HEIAN NIDAN – “Peaceful Mind Number Two”
- The second kata in the Heian series, this kata requires the student for the first time to include a kick in their kata. In this instance there are two of them, a front chudan-yoko-geri-keage (middle level side snapping kick), and a chudan-mae-geri-keage (middle level snapping kick) (middle level ). In addition, several new hand techniques are also introduced for the first time. They are chudan-uraken back fistas well as, an ), chudan-nukite-zuki (middle level spear hand strike), chudan-gyaku-zuki (middle level reverse punch), augmented or supported technique, previously mentioned morote-chudan-uchi-uke(supported middle level inside outward block). As previously mentioned Heian Nidan was originally taught by the Okinawan’s as the first kata in the Pinanseries, but Gichin Funakoshi Sensei, the “Founder of Shotokan Karate” reversed the order of Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan when he first introduced karate to Japan, as he felt that Pinan Nidan was a much more complex kata, and should therefore, be taught as the second kata. It was also at this time that he changed the name of this particular series of katas from Okinawan pronunciation of Pinan to the the Japanese pronunciation of Heian or “Peaceful Mind”, perhaps in order to have these katas more readily accepted by Japanese society.There are two kiai points in Heian Nidan, the first one occurs on the chudan-nukite-zuki (middle level spear hand) at the top of the “I” of the embusen (line of attack), and the second one occurs on the very last movement of the kata, which is a jodan-age-uke (upper level rising block). This kata contains 26 movements and should take the student approximately 40 seconds minute to complete, to finish the kata from the last movement, leave your right foot in place and withdrawing your left foot, stand up and face forward in a hachiji-dachi (natural stance), now bring your left foot half way in towards your right foot, and your right foot half way in towards your left foot, and at the same time bring your hands to your sides, standing in heisoku-dachi (attention stance), rei (bow), now step out with your left foot, then your right foot and stand once again in hachiji-dachi (natural stance).
Heian Nidan 26 moves
1st Kia movement 11
2nd Kia movement 26