Redding Shotokan Karate

While practicing Tekki Sandan this morning, I was thinking about applications (bunkai), and why we move from side to side in these kata. If you've ever heard me talk about bunkai before, you might have heard me say, "You're breathing the same air!" as your opponents.

I think this is especially true about the Tekki kata. You're in a very desperate situation, no place to go (forward, backward, or even - yes - to the side). Tekki Shodan and Nidan start with a strong movement to the side; I think this is to move in an unexpected direction and take your opponents by surprise, and to clear a bit of maneuvering room.

In Tekki Sandan, however, you start still facing front, stamping to the side and blocking to the front. You slip your opponent's first attack and at the same time begin clearing room to the side.

At that point I started to realize the meaning of "every movement has a purpose." I could actually feel the little hairs on the back of my neck rise and I was overrun with goosebumps. When you step to the side, one foot over the other, you're strongly plowing a clearing through the crowd. When you reach out to the right, following with a hooking punch, you're disabling an opponent in order to clear out room that direction (followed by a strong movement and stamp to that side).

The next few kata after that little "myo" (enlightenment) were much different from the previous ones.