| The history of the heian kata (original name Pinan), is a | | | | Many karate styles and organisations have kept the |
| subject of much debate. Many karate historians | | | | original name of Pinan. Master Gichin Funakoshi, who |
| believe the karate moves contained in the heian kata, | | | | trained under Master Itosu, changed the name Pinan to |
| come from the kata Kusanku, which is the original | | | | Heian, when he first took Okinawan karate to mainland |
| name of the shotokan kata, Kanku Dai (to view the | | | | Japan. |
| sky). They say that master Itosu thought Kusanku | | | | Heian Shodan is a basic shotokan karate kata and |
| (kanku dai), was too long and contained too many | | | | consists of single stepping strikes and blocks. Heian |
| karate moves for new karateka to learn. So he took | | | | Nidan has the first example of simultaneous block |
| Kusanku and divided it up into the five heian kata. | | | | strike techniques. Heian Sandan has the first use of |
| Other karate historians believe the hiean kata were | | | | Kibadachi (horse riding stance), in a shotokan kata and |
| developed from the long Chinese kata, Channan. | | | | Heian Yondan has the very technical double block |
| Another theory says Channan kata is the Heian Kata. | | | | strike techniques. |
| Whatever the history of the Heian kata, they are now | | | | The fifth and last in this kata series, is Heian Godan. |
| practiced by millions of karateka worldwide and play | | | | This kata has very fast one/two combinations, starting |
| an integral part of every shotokan karate practitioners | | | | with the first two karate moves and finishing with the |
| development. | | | | last two karate moves in the kata. Godan also has the |
| The five heian kata are, | | | | first jump in a shotokan karate kata. |
| 1. Heian Shodan (Peaceful mind, first level) | | | | Whatever the real story is, behind the origins of the |
| 2. Heian Nidan (Peaceful mind, second level) | | | | Heian/Pinan, one thing is for sure. A shotokan karateka |
| 3. Heian Sandan (Peaceful mind, third level) | | | | who has had a solid background in the Heian kata, |
| 4. Heian Yondan (Peaceful mind, fourth level) | | | | stands out, from those who have not! |
| 5. Heian Goodan (Peaceful mind, fifth level) | | | | |