Keep Your Distance!

Or should you?

There are many examples of bunkai for Shotokan kata on the web showing defensive then attacking moves from a traditional Shotokan distance.  The question though is this really the optimal distance for correct kata "real world" application?

Since I only self train at this time I do a fair amount of online research relating to karate and other martial arts. One person who has had a tremendous influence on my interpretation of kata application is Iain Abernethy, who teaches that most kata applications can be thought of as being applied in a close-in situation. This opens up interpreting the "blocks" and pivots and being throwing or other take-down techniques. For me, as someone who stopped traditional training in the early 1980's after just 2 1/2 years, it's made understanding kata so much more enjoyable and relevant.

Considering that self defense situations which result in a physical altercation typically are within striking distance it makes sense to close the gap quickly and decisively with strikes, followed by throwing/disabling techniques then retreating.  Obviously to throw/trip/break you need to be close to your opponent, so when interpreting kata techniques always keep these options and your distance in mind.

Well, that's all for now...