI KENPO

[hass51]

great to watch. thanks for posting

[sloknauth]

He is a descendant of the founder. He is not teaching the real Bunkai. The real would would have alot of throws and locks.

[Jitsumania]

I agree with you completely. for those of you who don't understand why, read George Dillmans books on the techniques of Kyusho jitsu, especially the 3rd book on Tuite and you will see why. Lots and lots of hidden technique in Kata not generally taught to novice students.

[kempobrad]

one difference between japanese karate, and okinawan karate. japan prefers the striking portion more or less...get a few techniques and get very good at them.

[kempobrad]

there are many ways to interperate the movements of kata. who is to say this is wrong?

[kungfushus]

THIS IS HORRIBLE BUNKAI!

[zatoichi1564]

Do people really fight like robots, I think not.

[R0CKY44]

This is kata, not kumite :o)

[tomgeschery]

i laugh at that bunkai....espcially the first kiai one.

[Snoopfly]

Mmm, it's great. You can tell he's rather expierenced.

[angelzee]

Osu!