Karate Bunkai in Practice

Karate originated as a practical self-defense system, with its principles preserved within the movements of kata. Every kata contains proven methods of unarmed self-protection — the key is learning to read and interpret them. In this book, 5th Dan licensed karate and World Combat Association instructor Mark Kleber presents a systematic approach to understanding kata through his E.S.C.A.P.E. and W.E.A.P.O.N. models, providing structured methods for analyzing movements and uncovering realistic self-defense applications. Combining historical background and fundamental principles with practical exercises, illustrated bunkai examples, checklists, and analysis tools, the book teaches practitioners how to independently analyse kata and develop realistic training methods. Kleber’s approach was strongly influenced by renowned practical karate and bunkai expert Ian Abernethy, under whom he graded to 5th Dan in 2022. Designed for practitioners from yellow belt to dan grade, including advanced karateka and instructors, this book deepens the understanding of kata, bunkai, and the self-defense principles at the heart of karate — bringing greater meaning to kata and greater realism to bunkai.