November 17th, 2013

From Emiliano Mazlen, Yon-Dan

Shihan, Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club

Applications of the Gan principle in Bunkai and Yakusoku Kymite

As in all circumstances on the deck (and off), proper application of the Gan principle is critical in Bunkai and Yakusoku kumite. This technique focuses on two aspects of this principle.

Our gaze is centered at the level of the throat of our partner allowing us to see all techniques. (It is a common error for the eyes to follow the techniques, rather than seeing the techniques with peripheral vision, if necessary. When the eyes follow the techniques, we become highly vulnerable to feints and disguised/hidden attacks.)

As long as our partner is in our field of vision, our gaze stays centered on them. (It is a common error for the attacker to stop looking at the defender while the attacker is in transit to a new position. It is also a common error to look away from the partner at the instructor. Generally when we are in an exercise with a partner, we do not look away from the partner - at the instructor or otherwise – unless the instructor specifically directs.)

Domo arigato gozaimasu to all.

Emiliano Mazlen

Yon-Dan

Shihan, Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club