Introduction

“...the Shorin-ryu (Shorin ‘school’) is very light and quick, with rapid motions to the front and back, which may be likened to the swift flight of the falcon.” - -Do Kyohan, Gichin Funakoshi, p.8

The Pinan , “forms of safety”, are a series of five forms from the Shorin-ryu (Shuri-te) School of Okinawa Karate-do, which was known for its speed and agility. Created by Grandmaster Yasutsune “Anko” Itosu and later popularized by his student Gichin Funakoshi, the Pinan kata are known in the Shotokan style as Heian- no-kata. They incorporate a wide variety of stances and techniques designed to develop your mind and strengthen your body.

The Pinan are often thought of as training methods for beginners or children and are hence undervalued by more experienced karateka. The main reason for the katas being viewed this way is the fact that they were first established at the time Itosu was introducing Karate to the Okinawan schools. Some say that the Pinans are mealy watered down versions of the advanced kata and were developed solely for children. If this were the case then why did Itosu also teach the Pinans to his adult students? It is far more likely that Itosu had developed the Pinans over a period of time and meant for them to be a synthesis of the best methods being practised in the Shuri region. When karate was introduced to the Okinawan schools the Pinans would be the natural choice because they are relatively short. This is probably the only reason they were selected and has nothing to do with the effectiveness of techniques contained within them. The main difference between the adults and children's training would simply be a matter of approach, as opposed to any change in subject matter. As mentioned earlier, the children would be taught the katas as 'block and ' whereas the adults would receive instruction in all the methods contained within the katas including throws, chokes, strangles, joint locks, hair pulling, methods etc. One of the problems with karate today is that it is the children's applications that are most commonly practiced. This has lead to the majority of karateka practicing the art as a rather limited striking system as opposed to the complete fighting system it was intended to be.

Pinan 4 represents the “Air” with its opening series big arms and open hands, followed later in the kata by similar bold backhand blocks accompanied with high . Like the wind, you from all angles and all directions, but cannot yourself be struck in return.

Pinan 4

Stance Action Natural Attention stance Bow Natural stance 1. Turn 90° left LBS (west) Both hands start from right hip (palms up), then palms down (west), then left vertical backhand block, right at temple 2. Shift 180° right, RBS (east) Both hands start from left hip (palms up), then palms down (east), then right vertical backhand block, left at temple 3. Turn 90° left, LFS (north) Left lower X block 4. Advance RBS Right reinforced middle block 5. Left kicking stance (north) Left side and left backfist strike 6. Turn 90° left, LDS (west) Left horizontal backhand block 7. Shift LFS Right roundhouse into left palm 8. Right kicking stance (north) Right side kick and right backfist strike 9. Turn 90° right, RDS (east) Right horizontal backhand block 10. Shift RFS Left roundhouse elbow into right palm 11. Move right foot into Left lower inner chop, right hand right lunge stance (east) above temple (palm out) 12. Shift 180° left, left lunge stance Right diagonal chop, left hand above (facing west, looking north) left temple (palm out) 13. Right kicking stance (north) Hold hand position, right front snap kick 14. Jump into right X stance (north) Left downward forearm block and right reinforced vertical backfist strike KIAI 15. Turn 225° left, LCS (southeast) Cross wrists in front of chest (palms in) Advance LFS Wedge block 16. Right kicking stance Fists to right hip, right front snap kick 17. Advance RFS Right lunge punch 18. Maintain RFS Left reverse punch 19. Turn 90° right, RCS (southwest) Cross wrists in front of chest (palms in) Advance RFS Wedge block 20. Left kicking stance Fists to left hip, left front snap kick 21. Advance LFS Left lunge punch 22. Maintain LFS Right reverse punch 23. Turn 45° left, LBS (south) Left reinforced middle block 24. Advance RBS Right reinforced middle block 25. Advance LBS Left reinforced middle block 26. Shift LFS Arrow block 27. Right kicking stance Right upward strike to palms KIAI 28. Turn 180° left into LBS (north) Left knifehand block 29. Advance RBS Right knifehand block Natural stance (north) Attention stance Bow Natural stance Applications

The following set of applications is a slightly modified version of the set taught during seminars by O Sensei Dong in the mid-1990s. O Sensei’s placed the emphasis in his Pinan 4 applications on neck breaks. This is not that set. Until we photograph that set and update the file, here are a set of solid applications from Gennosuke Higaki’s wonderful book Hidden Karate: The True Bunkai for the Heian Katas.

Series 1: High Block to the Left (move 1)

Begin from a guarded position (1a below). As the opponent punches with his left hand, use a rising block motion to block and catch his attack with your right arm as you simultaneously deliver a left palm strike to the face (1b).

Series 2: High Block to the Right and (moves 2 to 4)

The opponent attacks with a right punch (2a below). Use a rising block motion to block and catch his attack with your left arm as you simultaneously deliver a right palm strike to the face (2b). Grasp the opponent’s right elbow with your right hand (3a) and throw him to the ground (3b). If you are unable to throw the attacker, step through (4a) and follow up with a right to the (4b).

Series 3: Side Kick, Elbow Strike Left (moves 5 to 7)

The opponent attacks with a right lunge punch (5a below). Chamber your left leg (5b) and deliver a left side thrust kick while the punch with your left hand (6). Slide your left hand behind the opponent’s head (7a) and land with a right roundhouse elbow strike (7b).

Series 4: Side Kick, Elbow Strike Right (moves 8 to 14)

The opponent attacks with a left lunge punch (8a below). Chamber your right leg (8b) and deliver a right side thrust kick while blocking the punch with your right hand (9). Slide your right hand behind the opponent’s head (10a) and land with a left roundhouse elbow strike (10b). Use your right hand to behind the opponent’s neck, puling him down and forward (11). Keep ahold of the opponent with your left hand while you deliver a right outer chop to the opponent’s neck (12), deliver a right front snap kick (13), and finish with a right uppercut punch (14).

Series 5: Wedge Block, Front Kick, Punches (moves 15 to 18)

The opponent attacks with a left punch (15a below). Parry the punch with your right hand into your left (15b) and lock his arm at the elbow (15c). Follow up with a right front snap kick (16), a right lunch punch (17), and a left reverse punch (18).

Series 6: Wedge Block, Front Kick, Punches (moves 19 to 22)

The opponent attacks with a left punch (19a below). Parry the punch with your right hand into your left (19b) and lock his arm at the elbow (19c). Follow up with a right front snap kick (20), a right lunch punch (21), and a left reverse punch (22).

Series 7: Reinforced Block, Knee Kick (moves 23 to 27)

The opponent attacks with a left punch (23a below). Double block, parrying the opponent’s punch with your right hand, hooking over his wrist while simultaneously attacking the elbow joint with your left hand (23b). Maintain your grasp on the opponent’s arm with your left hand as you switch-step, delivering a right uppercut punch to the opponent’s jaw (24b). Grasp the opponent by the shoulders with both hands (26) and pull him into a right upward knee strike (27).

Series 8: Knifehand blocks (moves 28 to 29)

The first knifehand block (move 28) could be used to recycle the opponent from series 7 above, throwing him to the ground to impede the progress for the final opponent who attacks with a right punch. Parry the punch over your right shoulder with your left hand (29a) then deliver a right to the opponent’s neck (29b). the opponent’s right foot with your right heel as you return to natural stance, dumping him to the floor in front of you (30).

New photos and applications coming soon!