Heian Kata

The five Heian Katas were created by Itosu Anko in Okinawa in the early 1900s. Originally named Pinan, but later Gichin Funakoshi changed the name to Heian as it was pronounced in Japan.

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Heian in Japanese is translated as Peaceful mind. Some people believe that Master Itosu was referring to the Chinese translation for the kata which means “Stay Safe” and that these katas were for self-defense. Especially taken in the context that Itosu was the “left hand” bodyguard, and his Master Bushi Matsumura was the “right hand” bodyguard, for the emperor. These would be a good reason for why all the Heian Katas start to the left as Itosu would be defending the emperor from the left first. Some martial artists say that the 5 Heian Katas teach how to defend/overcome 5 different types of attackers. It is said that Heian Yodan trains to deal with Samurai attackers and how to take advantage of the openings in their armor. The Heian Katas are Shotokan Katas, they are also practiced by Tang Soo Do (a cousin of TKD) as the Pyung-Ahn forms. Heian Yodan is Pyung-Ahn Sa Dan.