Heian Shodan is the first kata of the Heian series. The term Heian is the Japanese version of the Okinawan term Pinan. Our lineage of Shito-ryu use the Japanese term and the Japanese order of these forms. The original order of the Pinan kata has the first and second kata reversed from the Japanese Heian. So this Heian Shodan was originally Pinan Nidan. Regardless, the kata is done in the manner of the original Okinawan style.
The karate master Itosu Anko created the Pinan kata from older traditional forms such as the Kushanku and Passai kata and a kata called Chaanan. Chaanan is now a lost kata. The Pinan were designed for mass instruction to school children and were introduced, one per year, starting in 1895. Soon, several karate schools and masters adopted the forms throughout Okinawa. Funakoshi Gichin went to Japan and founded Shotokan karate and changed the name Pinan to Heian and switched the first two kata. Both terms mean “peace” or “peaceful mind.”
Techniques:
- Cat Stance
- Half-Front/Forward Stance
- Front/Forward Stance
- Sumo Stance
- Low Knifehand Block
- Low Block
- Vertical Hammerfist Block
- High Block
- Punch