After kata the second most significant aspect to karate are the applications (bunkai, bun-kye) we practise. Bunkai are a set of predetermined moves that are extracted from the kata  and then applied as fighting techniques under controlled conditions, normally with a partner.

Each kata has a set number of bunkai associated with them. You learn the kata first and are then taught the applications that go with it.

The first kata you learn, gekisai dai ichi, has five bunkai. You can see them in the video below (featuring Morio Higaonna who is a world class karate expert).

You’ll find more about bunkai under the Syllabus menu.

Pages in this section: 

• What is karate?
• What happens in a typical class?
• Basics
• Kata
• Applications
• Belts
• FAQ
• Terminology