When a karateka gets into the clinch, what kind of options do they have? Whick kata, in your opinion, do you think has the best clinching techniques? What are those applications?
OK. Maybe I'm weird ... (alright, I'm most assuredly weird) ... but I kinda look at forms as combination grapple/strike/throw/ground thing. It's impossible for me to interpret kata in a free-fighting situation. For me, kata is up close ... touching distance. As I break down my Okinawan forms, it feels like the guy is already grabbing or touching me so I have to deal with his first touch then I have to deal with his ballistic threat then I have to sting him then I have to unbalance and throw him and maybe, finish him on the ground. Free fighting looks like a boxing match to me ... not like kata. Even my longer range kicks are thrown in close ... at my opponents back leg (knee, actually). Those funny looking kicks in Naihanchi look like sweeps that target Spleen 6 just above the ankle. Like I said, I could be weird...