Most of us seniors already know that the jump back was more of a 'show' thing rather than a really viable defense against a low cutting sword attack.
The move may have some benefits in developing balance and athleticism in students, and because it is in the traditional kata it should continue in its execution_but it is in the applications that you need to wake up to it.
I personally believe that the move does not bode well in self defense for a certain type of heavy set student, especially if were to do it in the street under adrenaline_because he could easily topple over and then find himself on the ground, maybe stunned or worse, while an attacker with a bat will beat him to death.
First of all, none of us will be able to foresee how the angle of the bat attack will take form...maybe low to the legs, maybe across your neck, maybe across your elbows/centerline, maybe straight down like a hammer.
Once I heard an Okinawan master explain to me that the move was designed to jump over an attack by one of those long Chinese weapons being swung at your legs from a distance. That would make more sense, other than the come back with the 'jump forward' to then block something with the left arm and elbow strike etc.
In other words, if an attacker is swinging a long weapon at your legs from a distance, and you jump back, how are you going to jump forward the long distance to close on the attacker for some block/elbow strike/ Uraken/Shoken?
So was that jump back move really designed against a bat a stick, whatever_ so you could jump over it?
I like it better the way Toyama sensei taught it, as a defense against a power front kick.
He did not teach the jump back, but used it as kanbun Sensei showed it_ as a defense against a searing front kick followed by a punch:
*Not a jump-back, but a quick step-back. It is an oblique step -- you go one step back and sideways. No sword or club in the bunkai, but a kick launched at you full force...
You step back out of the way and sideways, redirecting and controlling the kick with the downward-sweeping left arm (and grasping hand).
{This makes lots of sense to me because you don't ever want to block a powerful front kick by slamming your ulna bone across the incoming sharp shin of the kicker.}
Basically, we don't block the kick; we block ourselves away from the kick. The attacker then drops into a lunge-punch position while we drop into a horse stance with a left circular block for the punch, and deliver the elbow strike, etc
Some of us feel that the jump back with the left leg being raised upon landing is for locking an incoming kick with the left leg.
Maybe so, But personally I would not teach that, because as you fly back attempting to land solid and balanced, while a powerful front kick launched by a very strong and heavy opponent, is crashing into your rising left leg for a block...will knock you flat on your ass.
If you don't believe it, come to our dojo, where I have just the right guy for you to try it on.
