It's an interesting fact that Karate is widely believed to be an art comprised solely of static punches, kicks and blocks. It seems that no matter how many times I explain the difference between the basics forms, their functions, and their applications in Karate, people find it terribly difficult to comprehend Karate as anything other than prearranged punches, kicks and blocks (with a few shouts thrown in for good measure – an instructor of mine once told me, "When in doubt, 'kiai'!").
Karate has grappling? Sez who?!
"One must not lose sight of the fact that karate is "all-in" fighting. Everything is allowed: Every effective method in no matter what form of combat sport exists in Karate, redirected under the dramatic conditions of a man's desperate fight for life, using the means given to him by nature. This is why karate is based on blows delivered with the hand, the foot, the head or the knee. Equally permissible are strangulations, throwing techniques and locks”.
- HD Plee
Once you study and analyse kata (as opposed to just mimicking them), you realise that many block-strike techniques in the kata make little sense when applied to realistic scenarios. There's a good reason for this – it's because these techniques/combinations were never intended to be applied as block-strike patterns, rather these are often aesthetically formalised grappling techniques.
“There are also throwing techniques in karate… Throwing techniques were practised in my day, and I recommend that you reconsider them.”
- Shigeru Egami
The founder of Shotokan Karate, Gichin Funokoshi asserts a similar view in 
his book Karate-Do Kyohan stating that "….in Karate, hitting, thrusting and kicking, are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included"…and why wouldn't there be? After all, karate is a civilian fighting system devised by the Okinawan population, formulated for the sake of defending one's self and others. As such, it's only natural to have close range and grappling techniques – without them, the art would be severely one-dimensional.
There's even a word for it – Tegumi, literally meaning "hand grapple", is used to refer to the grappling aspects of karate; it is likely to have been based on the indigenous wrestling style of Okinawa which in conjunction with Chinese martial arts were to form the basis of Okinawan Karate (the 'te' in 'karate' is likely to represent 'tegumi'). Karate tegumi emphasises close combat principles of grappling and striking coupled as a single (range-dependent) aspect of fighting.
Where'd it go? Why don't I see it?
Well, the simple answer to this is – It didn't go anywhere. You don't see it because you've not looked for it and/or because you've not been shown it. Prior to the early 1900s, the striking and grappling aspects of karate were equally stressed in training – that is, in addition to striking techniques, regular karate training would include throws, chokes, joint-locks, sweeps, and strangulations via the application of kata.
“Kumite is an actual fight using many basic styles of kata to grapple with the opponent.”
- Choki Motobu
In the early 1900s, Karate underwent a series of changes in order for it to become an acceptably safe addition to Okinawan schools' physical education programmes – as a result, the art was unconsciously 'diluted' with many of the tegumi aspects removed so as to be able to easily/safely teach the art to young children (older students that were deemed 'worthy' were later taught the applications of kata). This left training incomplete for many practitioners.
Furthermore, when karate was introduced in Japan – as per standard Japanese customs, it was sought to be regularised through the introduction of a uniform, grading regimen, standardised competition (albeit this was slightly later) and… the exclusion of excessively violent techniques (as a result, bunkai training became even more secretive than it already was) as they were considered distasteful and detrimental to society. It was also around this point that the kanji used to write 'Karate' was switched so that the meaning changed from 'China-hand' to 'Empty-hand'.
Popular bunkaiologist (Word of the Day…go write it down…okay, I lie – it's not a real word), Iain Abernathy, states that without "thorough understanding of kata we are left with only a fraction of the karate syllabus. The commonly used techniques (kicks & punches) take up around 5% of the information available." I shouldn't need to explain that missing 95% of a martial art system is well, not necessarily a good thing (though personally, I'd say 95% is a bit of an exaggeration; his article is available here)!
Abernathy furthers points out that though practicing the applications of kata, and utilising these applications in sparring has become more popular in recent years, many so-called 'applications' remain impractical and impossible to use against a non-compliant opponent. Of course, given the history – there isn't any definitive means to determine the exact intended applications of the various kata.
Grappling & Ground fighting
Let's be clear what I mean by grappling/ground fighting techniques – you're not going to find many of the tremendously sophisticated ground fighting techniques that you will find in ground and grapple-oriented fighting arts; the karate system was not designed for prolonged one-on-one matches against skilled grapplers.
I know a few people – let's call them kata apologists – who look for the weirdest, most wonderful ways to suggest that kata has every single technique imaginable. Really, that just doesn't make much sense (can you imagine Funokoshi grabbing Shigeru during a training session, pulling him into rubber guard and working for a locoplata? …It sounds awesome but also unlikely!). The main purpose of karate ground techniques is to incapacitate (or distance) your opponent as quickly as possible so that you can stand up to address any other incoming threats. As such, techniques attacking the groin, throat, eyes and hair are all acceptable.
What karate does have in way of a grappling system is a myriad of 
takedowns and throws (the vast majority of which are designed to work best in conjunction with strikes), a massive variety of grapples/joint locks from a standing position, and some basic ground fighting techniques which are designed to minimise the duration of the fight on the ground. Furthermore, there are some basic takedown defences – most of which focus on common brutish attacks such as tackles, bear hugs and shoves.
It's the principle of the matter…
More important however than the actual grappling techniques that are present in kata are the principles of combat that are available. While the applications of specific techniques are limited, the utilisation of the principles of behind these techniques allows for a far greater scope – furthermore, they allow one to be a flexible fighter, adapting knowledge and techniques on a conditional basis.
"One must withdraw from the kata to produce forms with no limits or else it becomes useless."
- Hironori Otsuka
Sound familiar? Let me present it to you in a better known phrase:
"From form to formless and from finite to infinite."
- Bruce Lee
Now, Bruce Lee was not a kata advocate at all stating that pre-arranged sequences to battle off choreographed opponents is silly (and rightly so! As I've already hinted at, kata are not choreographed sequences to battle
multitude of very understanding attackers but rather a convenient means of storing and teaching a collection of techniques and principles). However, when it comes to the actual traditional principles stored in kata, we can see that Lee's thoughts mirror those of traditional masters. Grasping the principles of kata allows a karate-ka to adapt his/her techniques; it allows you to bend with the winds of adversity by adapting the principles in a finite series of sequences to create infinite possibilities – truly, from form to formless.
Karate for the Next Generation
Alas, it's a new millennium, and while the basic dynamics of a fight probably haven't changed all that much, other significant changes have taken place. For a start, due to wider access to gyms, bodybuilding information, and nutrition, attackers are likely to be bigger and stronger than they once were – let's not forget the popularity of elements such as steroids, amphetamines, and alcohol adding a wistful aspect to many an attacker's capabilities.
In his article, Throws and Locks in Karate Kata, available here, Harry Cook (Goju Ryu 7th dan, and Chief Instructor of the Seijinkai Karate-Do Association) recounts how one of his dan-grade students – a policeman – was unable to subdue a large, intoxicated aggressor using just forceful punches and kicks (including some to the groin). The policeman, known as 'C' (mystery for the sake of anonymity), eventually settled the incident by applying strangle hold. This is a pretty clear example that the grappling aspects of karate are still in use and indeed, useful! (In the same article, Harry also tells us that the dinosaur, Struthiomimus, had very similar skeletal features to that of a modern ostrich as an example of how nature, form and function are related)
Moving on, thanks to Jackie Chan and The Matrix movies (and also the MMA generation to no small extent!) martial arts have boomed, it's pretty easy to find martial arts training regardless where you live; as such, it's a good idea to moonlight at martial arts schools other than your own to experience the vastness of approaches available in self defence (and fighting in general).
Moreover, if you follow the logic that 'thugs' are attracted, much like moths to a flame, to the violent nature of combat – it is natural to assume that 
many may have had some limited training in easily accessible 'hard' style arts such as Boxing, Karate, or nowadays, MMA (I still don't agree that MMA should be considered a style in itself but there are plenty of schools that teach the 'pressure-tested art of mixed martial arts'). Besides, if Charlie the Chimp can pick up a nidan, then a your local hoodlum should just about manage a 4th kyu!
Granted, given that delinquency is closely related to a lack of personal discipline, it's safe to assume that said 'thug' has not trained extensively in any style (though some are remarkably disciplined! I remember a vicious amateur boxer named 'Tyrone'…), it's important that we as the current generation of martial artists take this possibility into account with our training. I'm not suggesting that everyone join Muay Thai and BJJ classes or devote 3 hours a week to applications against trained fighters but rather, we should develop a familiarity with the grappling aspects of our own styles (yes, most traditional styles have them – karate was not exclusive in this respect). After all, it just makes sense to have some understanding of the techniques that attackers are likely to use against you (i.e. a paper shield has limited use against a water gun)!
You don't even have to spend years deciphering kata (that is, in the case that your instructor doesn't teach you bunkai and oyo), you'll find similar techniques in many other arts – take advantage of the fact that we can learn from more than one school of thought!
We must always look to adapt and evolve our systems to benefit us on an individual level – however, don't nuke the city because it could use a few new bridges! Actually, let me clarify on that before I end – like a city, we first need to build a solid infrastructure or foundation in our chosen art. It's only once we have a solid base that we can begin to cut away, restructure and sculpt our methods for them to be truly beneficial to us (otherwise you end up a confused and tangled mess, lacking the ability and experience to perform any of that which you’ve been taught).
“Karate may be said to be a hard technique when compared to the soft technique of ju-jutsu, but softness includes hardness and hardness includes softness. In other words softness is necessary to become hard, and hardness is necessary to become soft, and to begin with both softness and hardness are one.”
- Gichin Funokoshi
Sometimes referred to as the “pigeon-toed stance”, sanchin-dachi is a basic Karate stance. When I say ‘basic’, I mean it is a core stance in various styles of Karate that requires years of dedicated effort to truly become proficient in. Regarding its name, ‘Three Battles’ is commonly said to be referring to the unification of mind, body and soul though there are various other interpretations (such as the optimistic literal, ‘defence against 3 people’; or as the likely practical name of a sequence which uses 3 battle steps (in relation to its basic Kata format) – with the ‘steps’/“bu” removed).
A bit of an awkward looking stance (especially since many practitioners traditionally perform the Sanchin kata – also known as Peppuren – topless!), Sanchin in my understanding is all about condensing power; developing explosive force.
When in movement, we naturally create momentum (and as a result ‘force’) – punches in coordination with steps have the natural momentum generated by our bodies’ movements making them stronger. Sanchin-dachi is a stationary stance used to develop force without a reliance on bodyweight or momentum.
By forcing you to keep your body rooted, the stance reinforces the habit of coiling energy before you expel it as a punch. Power shifting using your hips is essential.
Key Points to Remember:
- Relax, but drop your weight so you are rooted to the floor.
- Your toes are turned in slightly (“pigeon-toed”).
- Think of the arm action as the same movement as forcibly breaking a two-handed shoulder grab from the inside-out.
- Tighten your muscles; pull your inner thighs towards each other in order to protect the groin and help coil power. Your entire body is tensed, punches are as if you are pushing through resistance – it’s meant to be very strenuous (nowadays, we call this an isometric exercise)!
Common Mistakes:
By the way, don’t be too surprised if your instructor happens to give you a slap, punch or kick while you’re in Sanchin. Given its physical structure, the stance protects many of your body’s weak areas and as such is often used for body conditioning.
Not so long ago, terms such as 'Karate' or 'Kung Fu' were synonymous with self defence. Indeed a black belt was revered as a master of what appeared to be mystical arts showcasing inhuman feats of strength, aggression, and agility - maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but the belief that black belts could defend themselves to almost superhuman levels was fairly widespread.
The MMA scene reduced these superhumans to mere mortals wearing funny white pyjamas...some of these masters became laughing stocks for the world to see. People became hugely sceptical of the vast majority of Traditional Martial Arts (especially any 'Internal' Arts), which was only natural given the situation and frankly, a lack of public understanding regarding martial arts, sport combat, and self defence scenarios.
Though, I'm sure this issue must have by now been addressed in-depth by a plethora of knowledgeable martial artists more articulate than me, I'm going to explain the topic from my understanding. MMA fighters are immensely talented individuals; the sport is easily one of the most demanding of those commonly practiced in the world today. However, MMA (really, I mean Combat Sport in general) is not self defence training - MMA is a rule set.
The Basics
Let's start by examining the differences between ring fighting and a simple brawl. In my opinion the key difference is 'emotional content' (as phrased by Bruce Lee). While aggression and getting fired up is common in MMA, they are not akin to the anger and the intent as presented in a self defence situation. A MMA fight is not personal (in most cases!), self defence is nothing but personal - allow me to clarify at this point, a fight is not self defence; a fight (even just a drunken street fight) requires both (or more) parties to, at least subconsciously, agree to the confrontation.
Self defence revolves around survival - it is the necessary response to an attack of malicious intent. The victim (for lack of a more apt term) is not in the mental mindset to fight. As such, self defence isn't about winning, it's about not losing (...your life).
(Of course, I fully concur that what starts as self defence can easily develop into a fight, and that fight can then continue into an attack on the original attacker once the 'fight' is over. But I think the point at hand is clear...)
The devastating effects of a 'sucker punch' are well-known. World class fighters have been knocked unconscious by an unexpected punch before or after their fight - in many of these occasions, the so-called 'knockout punch' would hardly have phased the fighter during the course of the fight (probably because of the adrenaline dump powering him on) - a clear warning isn't always available in street encounters. This leads to the next factor, matchmaking.
All Combat Sports involve some form of preceding matchmaking. Matches are usually made according to weights and comparative abilities. For example, you would be matched against someone of around the same weight (5-10 lbs either way) and of a relatively comparable skill level in order to ensure the safety of fighters as well as in hopes of securing an exciting match. i.e. If I became an MMA competitor, I wouldn't have to ever worry about fighting Fedor unless he or I respectively lost or gained substantial weight (and I by some miracle was deemed to be worthy of the Fedor's fists).
Destiny/Luck (or lack thereof;) is what determines your opponent in a self defence situation (and to some extent in a 'standard' street fight/brawl) - you could be fighting a 'moronic meathead' (standard training dummy) or you could be positioned against a trained fighter on amphetamines.
Combat Sports prepare you to focus exclusively on your opponent and ignore any distractions occurring outside of the ring/octagon/mats etc -not a very helpful skill should any passerby/witness choose to join in the attack (scarily, this is a relatively common occurrance!). You are prepared to react only when you know an attack is coming; your guard is already up. Street situations do not allow for this luxury, which is why most traditional martial arts dedicate years to slowly cultivating a state of relaxed alertness, referred to as Zanshin ("remaining mind") in Japanese arts. Jean-Claude Van Damme famously positioned himself for a barrage of insults following his Franglais assertion, Je suis AWARE.
Of course, Zanshin isn't quite a Spidey Sense - it is simply a healthy awareness of one's surroundings developed through training different forms of kumite ("sparring") and other such exercises. It is not a trait exclusive to Japanese martial arts practitioners by any means; most seasoned bouncers and security personnel develop zanshin unconsciously whilst on-the-job.
Self defence (or street fights in general) do not involve any kind of regulations - the gloves are off (pardon the pun) and anything is legal. Biting, pinching, eye-gouging, hair pulling and striking to the groin are examples that scratch the surface of the attack possibilities present in a street fight than do not coincide with MMA training. I'm not suggesting that MMA fighters are unable to perform these techniques, I'm saying that such techniques may be less instinctive to an MMA fighter than to say, a Krav Maga expert (...that said, Krav Maga in my opinion, is one of those few styles that can easily result in the victim being given a longer prison sentence than the assailant).
Furthermore, there is no determined time limit to the fight. While most fights are believed to last between 90 and 180 seconds (longer when groups are involved), most self defence situations are resolved (for good or bad) within a minute.
Remember: A situation can end following a simple slip of the feet; there is no canvas ring/octagon - one could hit his head on the curb. Many deaths have occurred from falls in street fights.
Let's talk about equipment - most safety equipment used in combat sports is for the sake of both fighters. Wearing gloves reduce the risk of breaking your knuckles or hand-bone (in case the punch lands on your opponent's elbow or square on his forehead); gloves also provide support to the wrists which are known to buckle under impact or falls. When on the receiving end, gloves reduce the risk of being cut or breaking any facial bones; while increasing the chance of being knocked out - in fact, this was one of the primary reasons to introduce heavier gloves into boxing. Prior to this, many of the blows that now usually result in knockouts would more likely result in broken teeth, cheekbones, noses...but no knockout.
There is also a factor of the equipment not used in MMA - knives, guns, bats, bottles, chairs etc. Regardless of one's training, a weapon in the attacker's possession always complicates matters - relatively speaking, very few people (even those trained in weapon-based styles) would feel comfortable when the pointy end is facing them. Whilst many martial artists may have some experience training against weapons (or at the least, understand how the rules of a fight change completely when weapons are involved), pure Combat Sport fighters have no experience in such occurrences (unless they've looked into it personally).
Groundfighting in Self Defence
Groundfighting (while necessary to know...to an extent) is its own jar of sour pickles when it comes to self defence. For a start, on the ground you're vulnerable to damage from anything that's on the ground - if you're in a bar or club, this could involve broken bottles; or if you're on the roadside, this could be sharp rocks or sand getting kicked in your face.
Tackling multiple assailants whilst standing is an impressive feat - even if you're not able to beat them, you may be able to bump and shove them before making a dash (...you could always take a page out of Musashi's book and try fighting them in a doorway or narrow alley...though this is tenuous at best) - Doing it whilst on your back is a near impossibility (unless your assailants are completely and utterly incompetent...no, I mean more hapless than those guys from the Home Alone movies - what? it's Christmas, it's on TV all the time) - even Rickson Gracie made the clear point that if you roll with two guys that are determined to beat you, one way or another you're going to lose (I should point out here though, that he also stated that if you use BJJ correctly, in most self defences situations - you'll remain standing whilst your assailant is 'rolling'). Groundfighting is great on the mats, but realise that it is learnt only as a necessary precaution in self defence.
And I say the following out of pure speculation (but it makes some sense to me): If it is a female that has been attacked in what could be a potential rape situation, pulling the attacker into closed guard may only arouse him more - certainly, the arousal may be short-lived if the defender breaks his arm a moment later but, I imagine that short period of arousal against the woman's body may leave some emotional scarring that simply kicking your attacker in the balls and running away would not. ...Just speculation....This of course won't be true in many cases....
The Disclaimer
This is the part where I tell you that I have absolutely nothing but respect and admiration for Mixed Martial Arts and its practitioners. I'm not saying in any way that MMA isn't effective in self defence - in many ways, MMA practitioners are much more prepared for self defence situations than many so-called TMA artists. MMA practitioners tend to have higher levels of fitness and better body conditioning as well as being accustomed to the full contact nature of street encounters (though randori or jissen are often talked about, relatively few TMA schools really devote sufficient time to their training - though I hasten to add, this doesn't necessarily refer to no time limit, no-holds-barred-to-the-death-style training...but rather to training techniques in a variety of situations against a moderately resisting opponent who is able to counter and/or break attempts at attack).
I'm not interested in arguing which is better - that's really just a matter of personal opinion as to which discipline better fulfils your personal goals (the assumption of a linear comparison is not really well thought out anyways). Personally, I see relatively little difference between MMA and TMA - to me, MMA isn't really a style of martial arts but rather the utilisation of different aspects of TMAs to function under a rule set (I'm not too fond of these new guys who have no background in any one style/particular strength but are just 'okay' at everything...).
The major difference I find is that TMA's are not for fighting - they are primarily for self defence. As such, they both have extraordinarily different learning curves (that is, MMA can be learnt faster but will not help you as much when you get older; TMAs are much slower to learn but can still be very effectively utilised when you've passed your physical prime).
Fighting is an integral aspect to both disciplines, but for TMAs, it is something that follows self defence - it does not define 'self defence'. And that's really the message I'm trying to get across in this very long post. While Combat Sports can be very effective for self defence, their practices are not an example of self defence; there are other effective options available given that they are trained correctly.
Kata (in the context of Karate) can be loosely defined as pre-determined sequences of movements and techniques practiced alone or with a partner. They are commonly believed to simulate combat situations though beliefs of how and how well they simulate these situations vary from person to person.
Kata are widely considered an inherent part of karate training - to be complete as a karateka, you need to practice basics, kata and sparring (for those of you that read, 'The Triangle Hypothesis' - this is in similar fashion).
Most Karate styles incorporate kata as a fundamental aspect of their syllabus though different styles choose to adopt and teach different kata that tend to reflect the respective karate style (thus sometimes, kata is described as a style's "blueprint").
For example, while Shotokan kata are originally known to have derived from some older Shorin Ryu technique sets, the evolution of the style (in particular, the influence of the 1950s karate competition scene) has seen the kata place great value on aesthetic form - an indicator of this is that bunkai ("analysis") must be extracted and to an extent, moulded from the kata (which has lead to some questionable applications!). Ashihara kata, in stark contrast, appear to lack any aesthetic formality as each technique is akin to a stripped down application. Goju Ryu (in my limited experience of the style) provides a middle ground in which the traditional basic karate techniques are formatted in kata rooted in self defence applications - these kata appear to use more close quarter applications than those of the Shotokan and Ashihara styles (though, I suspect Hideyuki Ashihara's uncompleted 'Goshin no Kata' set (Self Defence Kata) intended to focus on close range encounters and techniques).
Kata are often discredited (especially in online forums!) due to misunderstandings - some of these perpetuated by poorly informed karateka. Recently, I read an article written by a Karate-sensei in a fairly well-known martial arts magazine which stated that kata should almost be considered a "dance" to help drill balance and basic techniques; and that kata would never really help in a realistic self-defence situation... funnily enough, this was this particular sensei's argument of why kata IS beneficial! I should point out that this same individual wrote that the main aims of traditional karate were life lessons/morality and good health - that self defence is not really a focus in the art! (The gentleman is of course, entitled to his opinion but I disagree - in my opinion, while personal development and fitness are an integrated part of the art, I feel that 'self defence' is the most central aspect of karate.)
While I agree wholeheartedly that kata on their own will probably not teach anyone how to defend themselves; I strongly believe that kata in appropriate conjunction with basics and sparring will serve only to enhance the practitioner. Basics teach you the techniques; Sparring allows you to apply your techniques; Kata present to you a 'roadmap' of how the techniques can be applied - 'premeditated shadow-boxing' if you will.
Can you learn to defend yourself without learning kata? Absolutely. Many arts do not utilise kata, but almost all arts encourage the practitioner to repeatedly practice pre-defined combinations/sequences or some form of shadow-boxing.
Benefits
The benefits of practicing kata can be considered three-tiered, depending upon one's experience with the art:
Beginners: Practicing kata is developing 'muscle memory' (this is why many kata require you to perform every technique from both sides) and learning to sequence basic techniques into combinations with the proper footwork.
Intermediates: Above + an introduction to 'fighting karate' - Bunkai within the kata introduces intermediates to more advanced karate principles and techniques such as throws and grapples.
Advanced: Provides samples of how karate can be effectively used in real situations; Allows karateka the opportunity to search for bunkai/application so as to deepen their own knowledge of karate techniques and combinations - this is the point where karate becomes a completely individual and unique art. It can be dynamic or rigid, a soft style or a hard style, dependent on the strengths and preferences of the karateka.
Suggested Exercises
Beginners: Practice your kata - it builds discipline (this is common sense, but sometimes common sense isn't very common!). Practice it at different speeds. Try it as fast as you can (but don't sacrifice technique or stance). Slow it down; tense your entire body with every technique you perform. And just for fun (not on a regular basis!), see what happens when you change your footwork - overstep, shorten steps etc ...learn why footwork is so stressed.
Intermediates: By now you should realise that kata is not just a sequence of moves and shouts. It is a physical textbook; with every technique, you are turning a page. The problem is that not enough people know how to read this physical textbook and instead treat it as a picture book –the vast amounts of knowledge in kata then become lost.
Bear in mind, all of this can be learnt without studying kata. There are always alternatives. Kata is just the chosen route of most karate systems as it acts as a pre-prepared manual for attack and defence based on the traditional karate systems - it is a memoir of sorts; charting the preferences of many of the early karate masters. This doesn't necessarily mean that every technique in kata will be perfect for you, but it is a great place to get started. Start treating kata as a reference, not a demonstration. (Zen-like analogies end here, promise.)
Practice your kata but with a twist. Start from Kamae (fighting stance). Perform every technique as you feel the application to it works. E.g. Age uki ('rising block' as shown in the illustration) might be a hair grab (using the straight preparation arm) followed by an elbow/forearm bash from the inside line (blocking arm).
If you feel stuck for variety, consider the following concept: 'Every time two parts of your body meet during the kata, there is strong potential for a grapple, sweep, or throw.' This exercise can even be done with a partner however, be sure not to stray away from the basic movements of the kata - form dictates function.
Advanced: ....you should be giving me tips and exercises.
At an advanced level, one can look at further studying kata in their historical contexts - perhaps the kata may have been designed to provide defence against armed assailants?; dissect why it is put together the way it is (and I don't mean in just a 'yay! let's prove the old masters right sort of way...look at it critically, use some logical judgement); examine popular examples of bunkai and see for yourself how they feel - after all, some interpretations may be.... 'poorly suited'. And finally, extract your own 'oyo bunkai' from the kata - and I really mean your own - not just something you think looks good/correct, but something you feel complements your individual style of karate - the technique's function dictates your form.
Socrates phrased it nicely: "To find yourself, think for yourself."
