Fifty aspects of the Pinan kata and Pinan Shodan

History

  1. Share movements with other kata
  2. Unique movements not found in other modern kata
  3. Have long asymmetric sequences forward and short symmetric sequences side to side and on angles
  4. Developed by Anko Itosu as introductory kata for Okinawan secondary school students
  5. Each style has different movements

Kata

  1. Pinan Shodan
  2. Pinan Nidan
  3. Pinan Sandan
  4. Pinan Yondan
  5. Pinan Godan

Pinan Shodan - Five foot patterns

  1. Opening three directions
  2. 4 steps forward
  3. Angles to the back (two steps each)
  4. 4 steps to the back
  5. Angles to the front (two steps each)

Stances in Pinan Shodan

  1. 9:00 and 3:00 and 6:00 – weight back - stationary
  2. 12:00 – weight back – walk forward four steps
  3. 4:30 and 7:30 – Weight back – Walk forward two steps
  4. 6:00 – Weight forward – Walk forward four steps
  5. 10:30 and 1:30 – Weight forward - walk forward two steps

Five blocking positions in Pinan Shodan

  1. In front of the hip, palm down (downward block)
  2. In front of the shoulder, palm towards you (outside or center block)
  3. In front of the opposite shoulder, palm towards you (inside block)
  4. In front of your center, chest high, palm facing away, open hand (shuto block)
  5. In front of the crown of your head, palm facing away (upward/rising block)

Five common elements Pinan share with other kata

  1. Opening
  2. Spin to back
  3. Shutos to front
  4. Shutos to back
  5. Punch block movements

Five applications for the opening sequence

  1. Against a combination (left, then right attack)
  2. Against a left
  3. Against a choke from the front
  4. Against a wild right swing
  5. Against a left grab of your left wrist

Five applications for the charging sequence to the back

  1. Attacking the opponent
  2. Against a right cross (blocking inside, and outside)
  3. Against a right grab of the right wrist
  4. Against a left grab of the left wrist
  5. Against a wild right swing

Five applications for the angular sequences, the sequence to the front and the initial turn to the rear

  1. Against a choke from behind
  2. Against a left grab (or push)
  3. Against a left grab (or push)
  4. Against a right grab of the left wrist
  5. Against a left kick, left strike

Summary of five major training principles

  1. Only some Pinan Shodan (kata) movements map to empty hand fighting. But the practice of Pinan Shodan (kata) is both good for your health and physical development.
  2. To train for fighting you have to modify many Pinan shodan (kata) movements, and you have to add movements.
  3. The ultimate aim of training in any Pinan Shodan movement is speed, and the associated energy transfer when with done with ki
  4. Power generation can only come through proper form. Therefore repetition is everything (in technique, with training, with striking)
  5. All techniques have variation, and the concept of yin and yang enables one to bring together complementary or opposing concepts, harmoniously improving the technique.