Pinan series
Encyclopedia
]
The kata
are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate
styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Anko Itosu
from older kata such as Kusanku and Channan into forms suitable for teaching karate to young students. When Gichin Funakoshi
brought karate to Japan
, he renamed the kata to Heian, which is translated as "peaceful and calm". Pinan is the Pinyn notation of 平安, which means also "peaceful and calm". Korean Karate (Tang Soo Do) systems also practice these kata; they are termed, "Pyong-an", which is a Korean pronunciation of the term "pin-an".
in the early 1900s, and were subsequently adopted by many teachers and schools. Thus, they are present today in the curriculum of Shitō-ryū, Wadō-ryū, Shōrin-ryū
, Kobayashi-ryū, Kyokushin
Shōrei-ryū
, Shotokan
, Matsubayashi-ryū
, Shukokai
, Shindo Jinen Ryu, Kosho-ryū Kempo, and several other styles.
One of the stories surrounding the history of the Pinan kata claims that Itosu learned a kata from a Chinese man living in Okinawa. This kata was called "Chiang Nan" by the Chinese man. The form became known as "Channan", an Okinawan/Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation. The original form of the Channan kata is lost.
Itosu formed 5 katas from the long Channan Kata which he thought would be easier to learn. The 5 kata were Pinans Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, and Godan.
or shape. These kata serve as the foundation to many of the advanced kata within Karate, as many of the techniques contained in these kata are contained in the higher grade katas as well, especially Kusanku.
In certain styles, Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan are inverted - what certain styles call Pinan Shodan is what others call Heian Nidan, and vice-versa. For example, the kata Shotokan
calls Heian Shodan, other styles, such as Shitō-ryū call Pinan Nidan. Another point to note is that Shūkōkai
teaches Pinan Nidan first, and Pinan Shodan second, believing Pinan Nidan to be the easier, more beginner-friendly kata. The order that is learnt in Wado-Ryu goes as follows, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan and Pinan Godan.
(Kūkai) of the Japanese Heian period
.
Of an interesting note, no form recognized by the Okinawan Prefecture practices Pinan Dai suggesting that it was an invention of outside Okinawa. The Great pinans may be an attempt by those who practice to claim to be the original karate of okinawa
The kata
Karate kata
Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs....
are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Anko Itosu
Anko Itosu
is considered by many the father of modern karate, although this title is also often given to Gichin Funakoshi because the latter spread karate throughout Japan.- Biography :...
from older kata such as Kusanku and Channan into forms suitable for teaching karate to young students. When Gichin Funakoshi
Gichin Funakoshi
was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the 'father of modern karate.' Following the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921...
brought karate to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, he renamed the kata to Heian, which is translated as "peaceful and calm". Pinan is the Pinyn notation of 平安, which means also "peaceful and calm". Korean Karate (Tang Soo Do) systems also practice these kata; they are termed, "Pyong-an", which is a Korean pronunciation of the term "pin-an".
History
The Pinan kata were introduced into the school systems on OkinawaOkinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
in the early 1900s, and were subsequently adopted by many teachers and schools. Thus, they are present today in the curriculum of Shitō-ryū, Wadō-ryū, Shōrin-ryū
Shorin-Ryu
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...
, Kobayashi-ryū, Kyokushin
Kyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
Shōrei-ryū
Shorei-ryu
is a term which refers to the Naha-Te style of Okinawan karate. Shorei Ryu means "the style of inspiration". It is believed that the term Shorei is derived from the Shoreiji Temple in southern China. The teachings of this temple provided the basis for the Naha-Te style.The Shorei Ryu system was...
, Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
, Matsubayashi-ryū
Matsubayashi-ryu
Matsubayashi-ryū , is a style of Okinawan karate that was founded in 1947 by Shōshin Nagamine . Its curriculum includes 18 kata, 7 two-man yakusoku kumite routines, and kobudō practice...
, Shukokai
Shukokai
is a group of closely related styles of Karate, based on Tani-ha Shitō-ryū, a branch of Shitō-ryū developed by Chōjirō Tani in the late 1940s, and refined by his student Shigeru Kimura.-History:...
, Shindo Jinen Ryu, Kosho-ryū Kempo, and several other styles.
One of the stories surrounding the history of the Pinan kata claims that Itosu learned a kata from a Chinese man living in Okinawa. This kata was called "Chiang Nan" by the Chinese man. The form became known as "Channan", an Okinawan/Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation. The original form of the Channan kata is lost.
Itosu formed 5 katas from the long Channan Kata which he thought would be easier to learn. The 5 kata were Pinans Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, and Godan.
Current practice
The Pinans are taught to various beginner ranks according to their difficulty. The kata are all loosely based on an I-shaped embusenEmbusen
] is a Japanese term used in karate to refer to the spot where a kata begins, as well as its line of movement. Nearly all kata start and end on exactly the same embusen point. This word is also commonly romanized as enbusen....
or shape. These kata serve as the foundation to many of the advanced kata within Karate, as many of the techniques contained in these kata are contained in the higher grade katas as well, especially Kusanku.
In certain styles, Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan are inverted - what certain styles call Pinan Shodan is what others call Heian Nidan, and vice-versa. For example, the kata Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
calls Heian Shodan, other styles, such as Shitō-ryū call Pinan Nidan. Another point to note is that Shūkōkai
Shūkōkai
is a group of closely related styles of Karate, based on Tani-ha Shitō-ryū, a branch of Shitō-ryū developed by Chōjirō Tani in the late 1940s, and refined by his student Shigeru Kimura.-History:...
teaches Pinan Nidan first, and Pinan Shodan second, believing Pinan Nidan to be the easier, more beginner-friendly kata. The order that is learnt in Wado-Ryu goes as follows, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan and Pinan Godan.
Pinan Dai (The Great Pinan)
The Great Pinan, practiced by some schools, is an amalgamation of all the five Pinan kata. The order in which the five kata are performed is changed from that of the simple and basic training order (above) and in this order the five kata blend naturally from one to another, without any breaks forming one elaborate and intricate kata. This kata although Okinawan in origination, encompasses the basic Buddhist elements and is performed in the order of earth, water, fire, air and ether as also outlined by Kōbō DaishiKukai
Kūkai , also known posthumously as , 774–835, was a Japanese monk, civil servant, scholar, poet, and artist, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism. Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific titles of and ....
(Kūkai) of the Japanese Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
.
Of an interesting note, no form recognized by the Okinawan Prefecture practices Pinan Dai suggesting that it was an invention of outside Okinawa. The Great pinans may be an attempt by those who practice to claim to be the original karate of okinawa
See also
- Karate kataKarate kataKata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs....
- KataKatais a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
- Taikyoku - The simplified versions of the pinan/heian kata.
External links
- History of the Pinan Series and Explanation of Pinan Shodan (Shorin-ryū)
- Heian Nidan kata diagram (Shotokan)
- Heian Sandan kata diagram (Shotokan)
- Heian Yondan kata diagram (Shotokan)
- Heian Godan kata diagram (Shotokan)
- Video of Pinan sandan (Wado-ryū)
