松濤館空手道リッチモンド
平安型 - Heian Katas
The evolution of the Heian Katas in Shotokan karate traces its roots back to their origins as the Pinan Katas in Okinawa. Developed by Yasutsune Itosu, a prominent martial artist in the late 19th century, the Pinan Katas were created with the intention of introducing karate into the physical education curriculum of Okinawan schools. These katas were originally named Pinan, which translates to "peaceful mind" or "peace and tranquility."
Yasutsune Itosu designed the Pinan Katas to be accessible to a wide range of students, including children and beginners, while also serving as a bridge to more advanced techniques and concepts in karate. Each kata in the Pinan series—Pinan Shodan through Pinan Godan—featured a structured progression of movements that emphasized fundamental stances, blocks, strikes, and transitions.
In the early 20th century, when Gichin Funakoshi introduced karate to mainland Japan, he renamed the Pinan Katas to Heian Katas. "Heian" translates to "peace and tranquility" in Japanese, retaining the essence of the original Okinawan name while aligning with the cultural and linguistic context of mainland Japan.
Today, the Heian Katas continue to serve as fundamental pillars of karate training, embodying traditional values of discipline, respect, and perseverance.