Exactly what I talk about! The preparatory move of the block is the actual block and the block is the counter. Like gedan barai is a high level block because the punch is chest to head level and the preparatory hand coming up to the ear/shoulder is the block while the downward sweep of the arm is a bottomfist or an elbow/bottomfist combo. You would never realistically withdraw your blocking arm away from an attack before engaging it to block that very same attack--bit unless shooting backwards or sidestepping a considerable distance to withdrawal your entire torso out of range of the attack. But in close, never. Great video! Nice, simple explanation and illustration.

I'm a nontraditional martial artist but these videos make me realize how my nontraditional methods evolved and where they come from. Thanks for the videos!

Great bunkai on blocking. 5 strikes from one block by stepping forward is so much more affective. Amazed that it’s one of the basic application of a block in Okinawa.

This is a newer video than before, still using Naihanchi. Excellent bunkai.

Thank. I think both Wing Chun and Okinawan karate took southern (Fukien) trapping and striking (form the crane and other systems) and tightened up the motions making them more linear. So they definitely have a similar feel at times. I've never done Wing Chun but from what I've seen they do share a fair bit in common with Okinawan arts (especially with Naihanchi).

This is the first time I've ever seen anyone else show this sen no sen bunkai for uchi uke since the master I trained under when I was growing up showed me this exact same application many years ago. It totally blew my mind back then and I still love it. Osu!!!

Hello Sensei Parker. I really enjoyed watching your clips here in KZfaq. They have really resonated with me. I'm a karateka of long standing, having held senior Kyu grades in both Wado-ryu and Shotokan, and after several years training I achieved 1st Dan a few years ago with the Kodo-ryu Classical Okinawan Karate school under the tutelage of Sensei Nathan S. Johnson and Senseis Roy Taylor and Kevin Owen here in the UK. Sensei Johnson is the published author of two books that research into the foundation of Okinawan karate and how kata have been modified beyond their original intent over the years. You may have come across 'Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu & Karate' and 'The Great Karate Myth. Sensei Johnson comes from a combined Wing Chun and Karate background, and although his thinking has been seen as quite controversial, there's certainly some interesting concepts. I've learned a similar approach to the bunkai described in your video clip above, and agree that the standard 'JKA style' karate block & counter approach is perhaps not practical in the real world. Also we spent a lot of time working on Okinawan style sensitivity drills similar to the ones described in another of your clips. From a kata perspective we spent a lot of time looking at bunkai with the syllabus focused on 3 main kata - namely Sanchin, Rokushu and Naihanchi. As a former Wado and Shotokan stylist, what surprised me most was the theory that Naihanchi was perhaps originally intended as a grappling / locking / trapping / controlling kata rather than a 'kicky-punchy' let's learn how to fight opponents on a narrow ledge or boat, as always seemed to be the implication in those more Japanese of styles. I've also had the opportunity to undertake some Wing Chun training with Sifu Paul Burdett (great guy), and it was interesting to see some of the common areas too. Keep up the good work!

This is pure gold! Pure gold! Thank you very much. Very simple but so important! This is basics with really understanding Karate.

I think I speak for many when I say there is a desire for new material from Parker Sensei….

That the first move of any Karate block (uke) is also a block itself is nothing new to me. My first teacher told me that already. This is valid for shuto uke for instance, where the first move is the block and the 2nd (mostly teached to be the block) is actually the counter strike. Thanks for showing this here. Regards, Mario

Where did you learn this stuff? I only ask, because I've had to learn this completely on my own. It's actually maybe the second time I've seen someone make a reference to offensive footwork. It's nice to see other people validate my theories behind movements. I also like that you're controlling your opponent's head and breaking his structure, so that it will be difficult for him to counter attack without having to regain his footing. Very nice.

i like the bunkai you use from Naihanchi kata. Where the lower hand is a block, strike whatever you want it to be while you do the back fist to bridge of the nose. Isshinryu.

This is cool, for me beauty of these techniques is that they have multiple applications. I noticed just the other day that in the basic blocks, preparation for the blocking hand is top left, (gedan barai) top right (soto uke), bottom left (uchi uke), bottom right (age uke), so maybe it's also a very basic guide how to block depending on where the hand happens to be in the confusion of an altercation.

I do Wado Ryu but these principles are applicable in all styles of karate.

It is so good to see this, you have a open mind. You have had some GOOD training . Keep up the good work.

It looks pretty interesting ... Thanks karate I had quite pretty cool and good adventures within Capoeira. The kata within karate had helpt me to handle guitar and piano in the older future. After kata karate I had got my left hand even the very good to throw the ball within the longer distances and I was writting by left hand too .... Let's karate ...

Is great to see bunkai sick of kata which is not self defense and this is so similar to wing chung

Sensei Ryan, if my height is "average" how can I fight against a taller person? I respect you! greetings!

Thanks for this video. Terrific lesson.

I like this, if younwant to copy the approach then learn some WC theory - same stuff.