Heian Yondan Kata

What is Kata?

In Karate, kata is a sequence of moves organized into a pre-arranged fight against imaginary opponents. The kata consists of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes, blocks, and throws. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping. Kata is not a performance or a demonstration, but is for individual karateka to practice full techniques– with every technique potentially a killing blow (ikken hisatsu), while paying particular attention to form and timing (rhythm).

The standard kata in (Shotokan) Karate are:

Heian Kata

There are five katas in the heian series. Each represents an element of nature: earth, water, fire, wind and void.

Said to have been created by Gichin Funakoshi's teacher Itosu Yatsume, these kata were developed to further help in teaching basic techniques and to help in conditioning the body, and learning proper hip usage. The name Heian comes from the contraction of the characters for heiwa and antei, meaning peace and stability.

Heian Yondan

Heian Yondan translates as, "Peaceful mind, fourth level." and is the fourth of the series of five Heian kata. It represents water.

There is an emphasis on multiple blocks, trapping/breaking techniques, kicking and countering, double arm block/break/release, devastating counter attacks with elbow and knees, front kick defense, defense from various grabs and holds, proper basic breathing and application of kiai. Hip rotation, vibration, shifting/thrusting, pendulum (side snap kick and front kick), reconnection.