Heian Shodan - Peaceful Mind Number One

Heian Shodan is the first of five katas taught in this series. The creation of the Heian series of katas has been attributed to the great Okinawan karate teacher, Master Yasutsune Itosu (1831 - 1915) who was one of Master Gichin Funakoshi's two primary teachers. This series of five katas was originally known by its Okinawan name, Pinan Shodan. Master Itosu created this series of katas around 1905 in order to teach the art of karate to children in the Okinawan school system. It is believed that he derived many of the movements, and material from more advanced kata, as well as a much older root kata called, Channan.

When the Founder of Shotokan Karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi, first introduced karate to Japan it was he who changed the name of the five katas in this series from, the Okinawan pronunciation of Pinan, to Heian (Peaceful Mind). It is speculated that perhaps he did so in order to have these katas more readily accepted by Japanese society. It is interesting to note that this kata was originally the second kata taught in this series, and that Heian Nidan was originally the first kata taught. However, Master Funakoshi reversed the order, as he felt it was more appropriate to teach Heian Shodan first, since it is a much less complex kata than Heian Nidan.

This kata introduces the student for the first time to several new hand techniques, jodan-age-uke (upper level rising block), chudan-tetsui, (middle level hammer fist) and shuto-zuki, (sword hand strike), as well as the concept of tai-sabaki (body shifting). This kata contains 21 movements and should take the student approximately 30 seconds to complete. The correct performance of this kata is required in order to advance in rank from 10th kyu (white belt) to 9th kyu (yellow belt).