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At first, the Karate-Ka diligently learns the lessons and techniques of Kata...
...then, once a level of competency is reached, the student attempts to learn all there is to know about the very deadly applications, or Bunkai, hidden away within the Kata movements.
During a Karate-Ka's training he/she believes they are training oneself to adequately defend themselves when they have to, but once they start to utilize Bunkai, only then do they understand the level of physical damage that can be inflicted upon another human being, and why it must never be used except in extreme situations.
To understand certain aspects of Bunkai, you simply need to understand basic physics...
...when you strike any object, a certain amount of force and energy is released...
...and if you can double the speed of your strike, the resultant force inflicted upon the object almost doubles.
And if the object being struck happens to be human bones, joints or organs, catastrophic and in some cases fatal injuries will arise.
Now, a Karate-Ka can train hard and long to increase the speed of his blocks and strikes with great effectiveness, or...
...he/she can use the secret of the Hikite , which they have been unknowingly learning from their very first Kata movement...
For example, if after blocking and trapping a punch, you grab hold of an attackers arm and pull him towards you while unleashing a back-fist or front kick you will inflict the most amount of damage possible, by doubling the amount of impact speed through the simultaneous action of striking and pulling or Hikite...
...couple that action with the targeting of a pressure point and your attacker will undoubtedly know by then, if they're still conscious, that they're up against the real thing and just might decide to go and find an easier victim...
You see, it's that pulling by one arm, while striking with the other, the Hikite, that doubles your punching or blocking speed, and faster speed means greater force.
It's like a head on collision between two speeding cars, as opposed to one car just hitting a wall.
To practice Bunkai in the Dojo is very difficult and must never be practiced except at a very slow speed, otherwise someone will get hurt.
So, right away you can see the problem...how can you become proficient at Bunkai without practicing the techniques at full speed?
Well, realistically you can't, you'll just have to learn them at a controlled pace and realize that they will be there for you, when you need them.
So, there you have it, one of the secrets of Kumite, the Hikite...
...the secret that's no secret at all, and one that you've been practicing all along...cool eh?
RJF
