Heian Shodan

Heian Shodan is the 1st Kata In The Heian Series of which there are five kata.

Heian Shodan, translates as peaceful mind first level, practiced in nearly all Shotokan Karate dojo. It is one of the most basic karate kata and is usually the first or second kata a karateka learns. Some karate dojo have kihon kata (Taikyoku Shodan), also know as ‘kihon’, as the first kata and some dojo have heian shodan as the first. The heian series is similar to the Pinan series of kata.

This kata uses zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and kokutsu dachi (back stance). It has the first use in shotokan karate kata, of Tettsui-uchi (hammer-fist strike), Age-uke (upper rising block) and Shuto-uke (knife-hand block).

The Tettsui-uchi (hammer-fist strike), is the third move in the kata and there are many different variations. The version we practice, finishes in zenkutsu dachi (front stance) with the Tettsui-uchi at nose height, arm slightly bent.

Here at buntingford Karate Club we use Heian Shodan as the testing kata from red to orange belt.