I mean to be fair the Hiraken is one of the harder punches to condition for. But I don’t think I necessarily agree with your statement. I’ve actually used this at full speed against people with gloves on (wasn’t a Hiraken fist due to gloves and safety) but I can land it as a normal strike. Sometimes I will adjust it and due to the style of combat it will look more like a jab under his jab that also deflects his shot and I’ve done that version relatively consistently, however the version shown here does need adjusting for combat sports a little. I’ve also done this exact version in other forms of drilling at full speeds when it comes to the attack and defend simultaneously part. I’ll hold that it’s a good option. If you don’t like the Hiraken itself that’s fine feel free to adjust to something you like more. When I look at kata I am looking at the principles you can learn from it. Using an eye strike instead still follows the general principle if you like that more. The reason I showed the strike with the same hand was because this particular kata shows that and I am demonstrating the principles in it but there’s a high chance I would strike with the other hand also. My videos don’t have to be taken that directly as I am mostly showing principles and I do not mind people adjusting for personal preferences. However, the rising block around 3 minutes goes above my head because I was using it as a grab. When I use it to counter his strike and hit simultaneously I don’t go as high because it is not necessary and I don’t want to be open to counters. However, when attempting to turn the strike into a grab the pressure of the falling hand makes it extremely difficult if it comes in at full speed if they are throwing with power and you mess up the timing at all. I extend the hand because it gives me a bit of leeway. This was something I discovered because I have actually pressure tested it. And the reason you don’t backfist is because if you pulled him in with a grab your hand isn’t in the backfist position and that would take more time. The straight punch is actually faster. However, punching with the other hand is probably actually a better option. My theory is that when this kata was made the beginner techniques (which includes this move) already existed so they kept it the same for artistic purposes more than the practicality of using the other hand. That’s just a theory though as I have no proof. But my purpose here was just to show the principles. Change it how you will.

Also, I highly disagree with the “real budo is about self improvement” some budo is about self improvement. That only became a thing around the very early 1900s or very late 1800s. The farther back you go in budo the less the self improvement mattered and the more practical fighting mattered. Nothing wrong with that being your ideal but it’s in no way a universal truth of budo. It’s a semi modern interpretation of it that heavily took over after the demilitarization of japan and the legal changes around teaching martial arts to kids after it was temporarily banned in schools. Respect has always been a factor but actual fighting was a predominant part of it for much longer than the current philosophy. Edit: I might be taking that last comment personally a bit because it’s a personal pet peeve of mine. I know you probably didn’t mean that with any negativity.