Shitō-Ryū Kata:  Heian Yondan (平安四段)

 

Heian Yondan (平安四段) is another Itosu-kei kata, created between 1902 and 1905 by Itosu Ankō for training by students at Shuri Junjō Chūgakkō (Shuri Standard Middle School).   According to tradition, Heian Yondan, like the other four Heian kata, was derived from an ancient and more complex kata called Channan.  Its purpose was to provide middle school aged children with a kata containing self-defence techniques appropriate for their age in a format that was easier to learn than most other traditional kata.  As its name suggests, Heian Yondan is traditionally taught fourth in the sequence of the five Heian kata in most Shuri-te based styles.  The video presented below was filmed at the Jikishin-Kai hombu dōjō in San Diego, featuring Michael Chavarria, who was several times a regional and national tournament kata champion in the 1990s.

Heian Yondan Description

After bowing and announcing the name of the kata ("Heian Yondan") ...

Yōi (cross open hands at groin level in musubi dachi) and kiyomeri kokyū (purification breaths)
Kamaete (shift right foot into nami heikō dachi while closing hands into fists at knee width)

  1 Turn 90 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with hidari ni-no-ude uke
  2 Turn 180 right into migi neko-ashi dachi with migi ni-no-ude uke
  3 Turn 90 degrees left into hidari zenkutsu dachi with hidari kosa uke
  4 Step forward into migi neko-ashi dachi with migi soete uke
  5 Draw left foot forward into heisoku dachi and hands into tekubi  mageri position at right hip
  6 Pivot 90 degree left on both heels while striking with hidari yoko kentsui uchi, then left foot choku geri chūdan, landing in hidari zenkutsu dachi with migi hiji ate against left inner arm
  7 Pivot 90 degrees right on left foot, drawing right foot into heisoku dachi and hands into tekubi  mageri position at left hip
  8 Pivot 90 degrees right on both heels while striking with migi yoko kentsui uchi, then right foot choku geri chūdan, landing in migi zenkutsu dachi with hidari hiji ate against right inner arm
  9 Shifting left foot forward, turn 90 degrees left into hidari zenkutsu dachi with awase hidari age shuto uke migi gedan sukui uke
  10 Right foot choku geri chudan, landing forward in migi kōsa dachi with hidari osae uke, followed by migi uraken otoshi uchi
  11 Pivot 225 degrees left on the balls of both feet into hidari neko-ashi dachi with hidari yoko uke
  12 Right foot choku geri chūdan, landing forward in migi han-zenkutsu dachi with junzuki-gyakuzuki
  13 Pivot  on the left foot 90 degrees right into migi neko-ashi dachi with migi yoko uke
  14 Left foot choku geri chūdan, landing forward in hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with junzuki-gyakuzuki
  15 Pivot on right foot 45 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with hidari soete uke
  16 Step forward into migi neko-ashi dachi with migi soete uke
  17 Step forward into hidari neko-ashi dachi with hidari soete uke
  18 In place perform morote ura-shutō uke w, then morote jōdan haishū oyayubi zuki, followed immediately by pivoting 45 degree left with awase morote gedan uke migi hiza geri chūdan and kiai, then as the right foot lands pivot 225 degrees into hidari neko-ashi dachi with shuto uke
  19 Begin moving forward, the suddenly turn 90 degrees right and lunge forward into migi neko-ashi dachi with migi shutō uke

Zanshin yame by stepping back a full stride with left foot, then turning 45 degrees with drawing the right foot into kamaete)
Naotte (perform tekagami movement while sliding right foot into musubi dachi)
Rei (bow)

Key Training Aspects of Heian Yondan

 
The Key

Heian Yondan is typically the ninth or tenth kata taught to students of Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō.   As an intermediate level kata, it incorporates some new footwork intricacies that many students find challenging initially.  The first of these comes in Steps #6 and #8, where yoko kentsui uchi is performed while pivoting to the side from heisoku dachi.   This must be performed with balance and stability, using koshi-mawari (hip rotation) to impart power into the strikes.  The 225 degree turn in Step #11 that transitions from kosa dachi to neko-ashi dachi can also be tricky at first.  The key is correct position of the feet in kosa dachi, which places them in almost the exact position they will be in neko-ashi dachi at the completion of the turn.  Correct posture during the turn will ensure that balance and stability are maintained.  The turns performed in Steps #13 and #15 employ koshi-mawari to both turn the body and draw the non-pivoting (front) foot into its correct position. 

One of the most difficult movements in Heian Yondan occurs in Step #18, and merits repeated practice by itself.  It begins in hidari neko-ashi dachi just after having performed hidari soete uke in Step #17. Both hands circle outward and turn palm up in morote ura-shuto uke, then turn over when powerfully striking (palm down) with the middle knuckles (not the tips) of both thumbs.   These simultaneous strikes are directed at the sternocleidomastoid muscles that form the "cords" on both sides of the throat.  This two-handed strike is immediately followed by hiza geri directed 45 degrees to the left, requiring a slight pivot of the base (left) foot as the kick is initiated. Both hands remain open and slap down against the top of the knee as it performs hiza geri, then close into fists as they come to a stop in what looks like morote gedan uke.  The kiai should occur as the hands contact the knee.  As the ball of the right foot touches the floor, pivot an additional 180 degrees on both feet into neko-ashi dachi and perform shutō uke.  With sufficient practice, you will be able to gauge exactly where to place your right foot in order to end up in neko-ashi dachi at the conclusion of the sequence.

The final movement of Heian Yondan also contains some subtle points that must be performed correctly.  It represents a combination of a body fake and tenshin (shifting off the line of the opponent's attack).  It begins by moving forward, as if it is your intention to perform a second shutō uke against the opponent engaged in the previous movement. But, as your right foot begins to pass your left foot, you abruptly turn 90 degrees to the right and lunge in that direction with migi shuto uke in migi neko-ashi dachi.  The distance traveled in this manner should be at least as far as you would have moved by using zenkutsu dachi—or roughly twice the distance a step into neko-ashi dachi would normally take you.

For that reason you must take a long backward stride at a 45-degree angle during zanshin yame in order to return to the centre line of the kata upon its completion.

Additional Information

MakimonoAs with each new kata, it is important to remind oneself of the adage: "Manabu no tame ni hyakkkai, jukuren no tame ni senkai, satori no tame ni manga okonau" (学ぶのために百回、熟練のために千回、悟りのために万回行う.).  A hundred times to learn, a thousand times for proficiency, ten thousand repetitions for complete understanding.   A related Okinawan saying is "ichi kata san nen" (一型三年):  one kata three years.  Think of it this way:  it takes about 50 seconds to perform Heian Yondan.  So in just ten minutes per day for only ten days (or twenty minutes a day for just five days), you can learn the correct sequences of movements in this kata.   But to become truly proficient-to be able to perform it correctly, and with the speed, power, timing, and bushi damashii (samurai spirit) necessary to make its techniques effective in a real self-defence situation will take a thousand repetitions, which equates to 100 days at ten repetitions a day.   And to fully understand and apply all of its principles, nuances, and variations will take 1,000 days (three years) at ten repetitions per day.

When performing bunkai (分解) and considering the ōyō (応用) of Heian Yondan, it will be necessary to apply increasing imagination to visualise the potential uses for the techniques in the kata.  Consideration must be given to the possibility that some movements represent applications other than obvious blocks or strikes (gōhō), but may instead—or in addition—have jūhō applications.