Bunkai is a Japanese term that means analysis of . Oyo is a word that refers to the self-defense application of a movement in kata (see http://www.bunkai.co.uk/). Bunkai is the better-known word and is often used to mean both analysis and application. To discuss bunkai is to ask this question: how do we make sense of karate forms? By this I mean, how do we possibly derive practical applications from some of these odd, esoteric movements that we so painstakingly memorize? And even if we can make sense of these choreographed shadowboxing forms, are there self-defense derivatives of kata that will work in the real world? In the U.S., part of the problem is the way that karate arrived on our shores. For the most part, karate and other Asian martial arts were imported by military men who were stationed in Japan and Okinawa after World War II, and in South Korea after the Korean War. Many trained in martial arts while there, and brought back the knowledge that they had acquired. The problem was in the teaching methods of Asian masters and the relatively short time that U.S. servicemen had to train. In many styles, kata was taught and perfected for years. Not until a student had reached the black belt level did the masters begin to impart the self-defense applications of kata. The kata often contained the entire system of fighting and self-defense, but a student might labor ten or more years until he was granted the keys to unlock the hidden meanings. Thus, the rotation of servicemen in occupied countries guaranteed that they would be taught a relatively shallow version of a karate system. When they returned to the U.S., they would teach what they knew. In many cases, the oyo was lost. More martial artists are paying attention to bunkai and oyo these days, and there are some very good resources available that help the researcher dissect kata movements and discern practical uses. However, I would venture to guess that most schools simply teach kata with no reference to bunkai. In Karazenpo, bunkai is difficult to sort out. Although some of our forms are similar to those of other karate styles (example: our Pinon 1 is essentially the same form as Kata Sono in , Pinon 1 in Tang Soo Do, Heian Shodan in , etc.), other Karazenpo forms (Pinon 6 & 7) have been generated within our system. Adding to the confusion is the fact that forms we have in common with other styles have been altered enough as they've been passed down that they now only faintly resemble the original kata. Also, Karazenpo is a hybrid style, developed originally in Hawaii, but mutating once it came to California. Our history and lineage are somewhat murky, and so are the interpretations of our forms. Additionally, most forms have Japanese names, as do specific techniques that make up the forms. Karazenpo has eschewed Japanese terminology in favor of more descriptive English names (i.e., "high rise block" vs. "age-uke"). This makes it challenging to follow instructions derived from more traditional styles, because there is a world of Japanese vocabulary that is second nature to practitioners of those styles, but very foreign to us. If you, like me, are practical-minded and want to discover self-defense applications to our forms, you'll have to do some digging. A good place to start is the internet. One of the better bunkai analysts and teachers of oyo is John Burke of Great Britain. He has extensive videos examining traditional kata. He is very pragmatic, but also creative, and is a great communicator. He has a website with videos at http://www.tv.bunkai.co.uk/. Another teacher worth watching, Ian Abernathy, is also from the U.K.. You can find his videos on YouTube. Most of the videos are from seminars, and as such are not as easy to follow as Burke's, but educational nevertheless. His YouTube channel is called Practical Kata Bunkai. One-Minute Bunkai is a YouTube channel that is produced by Sensei Angel Lemus of the Zentokukai Tode in Hawaii. These are videos demonstrating short applications of moves in traditional kata. The quality of these videos is exceptional, which makes them a pleasure to watch and learn. Finally, a good book on kata bunkai was recently published, and is worth reading if you are interested in the subject. It's entitled The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide to Deciphering Marital Applications by Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder. The book presents some solid principles for analyzing kata, and although it gets a little complex and somewhat off- topic toward the end, it nevertheless is a worthy examination of bunkai.