Karate teachers: Heian Yondan Kata. How do some of your view the Bunkai of the first two moves?

I m no expert, but let me give my two cents worth. I come from an Aikido background and when I first started to study Shotokan, the first thing I noticed about the Kata was the fact that most of the forms resemble Aikido techniques I have learned previously. By that I mean I tend to see either a grappling technique or a throw in most of the forms before I even think about a striking application. That s because in Aikido we were taught that the techniques, first and foremost, were created to counter an armed attack. That meant using grappling to control the weapon arm and either throw the Nage or apply a joint lock to disarm him. So if we are talking about the same Heian Yondan kata shown here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hqFHcK_iDGQ/Tb1rV9kJdwI/... Then my first impression of the first two movements in Heian Yondan is that it resembles a set up to an Aikido throw called a Shiho Nage. You can look up videos of a Shiho Nage applied against a sword or knife wielding opponent and you ll notice the set up movement and the following throw resembles the first 2 forms in the kata. Subsequently, there has been many interpretations of movement 14 to 15 and 18 to 19 for which the popular version is the breaking of someone s grip on your lapel followed by a front kick. My view is that it is a set up to the Judo throw called Tomoe Nage. I could be wrong. But as you can see, once you try looking at the kata from another perspective(in this instance a grappler s), you end up seeing a different bunkai application to the same movements. Hope that helped.

I do a rare Kempo style that very few people have heard of. We do Heian Yondan. The frist move where both hands are raised forming a rectangle has a number of real applications. One that comes to mind is like this. Someone come up to you and grabs you left wrist with their right hand. I pivot to the right while sliding my back int them assuming a back stance while raising both my hands as if doing the Kata. My left hand rising as I slid into the attacker causes them to have a weak grip on my left wrist. As I'm bringing my back into them I'm raising my right arm as in the kata which ends in an elbow strike to the attackers right side at neck or face level. Bet you have not seen this bunkai before.....? A bit hard to follow when written, it is easy to see if demonstrated.

There is no wrong application, unless it doesn't work or just as important it needs to work for you.

For beginner students you want to keep it simple

How does a fight start?

That is the first question I ask when looking at bunkai. Each part and section of the kata can be used for various types attacks. I try to find applications for as many possibility as I can think of, I may not be able to get them all to work, and so work better then others. But I would at least start with the basics ones such as high, middle and low punches or strikes, haymakers, front kick roundhouse kick, various grabs such as a wrist grab, someone grabbing your shoulder or elbow, or bear hug, chokes, or a person shoving you , etc.

For the most part I use the attacker starting in front and not the side.

One of my favorites is someone shoots at you legs, and you redirect them grabbing their head and following throw with a neck crack. Just be careful and dont screw up your partners neck.

It does also make a nice armbar application as well.

As Kokoro stated, it has many applications. Kokoro is a Shotokan guy, and so am I. We are built way different, he compact and strong, and I am tall and willowy, lots or reach. His bunkai will be different than mine, though I would expect it to be as effective. The neck-crank is good, as is a throw, or a standing lock.

I love bunkai, you can take kata as deep as you like.

After over 40 years, I am still learning from the 5 hian forms, something new pops up often.

Seek bunkai from other styles also, I personally have found Shotokan a bit short on bunkai.

My goju-ryu friends were very helpful to me there.

Heian Yodan

As stated this has a many application. One that I teach is the attacker is throwing a round punch or hay maker. The hand that is up high is used to strike the hand and or grab/trap. The second hand can be used as an uppercut depending on where the attacker is. But the one I like to teach most is the 2nd hand that is going up is used after the trap to do a standing shoulder lock which leads to a throw. You can strike (uppercut)for the distraction. Then you pull their arm in with you striking uppercut and the other hand begins to move forward. You can lock your own wrist or use a different variation of traps and secure the lock. Then put the attacker on the ground. The picture below says wrist lock, but there is no pressure on the wrist. The wrist is trapped and the pressure is on the shoulder.You can then slide to a wrist lock if you want. On the video look at 5:22 for the same lock. He does some other variations prior to that.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://hammer...

https://youtu.be/NPHOY9c0Xzk

We also do this from the ground to apply the same shoulder lock.