Jitte bunkai

We had a go with Jitte kata tonight.

Umm.... yeah. Jitte.

The Japanese translation is "ten hands" implying that you have the strength of five men after mastering this kata. Trouble is, the five men are the Monty Python team...

Jitte also translates as "temple hands", or perhaps "temple guardian". This fits in with the other temple forms, Jion and Ji'in (Temple Grounds and Temple Bell, which could also be Temple Sound).

What about jitte bunkai then? Why does it give me the strength of five men, or at least the gatekeeper at the temple!!

It is often said the kata is a bo kata or a defence against the bo. I have yet to see good evidence of this so I remain sceptical for now.

The first technique would make a good arm break and it's a nice move for getting the hips and waist going. Also it reminds me of xingyi type movements of dropping/raising together in a scissor action.

There are other techniques in the kata that appear elsewhere, although the questions have to be - why those particular techniques? Why in that pattern?

Jitte remains an enigma, although I am reminded of Ricky Gervais doing the "boss dance" in the original UK version of the TV show "The Office"...

More study required then!







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