Pinan

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Pinan
Other names	Heian
Martial art	Karate
Place of origin	Okinawa, Japan
Creator	Ankō Itosu
Date of Creation	1800s

The Pinan (平安, Pinan^?) (pronounced "pin-yan" or "pin-an") 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 more ancient kata such as Kusanku and Gojushiho into forms suitable for teaching the gross body movement skills of karate to young students. When Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to Japan, he renamed the kata to Heian, which is translated as "peaceful mind". The Chinese translation of Pinan is "safe from harm"^[1]

1 History
2 Current practice
3 Pinan Dai (The Great Pinan)
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

The Pinan 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 Shitō-ryū, Wadō-ryū, Shorin-Ryu, Shorei-ryu, Shotokan, Matsubayashi-ryu, Shukokai, Kosho Ryu 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" to the Okinawan masters who found "Chiang Nan" difficult to say. The Channan kata were thought lost but rumor has it that a Chinese Master knows Channan 1, 2, and 3.

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. Pinan means "safe from harm" and not "peaceful way" which it has been universally known as for many many years.^[2]

Another story says Itosu formed the Pinan kata from some of the more advanced kata like Kusanku, enabling him to teach high school students karate kata.

[edit] Current practice

The Pinans are taught to various beginner ranks according to their difficulty. The kata are all based at least loosely on an I-shaped embusen or shape. These kata serve as the foundation to many of the advanced kata within Karate, as many of the techniques contained in these five kata are found in the "black belt" kata as well, especially Kusanku. Some schools teach Bunkai for each Pinan.

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 Shito-ryu call Pinan Nidan. Another point to note is that Shukokai teaches Pinan Nidan first, and Pinan Shodan second, believing Pinan Nidan to be the easier, more beginner-friendly kata.

[edit] 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 their order of earth, water, fire, air and ether as also outlined by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) of the Japanese Heian period.