Heian series

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The Heian series of kata is a series of kata adapted from more ancient kata such as Kanku dai, Gojushiho dai and others. The Heian kata were a product of Anko Itosu's effort to streamline several kata, namely the Pinan series, into forms suitable for teaching the gross body movement skills of karate to young students. "Heian" is translated as "long peace."

The Heian kata were introduced into the school systems on Okinawa in the early 1900's, and were subsequently adopted by many teachers and schools. Thus, they are present today in the curriculum of the Shorin/Shorei styles, Shotokan, Matsubayashi-ryu, and several others.

The Heian series, like the Pinan series, are all based at least loosely on an I-shaped embusen or shape. The two series of kata are very similar: no karate system teaches both series as different kata.

One of the stories surrounding the history of the Heian (Pinan) katas claims that Master Itosu Yasutsune learned a Kata from a Chinese living in Okinawa. This Kata was called "Chiang Nan" by the Chinese man. The form became known as "Channan" to the Okinawan masters who found "Chiang Nan" difficult to say. The Channan Kata were thought lost but rumour has it that a Chinese Master knows Channan 1,2 and 3.

Master Itosu formed 5 Katas from the long Channan Kata which he thought would be easier to learn than Channan. The 5 Kata were Pinan Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan and Godan .A loose translation of the word Pinan (Heian) could be ‘calm and peaceful’.

Another story says Master Itosu formed the Heian from some of the more advanced Kata like Kankudai (Kushanku) so enabling him to teach High School children the Karate Kata.

No one really knows for sure, maybe Master Itosu devised the Heian Kata himself, maybe one of the above stories is true but one thing is for sure, the Heian and pinan Kata are now practised all over the world by millions of Karateka.