KATAS
Kata Series
	Fukyugata
	Pinan
	Naihanchi
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	Overview

The Pinan Series of Kata

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Detailed Descriptions of Individual Kata

• Pinan Shodan
• Pinan Nidan
• Pinan Sandan
• Pinan Yondan
• Pinan Godan

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Overview

The Pinan kata are the second series that is taught at Wright State. Although Pinan Shodan is technically first, Sensei Anastasio has elected to switch Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan, believing that Pinan Nidan is a simpler kata and is therefore more suited to be the first Pinan taught to WSU Karate students. Pinan Nidan is generally taught during the second quarter of study, along with Fukyugata Ichi. During the study of these kata, students are introduced to new techniques, and should focus on differentiating between stances and learning to generate power in techniques by applying their hips.

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History

The word "pinan" means "peaceful mind".

The word 'pinan' can be broken down into two characters. The first character, 'pin', means flat and easy, while the second kanji, 'an', means easy or comfortable. Also called "peaceful mind" kata, the Pinan series are easy and comfortable fundamental kata.

The Pinan kata were composed in 1907 by Anko Itosu. Itosu was was born in 1830, and is known for introducing karate into the physical education curriculum of the public school system. This is believed to have been the first step to the transformation of the public's view of karate as a violent system to a system that emphasized physical well-being. Itosu did not feel that there were any kata that were appropriate to be taught to high school students, so he took an advanced kata, Kusanku, and split it into five kata, which became the Pinan series.

The Pinan series of katas is practiced, with various modifications, in many styles of Japanese and Okinawan martial arts.

ARTICLE: There is an interesting article about the origins of the Pinan kata, including more details about Itosu.

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Questions about WSU Karate or about this web page may be sent to Jen White Doom: jen@wsukarate.org.

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