For those that practice Taekwondo?

Generally not impressed. I'm glad they're looking for alternative applications, but most of those either have a small window of opportunity (won't appear very much- see the "wrist grab + cross-collar grab defense in vid 3. Who does that?) or won't work on someone who is actually trying to hurt you (the reverse head wrap from standing in vid 1). I'd say they're all worth considering, just that most of what I saw can probably be done away with. There are simpler, more efficient solutions to the problems.

Also, that bit about "being directly descended from the Shaolin Temple" is sketchy AT BEST.

I remember the 3rd video, it's not meant to be an instructional video of the bunkai for TKD forms, but a record of the experiments by the poster of how some of the forms maybe applied, he used to be a regular here on YA martial arts section. His username is ISDS if I'm not mistaken. And he had a background in JKD and TKD.

These are amateur discussions compared to what the Karate folks put out. I like One Minute Bunkai, and also, PracticalBunkai (Iain Abernethy). You can see the quality of techniques and video is night-and-day.

Nevertheless, it does show that someone out there is a Taekwondo-in and who is thinking about what they're doing in forms.

I like the videos less for content, but more for the thought-provocation. It is the thought-provocation that inspires ideas and trials-and-error, and that is where the real learning takes place. So the videos I take with a grain of salt. It is the ideas I find more valuable. To be fair, I think the same for Karate bunkai.

Oh... as to bunkai and taekwondo.

Yes, bunkai is a Japanese term. Bunkai is not a term one hears in Taekwondo schools very often. For the language aspect, many Japanese terms are used - "bo", "bokken", "nunchaku", even "kata" and "gi". This is because many older Korean instructors has only schooling in Japanese martial arts like Karate, Kendo, and Judo; and also only had schooling in Japanese language. So you'll hear many older Korean instructors use Japanese phrases for common martial art things. But as to bunkai itself, the concept is truly foreign in many TKD schools - and continues to become rare.

There are many words that could be used, because it is the concept that is important. But I think the closest to "bunkai" you'll get is "bunhae" and "hae sul". They mean the same thing.

I have seen quite a few of the 'applications' of the first guy and I am far from impressed, they usually look nothing like the movements in the pattern. IMHO he is trying to make the movements of the pattern match the applications he has thought up and they usually end up being much less effective than other similar methods. What he is showing are not applications of the patterns they are applications of modifications made to vaguely resemble the movements in the patterns. For example, the application after 2:38. He says there is no room for a front kick off the wedging block, but there is if you step back properly. The leg sweep he does in place of the front kick moves his leg backwards but in the pattern you step forward and the two punches are mid section not downward like he does. It is like trying to force a square peg into a round hole, the last video is not much better.

Lol.

First off, for the 3rd video. Bunkai is Japanese, even though Korean forms have applications/explanations, this would be like Americans trying to use pounds instead of USD: It just doesn't work. Not bad explanations, although I doubt the tackle one would work.

For the first video, those are nice applications for that arm trap, I already knew most of them but I think thats a pretty good explanation. In the second video, hes all over the place but pretty good explination.

What exactly are you asking? I think those are good explanations, but one minute bunkai's are much better.

3rd video is a good example of how most people are taught. Thinking kata is real life application. He is told that those kata techniques will actually work. If he tries any of that for real he's going to get his but kicked. A sad example of a "school" taking money for nothing in return. People are lead to think that is the way attacks happen. Then after a long time and a lot of $$ spent they are too embarrassed to admit it is unrealistic and virtually useless. They say it works but can not prove it.

I like the applications. The first video has the strongest content.

Chris, I've used that **** in real life. Trust me, it works.

Just because you can't do it, doesn't mean someone who is trained properly with it can;t either.