Introduction and
commentary:
Purposefully, I made a decision to conclude this collection of 5 articles on every of the Heian with Heian Shodan. My hope is that the readers achieve from this, through the content material of all 5 articles. Okay! So let’s start. With 21 actions 平安初段
(Heian Shodan) is the primary on this collection of 5 kata; nonetheless, as you’ll
know, the unique the order was reversed.
Whereas most individuals are conscious of this, and know ‘why Funakoshi
Gichin Sensei switched the primary two (Heian/Pinan)’, I’ll concisely state
‘why he did this’ this right here: primarily based on his numerous writings about it.
Primarily, he modified the order “…as a result of ‘the unique Nidan’ was simpler to
educate and study”. Sure, it’s that straightforward!
Nonetheless, considerably fewer individuals know that “the unique
order of the Heian gata was primarily based on their respective ranges of 応用 (Oyo/Software). This
was the work of the kata’s creator, Itosu Anko Sensei.
So, the order that Shotokan makes use of, “…begins with Pinan Nidan
(our Heian Shodan), which is a kata for training/making use of ‘flinch responses’.
That’s dealing assaults coming in at us. Whereas, Pinan Shodan (our Heian
Nidan) practices/applies ‘responses after connection to the opponent’”. This
could possibly be カキエ
(Kakie) or 手組
(Tegumi)/無刀
(Muto).
Subsequently, to summarize: “Shotokan has a extra
systematic/logical order for preliminary educating and studying; while, the
unique order is extra logical with regard to an trade with an opponent/self
protection”. For my part—in the course of the preliminary phases of studying—Grasp
Funakoshi’s switching of those two kata was a really constructive factor for karate;
nonetheless, ‘it’s nonetheless important to know the reversed order with regard
software’. This may occasionally appear an excessively simplistic method, however because the Funakoshi
Sensei famously stated: “Victory and defeat are decided by easy issues”.
Listed here are the 5 totally different waza featured in Heian Shodan:
Earlier than I record these 5 waza I wish to reiterate and increase
on Funakoshi Sensei’s ‘educators logic’ in switching the primary and second
Heian/Pinan (which is basically proven by the numbers of waza encompassed in these
kata). While the ‘unique Shodan’ featured 12 totally different waza, the ‘unique
Pinan Nidan’ solely has solely 5. Furthermore, Funakoshi Sensei allegedly deemed
‘making use of keriwaza’ as being “…extra complicated actions for learners and of lesser
significance for them, than tewaza (within the very early phases of coaching)”. In
addition, the ‘unique Heian Nidan’ has “…way more ‘single waza in single
steps’. There may be actually just one (actions three and 4: gedan-barai kara
kentsui)”. Whereas, the unique Heian
Shodan options 5 (renzokuwaza/mixture methods).
Nonetheless, from bujutsu/sensible oyo perspective, no matter
the aforementioned factors, the Heian Shodan (of Shotokan) is commonly solely utilized
in “the secondary section in a self protection state of affairs”; that’s, if the preliminary assaults are
percussive blows versus connecting. Hopefully that matter is clarified
now. OK, so enable me to maneuver on to the 5 waza in our Heian Shodan (Pinan
Nidan).
1) Gedan-barai
(Zenkutsu-dachi).
2) Chudan
oi-zuki (Zenkutsu-dachi). Additionally generally labeled as ‘Jun-zuki’.
3) Kentsui
jodan tatemawashi uchi (Zenkutsu-dachi).
4) Jodan
age-uke (Zenkutsu-dachi).
5) Shuto
chudan-uke (Kokutsu-dachi).
To increase on particulars of the kihonwaza, within the ‘Shotokan
Heian Shodan’, I like to recommend this text simply over 5 years in the past. It has just a few technical suggestions: https://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2017/01/first-article-for-2017-few-notes-on.html
HEIAN SHODAN
OVERVIEW
REI (Musubi-dachi).
YOI: Ryoken
daitai mae (Hachiji-dachi).
1. Hidari
sokumen hidari gedan-barai (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
2. Migi
chudan oi-zuki (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
3. Migi
gedan-barai (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
4. Migi
kentsui tatemawashi uchi (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
5. Hidari
chudan oi-zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).
6. Hidari
gedan-barai (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
7. Migi
jodan age-uke (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
8. Hidari
jodan age-uke (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
9. Migi
jodan age-uke (Migi zenkutsu-dachi)—KIAI!
10. Hidari
gedan-barai (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
11. Migi
chudan oi-zuki (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
12. Migi
gedan-barai (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
13. Hidari
chudan oi-zuki (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
14. Hidari
gedan-barai (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
15. Migi
chudan oi-zuki (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).
16. Hidari
chudan oi-zuki (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).
17. Migi
chudan oi-zuki (Migi zenkutsu-dachi)—KIAI!
18. Hidari
shuto chudan uke (Migi kokutsu-dachi).
19. Migi shuto
chudan uke (Hidari kokutsu-dachi).
20. Migi shuto
chudan uke (Hidari kokutsu-dachi).
21. Hidari
shuto chudan uke (Migi kokutsu-dachi).
NAORE: Ryoken
daitai mae (Hachiji-dachi).
REI (Musubi-dachi).
I do know from now, that I will seemingly self contradict (a few of my factors made above), however what I’ve
found—as I’m certain you’ve got additionally—is that parallel information at all times exists.
The aforementioned points of ‘ease of educating/studying’ nonetheless apply,
as does ‘the oyo/applicative order’… So, why then do most
of the highest Shotokan karate specialists see Heian Shodan as ‘the final word
kata’? The start and the tip. Nicely, the thought is
easy, but necessary to know. The complete circle in Budo represents
technical completeness, however with no ending: that is Heian Shodan.
Taken as a complete,
Heian Shodan is a kata which leaves nothing to cover in a single’s kihon
and karate on the whole. Though there are not any kicks, ‘keriwaza
capability’ is proven through the unsoku. Intrinsically and collectively, the primary Heian (in Shotokan) is a
problem: no matter technical degree and expertise.
© André Bertel. Oita Metropolis, Japan (2022).