Andrei Shvets

Set of self-defense Bassai Dai

Impoverished samurai found themselves in dire straits in Okinawa in the
19th century. They were forced to leave the military service and take up
farming. They did not have the ability to use conventional weapons, but
they needed to be able to defend themselves against both bandits and
peasants.

Gichin Funakoshi wrote in his memoirs about constant skirmishes with

Okinawan peasants. Attacks on passersby were common. Impoverished
samurais learned various styles of Chinese wushu and created kata karate
to defend themselves against aggressive peasants.

In kata karate, the most effective techniques were selected in the form of
simple movements so that they can be practiced alone. Each kata is a
minimal set of self-defense techniques. Therefore, there was only one
defense against each type of attack in one kata. Therefore, in each kata
there are only a few defenses against blows, and all other techniques are
releases from grabs.

When performing kata, you need to accurately imagine the sequence of

attacks. The same moves can serve as a defense against different attacks,
and then they will be repeated in kata.

Kata Bassai Dai consists of techniques of protection from blows, grapples

and attacks with a knife and staff.
1 The opponent pushes you in the chest with both palms. Join your hands
and deflect the attack away from you. Jump forward as your opponent
starts to regain his balance. Push him in the chest with your forearm. Your
effort should be directed downwards in the final phase of this movement.
The opponent will be thrown to the ground.

2, 3 The striker hits with his right hand. Deflect the kick with your right
hand and turn around. Continue to push your opponent's hand away with
your left forearm. Then push the attacker in the chest with your right
forearm.
4, 5 The opponent hits with his left hand. Deflect the kick with your right
hand and turn around. Push the attacker in the chest first with your left
forearm, then push with your right forearm.
In defense against bumps and bumps, the force and inertia of the attacker
is used. The opponent must be pushed away in the direction of the
direction of his blow.
6 The opponent kicks. Step back and deflect the attacker's leg with your
forearm.
7, 8 The attacker hits his head. Deflect the kick to the side with your right
forearm. Raise your opponent's head and push them in the chest first with
your right forearm, then with your left forearm.

In kata Bassai, you only deflect your opponent's punches только with your
right hand. This way, when preparing for an attack, you can focus your
attention on only one of your hands, and this will reduce your reaction time.
8-10 The opponent grabs your belt or belt. If the attacker is standing close,
push him away first with your forearm and then with your palm. Then punch
your opponent in the neck with your fist.
11-13 The attacker grabs the clothing on your chest with both hands. Turn
around and knock your opponent's hands to the side with your forearm. If
the attacker does not release the grip, hit him in the neck.
14 To continue freeing yourself from the grip, gently hit the neck with the
edge of your hand.
15, 16 The opponent grabs the clothes on your chest or by the collar with
one hand. Press your forearm down on the attacker's arm and force him to
bend backwards. Step forward and hit the attacker in the neck with the
edge of your hand. Your other hand should support his elbow from below.
The enemy will fall.
17 If your opponent has grabbed your clothes with his right hand and has
put his left foot forward, then you must take a step back to perform this
move.
18,19 If the attacker does not fall, extend your right arm and make him
bend back even more. Then grab the opponent by the collar and pull them
back. At the same time, kick your foot into the attacker's hamstring. It will
fall.
20.21 The attacker grabs you by the throat with one hand and strangles
you. Knock down the opponent's hand with your forearm. Step forward and
hit the attacker in the neck with the edge of your hand.
22,23 The enemy grabs you by the neck with both hands and strangles
you. Hit his hands from the bottom up. Then take a step forward, push the
opponent with your chest and push down on his hands.
24 If the opponent's arms are outstretched, punch him in the neck.
25 The enemy strikes with a staff. Deflect the blow, take a step forward and
catch the opponent's arm with your elbow. Spread your arm sand pull your
leg back to dislodge the staff and throw your opponent. This is a foot
sweep.
26 The opponent strikes with a knife from below. Repel the enemy's armed
hand. Slap your foot behind the opponent's back, press down with your
forearm. This is a back trip.
27, 28 The enemy will steal you with a knife. Knock your opponent's hand
out of the way. Take a big step and turn 180 degrees. Grab the opponent's
hand between your forearms and throw it. It's a throw over the hip.
29-31 The opponent has captured your hand. Knock down the grip with
your free hand.
32-33 The striker has his arm around you from the front. Push the gripper
together with both of your hands.
34-37 Your opponent has you wrapped around from behind. Step forward
and push the gripper together with both of your hands.
38, 39 The opponent has you by the neck from behind with his elbow bend.
Move to the side and down, and hit your forearm back. Turn the attacker
around and throw him.
40-43 The attacker grabs you by the side of the neck with his elbow bend.
Tap on the opponent's head with your palm and free yourself from the grip