Bassai Dai - Meaning and technicalities

[Dave J]

OK , in an attempt to stimulate some karate related discussion on here ....this is the kind of stuff I am thinking about as I walk my dog ............

Bassai Dai - often regarded as 'The' kata most typical of the Shotokan style.
 
What does 'Bassai Dai' mean ? I have heard different things ( To storm a fortress / Smash against the castle walls... etc )
Not only what is the direct translation but what is the metaphor for in terms of phycological approach / attitude when performing the kata ?? I have my views but what is your interpretation and what goes through your mind as you perform it ?

OK away you go ....discuss ...

[brywithay]

VERY big and bold upper body movements , with ( for lack of a better word) accentuation of the chest during blocking ( soto uke/gyaku uchi uke/morote gyaku soto uke..and so forth - but without 'puffing' yourself up to a ridiculous extent to feign the 'appearance' of power -  without which the performance would seem a bit lacklustre. I also keep in mind what the hips do during the 'choku tsuki/uche uke i.e do you turn the hips? = no - but do they turn ? = yes.

[Dave J]

How do you do the 5th sotouke ( The leg sweep move ) without bending your back or comprimising your stance ?

[JimmyTheHoover]

How do you do the 5th sotouke ( The leg sweep move ) without bending your back or comprimising your stance ?

Take the tension off the rear leg slightly and pull back using the left hip as you unweight the right leg - I come back to almost Neko-Ashi Dachi at about 455 degrees before starting the scooping block/deflection with the right arm while dropping deeper instance prior to completing the scooping action and the turn to 90 degrees while extending the other hand like a fist and simultaneously rising in stance as you drive forward off the left rear leg and complete the right arm Soto-Uke.

Don't know if any of that was intelligible - very hard to describe transitional movements IMO - but I think it's trying to analyse these sort of things that helps develop "quality" Karate - and is essential for good Insructors.

I think the key is transitioning through the "Neko-Ashi" and not completing the full 90 degree direction change...... what about the rest of you ? - how do you do this transition ?

Jim

[JimmyTheHoover]

<BUMP>

Nobody else got anything to say ? - nobody practice Bassai-Dai these days then ? 

JIm