The Amazing Hidden Secret Meaning of Heian/Pinan Kata

VIDEO: Watch this incredible Demo of Heian/Pinan Kata!

They say that master Itosu thought Kusanku (kanku dai), was too long and contained too many karate moves for new karateka to learn. So he took Kusanku and divided it up into the five heian kata.

Other karate historians believe the hiean kata were developed from the long Chinese kata, Channan.

The original name for Tekki is Naihanchi or Naifuanchi, which was originally taught to the Okinawan karateka by a Chinese martial artist. Master Gichin funakoshi changed the name Naihanchi, to Tekki, but many karate groups still use Naihanchi.

Before the Heian/Pinan kata were developed, Naihanchi/Tekki was the first kata taught, in many karate dojo on Okinawa.

The power generated by this Okinawan Karate form is absolutely awesome. The deep stance works the legs, and the tan tien starts to pump up, and one feels the chi power course through the frame almost from the get go. It is usually taught around black belt level in systems such as Kyokushinkai.

When I first learned Naihanchi I most enjoyed facing a partner and having ‘kata races.’ We would mirror motion, and go back and forth, building our speed and fine tuning our moves. Eventually, we would find a harmony of motion that is not available in many martial art patterns.

The Heian/Pinan kata were created by a man named Itosu Anko.

Itosu was born in Okinawa in 1831, as a weak and shy child.

Itosu Anko (1831-1915)

Because of this, he started practicing Karate to strengthen his mind and body.

Luckily, Itosu found one of the greatest masters in Okinawa to be his head sensei – Bushi Matsumura Sokon – a legend in the history of Karate.

The five heian kata are:

1. Heian Shodan (Peaceful mind, first level)
2. Heian Nidan (Peaceful mind, second level)
3. Heian Sandan (Peaceful mind, third level)
4. Heian Yondan (Peaceful mind, fourth level)
5. Heian Goodan (Peaceful mind, fifth level)

Heian Shodan is a basic shotokan karate kata and consists of single stepping strikes and blocks. Heian Nidan has the first example of simultaneous block/strike techniques. Heian Sandan has the first use of Kibadachi (horse riding stance), in a shotokan kata and Heian Yondan has the very technical double block/strike techniques.

The first move in the kata, is where you look to the right and drop your weight down sharply, ankles crossed (left over right), just keeping the left foot off the floor. On the second move, you lift your right knee up to the centre, then push strongly into the floor with the left leg, this will drive you into the next move, which is haishu uke (back hand block), with the right arm, in kiba dachi. You then deliver a mawashi empi (round elbow), into the open right hand, with the left arm.

As with the second move, you once again drive from the left leg, there should be no visual appearance in the legs, it should be done from within the leg, only the hips should be seen to move, which should also be used strongly.