I started with my karate training in traditional shotokan club. Back then, karate was meant for self-defense, wherefore kata was principle method of training. However, several years later, I began to realize that a new, competitive karate, was taking place. Wining medals became the goal and gyako tsuki became main technique, without even thinking of self-defense, while kata practice was considered unnecessary. Soon, karate became empty - to commercial and without essence. By no means, I could not reconcile with the idea that katas are some sort of "mediaeval combat dances" which have no value and therefore I decided to go on with my research by myself.
My research of the ancient Okinawan karate began with thorough reading of Funakoshi's "Karate do Kyohan" and history of karate. Only then did I realize that I knew nothing at all. I had my hands full of questions and I did not have any answer. What did the ancient Okinawan Tote look like? In what way was it different from today's karate? To make things worse I had no one to ask that. Still, luckily for me, I found translation of Bubishi. I never imagined that all answers to my questions were written down on Okinawa long ago.
When I first saw the translation of this ancient manuscript, I did not know it would have such influence over my training as well as understanding of the karate art. Here I am about to present a brief analyses, but before I do it, I would like to say that my conclusions are limited by my knowledge, my opinions and my experience. I am practicing Shorin ryu karate and therefore this is view on Bubishi from Shorin ryu perspective. In my research, I have been using English translation by Mr. Patrick McCarthy.

The secret manuscript
The author of Bubishi is unknown as is the date of its making, but with certainty we can say that it existed on Okinawa prior to 1900. It is a sort of compilation of articles on techniques, tactics, vital points, traditional Chinese medicine and ethical code in martial arts. It is unknown whether it is a copy of Chinese book or martial arts school manual. Books like this were quite popular in XIX century China, as today modern self-defense books.
It is certain that many karate masters knew of this book. I will only mention Chojun Miyagi (founder of goju ryu), Gogen Yamaguchi (Japanese goju ryu), Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shito ryu) and Gichin Funakoshi ("father of modern karate" and founder of Shotokan). There are solid evidence that even great masters Itosu and Higaona possessed Bubishi. However the most plausible source of these writings is probably a Chinese, the master of White Crane[1], Wu Xiangi (1886-1940), better known as Go Kenki. It is a nickname given out of respect meaning "Great respected master". He lived in Naha and was a close friend and the teacher of Mabuni, Kyoda, Matayoshi, Hanasiro, Kinju Kana and others. Between 1920 and 1930 there was a substantial interest for the origins of the karate art. A group of advanced practitioners gathered around this Go Kenki and studied Chinese system of fighting in order to improve their knowledge. It is possible that Bubishi is a sort of script collected by this group. To support this conclusion I would mention fact that Go Kenki travelled together with Chojun Miyagi several times on Fukien to help him find useful book on self defence and to introduce him to significant masters of Quan fa[2].
The book was kept in utmost secrecy, those who knew of it, copied it by hand. Many illustrations in the book are without description, while the names of the techniques were often written in symbolic poetic language, therefore some parts of it are almost impossible to translate. Even if you spoke Chinese, you wouldn't understand, because the techniques were not described, but often their symbolic name like "…tiger rushing out from the cage."
The text is written in Chinese, with very wide usage of old characters that are no longer in use. Back then Chinese was spoken and written only by inhabitants of Chinese colony Kumemura and highly educated people, members of the upper class - pechin[3]. Some of them served as translators in government institutions, for example master Ankoh Itosu was king's secretary. Why was Bubishi written in Chinese? Perhaps it was a kind of protection from unwelcome curiosity or perhaps out of respect towards Chinese master.
Originally, the chapters in the book are scattered but the book can be divided into four sections: (1) Quan fa origins, history and philosophy; (2) traditional Chinese medicine; (3) vital points and (4) fighting techniques. Id like to say right away that the part in traditional Chinese medicine has no practical use in martial arts today, therefore I want take it into consideration. However, it is obvious that this book had modelled both theory and practice of the ancient Okinawan karate.