Opinionated Bastards

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The Bunkai Bastards random ramblings on the state of practical Karate and self defence in the UK


    • Apr 2, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 20 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Opinionated Bastards

    What makes a good Uke...and what doesn't?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2022 17:45


    After a while of hiding away the bastards return with their musings on what makes a good Uke.

    Should you change kata - form to function or function to form?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2022 21:54


    The Bastards discuss the notion of updating kata to bring it in line with your "bunkai" or to avoid the "bad habits" it encourages.

    Can anyone be a black belt?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 10:26


    The bastards discuss the question "can anyone be a black belt?" and what does it mean. As usual, there may be some offensive (to some) language.

    Building character

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 7:38


    The bastards visit the idea that building character is the same as building "good" character.

    Is bunkai really the answer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 12:47


    Is bunkai really the answer? It very much depends on what the question is, where you are starting from and where you are going to.

    My lineage is...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 8:25


    The bastards (for some reason) discuss the relevance of lineage in your day to day training and if and how it adds any validity to your training.

    Training to fail, is that what you are doing?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 10:39


    The bastards discuss a common flaw the general approach many partner training drills.

    "If you can't say anything nice..."

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 8:41


    A short discussion on the culture of letting bullshit (of all kinds) ride in the name of respect.

    Cross Training

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 8:06


    A quick chat on the need (or not) to cross train other arts to complete your skills.

    Baggage - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2021 69:25


    Part 3 of the changes discussion, the first two look at what we've dropped from our classical training, both culturally and training methodology. This one isn't really "baggage" related but we must have replaced stuff we've dropped, this is our attempt to tell you what it is.

    Baggage - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 66:40


    Follow up from the cultural baggage chat, this time discussing "traditional" training practices that we have dropped from our training and why.

    Baggage - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 59:00


    The Bastards muse on the cultural baggage attached to Western karate, what they've kept, what they've dropped and the places in between.

    Places we've been, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 29:58


    The Bastards and special guest Andy Allen discuss some of their favourite instructors and seminar experiences... ...and almost no negativity (almost :-) )

    Places we've been, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 34:38


    The Bastards and special guest Andy Allen discuss some of their favourite instructors and seminar experiences... ...and almost no negativity (almost :-) )

    Basics and applied karate

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 12:35


    Does conventional Kihon really fit with the applied method?

    Beyond Bunkai

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 9:27


    What is bunkai (really?) and where do you go from there?

    What not to wear

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 11:56


    The benefits and downfalls of training exclusively in a Karate Gi

    Conversation with Vince Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2020 81:46


    If you are involved in applied karate you'll know who Vince Morris is (and if you don't know who Vince is, you are not really involved in applied karate)

    Who is Sensei?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2020 32:14


    What is a sensei? How long do you need a sensei? Can you live without a sensei?

    #1 Trials and Tests (and Women's self defence)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2020 15:48


    This is the first episode of EBD, it is basically a conversation on the differences between self defence and martial arts, particularly with the emphasis on Women's self protection. It is here as a test bed for a larger project but may still pique your interest if this is your thing. Enjoy.

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