Yoshukai Kata Application

Jim Davenport, hanshi (Koshin-ha Chito Kai), once told me, "Kata has all the answers. The problem is, we have to know which questions to ask before understanding the answers."

Over the years I have spent a lot of time pondering this statement, and on some level, have come to understand these words. When I was younger, I enjoyed sparring on all levels--point, semi-full contact, and full contact kumite. Each of these activities are steeped in benefits, but all are bound by certain rules and regulations. None of them share common traits when it comes to kata application, insofar as ending a close quarter combative situation.

As we age, we realize "fighting fair" is fighting ignorant. The old men who created our kata did so with particular strategies in mind, and none of them included constraints by which the participants were required to follow. In fact, many of our kata include techniques, in my opinion, that will stop an assailant permanently.

I do not recall an MMA or full contact martial arts sporting even that allowed elbow, knee, wrist, or neck breaks, yet all these things are a part of who and what we do as budo-ka, and more specifically Yoshukai karate-ka. To fail to see those applications, or fail to train them, is to ignore what Dr. Chitose compiled in his own system of karate-do.

Punching, kicking, and blocking are miniscule in comparison to what is available to us as karate-ka in the world of Chito Ryu and Yoshukai. The reality of our art lies within, rather than without. What does that mean? The sporting aspects are outward; they represent those hard aspects of the art that can be applied with reasonably safe outcomes. At the onset of this editorial, I want to make it clear that I am not being condescending about the sporting aspects of the art; on the contrary, I think they play a very clear role in the development of a budding budo-ka.


Beyond the obvious lies the hidden techniques. "Hidden" is an interesting term--it does not necessarily mean "secret." In the realm of kata application, hidden techniques are those that are not obvious to the human eye, and the very essence of the kata as designed by the founder. When a teacher pursues an exploration into the kata of a system, the karate-ka must strive to understand what was intended by the creator of the system, and also have a grasp on the founder's background.

We are entering exciting times in Yoshukai Karate-do. I have seen movement by different members of different splintered organizations getting together to train and share, although there are some stylistic differences. The differences should be embraced along with the similarities; interpretation of kata by one may or may not fit with our own understanding of kata, but those interpretations should not be summarily dismissed.

Periodically, I post my own understanding of oyo (application) after spending time considering training a technique (bunkai). Here are some basic interpretations from a single technique found in our seisan kata. I implore all teachers of Yoshukai to share as well!