From conspiracy theorists to profiteers to well intentioned, committed students, all karate-ka (it seems) have a take on the mystery of kata application and relevance. Ideas like: “Only a few select people are still alive who know the REAL bunkai for these kata”, “It is the OLD way of training and Karate has outgrown it”, and “It’s the best/worst training for a real fight”. If any of these things were true, common sense would say that whoever was touting / teaching them would be the only instructor left. Everyone would be running to him because the word would be out that he had the “real thing”. So, to reverse that logic, because that has not happened, it is safe to assume there could be a little truth AND (most likely) a lot of exaggeration in most of the theories out there today.
Historical Data about Kata
We have virtually none. That is to say we have very, very little hard, verifiable historical facts about the earliest karate kata training in Okinawa. (I am starting there, by the way, because that is where the name and, for the most part, the art of Karate-do as it exists today, began.) There ARE a few common-sense inferences we can make with regard to the importing of predominantly Chinese fighting arts to Okina wa via trade routes. As well, there are MANY more theories that are asserted to be fact. One book getting high reviews (I have not read it yet) for its “unique” insights in this area is Shotokan’s Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate’s Origins (With New Material) Expanded Edition
But, in spite of all of this hypothesizing, with no true documentation or written records of names and dates, it is very difficult to track a timeline or pedigree of sempai/kohai (teacher/student) relationships. Also, the later morphing of Te (Hand, as it was referred to in its earliest forms) into hard or soft, complex or simplified, nobility or peasantry dominated Ryu (schools/styles) grew very organically. Therefore, having even the most basic knowledge about Karate-do itself, let alone the intricacies of certain kata and their “true/original” applications would seem to be well nigh impossible. This allows for the great debate on the subject that rages even today. But, making such claims as having the “real” bunkai for this or that kata is just setting yourself up to be ridiculed by those who know better than to believe it. But there are those who still “drink the kool-aid” so to speak.
History We DO Know
Okinawan historical information does give us a good start to understanding the early development and practice of Karate-do and therefore kata. Under King Sho Hashi, the Ryukyu kingdoms (now Okinawa) were united and opened to a vast trade network with China, Korea, Japan and (to varying degrees) most of Southeast Asia. In this great movement of goods, cultural ideas along with teachings and skills were greatly traded as well. This makes fairly obvious the connection to Karate-do’s earli
est beginnings.
Later, under Sho Shin, a more political shift led to the banning of weapons throughout the kingdom and a more totalitarian control of the Okinawans’ lives. Here we see the fertile historical soil into which the seeds of conspiracy theories have been be planted. It was even more enriched by the later Japanese occupation of Okinawa, which lasted until 1875. This history is discussed in much greater detail in a very good book by Pat McCarthy:Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate (Japanese Arts)
While it is true that virtually no records were kept during this period and it is known that the training in the martial arts (armed or unarmed) was a death sentence to anyone at the time, it’s a leap to say that there was any unified resistance movement against the occupying Samurai. There were no doubt battles and disjointed resistance, but the stories (handed down by word of mouth for centuries before being written down) about groups of farmers training in secret to use their hands, feet and farm tools to drive out the invaders would seem to be at best greatly exaggerated. So, by extension the ideas of kata being the secret folk dance training tool of guerillas is equally tough to swallow. Far more likely, it would seem that, while training in secret makes perfect sense, it was to defend themselves against bandits, possibly against the Samurai (if personally attacked) or even against each other. This is also a guess…but it is based on the known history of other military occupations and underground movements against them. It would be a first of history to have a perfect conspiracy at the time…only to have the details of it still last to this day.
Modern Folk Tales
It seems to make traditional kata training more interesting to people or they feel more connected somehow if they believe they are carrying forward with some great movement that started before they were born. I guess that is why the “lost secret” stories of kata application training persist.
I find it far more motivating to think that whatever applications might have been intended for a certain movement, or even if that is the original movement of the kata at all, that I can take ownership of it now. As I train and work the form to perfect my execution of it, I am also perfecting IT to fit me. After all, its original intent was a training tool for karate-ka. And, whether secret or not, its first purpose was to improve the students ability to use the techniques of karate-do to fight. So, no two people being the same means no executions of kata (even the same one) will be the same either. Kata is a living thing that grows and changes with each life cycle being each new student. THAT is the history and application of kata that I want to be a part of.
In Part 2, we will find out whether modern kata training is relevant or a relic…OUS!
Marc G.
