Heian Shodan Tutorial
Heian Shodan Kata. Foundational Shotokan Sequence
Heian Shodan (平安初段), translating to “Peaceful Mind, First Level,” is the inaugural kata in the five-kata Heian series, forming the foundation of Shotokan style karate. It is typically the required kata for the 8th Kyu (Red Belt) examination in some Dojo the belt colour varies..
This kata is crucial for introducing and developing the core Shotokan concept shomen (square facing) and hanmi (side facing).
Core Technical Focus
The kata emphasizes the mastery of two primary stances and three key blocking techniques, along with powerful forward movement~
Category | Technique/Stance | Japanese Term | Purpose/Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary Stance 1 | Front Stance | Zenkutsu Dachi | Utilized for forward attacks (Oi Zuki) and foundational blocks (Gedan Barai). |
Primary Stance 2 | Back Stance | Kokutsu Dachi | Introduced specifically for the advanced Shuto Uke (Knife Hand Block) sequence. |
Primary Block 1 | Lower Block | Gedan Barai | Used for initiating movement and changing direction (7 times). |
Primary Block 2 | Upper Block | Age Uke | Executed while maintaining Zenkutsu Dachi (3 times). |
Primary Block 3 | Knife Hand Block | Shuto Uke | Introduced for the first time in the Heian series; performed in Kokutsu Dachi (4 times). |
Primary Strike 1 | Stepping Punch | Oi Zuki | The primary attacking technique, delivered with a strong step (7 times). |
Primary Strike 2 | Vertical Circular Hammerfist Strike | Tate-Mawashi Tettsui-Uchi | The fourth move in the kata, some Dojo finish in zenkutsu dachi, others in moto dachi (short front stance) |
Heian Shodan consists of 21 distinct movements, executed along a classic "I" embusen (performance line), with two 45 degree steps on two of the shuto uke.
Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Total Steps (Ni Ju Ichi) | 21 (before Yamae) |
Stances Used | Zenkutsu Dachi, Kokutsu Dachi, Heiko Dachi, Musubi Dachi |
Total Kiai Points | 2 |
Facing | Shomen (Square Facing) for punches; Hanmi (Side Facing) for blocks and hammerfist. |
Kiai Points
The two essential power expressions (Kiai) occur during key forward movements:
1st Kiai (Move 9): Final Right Age Uke (Upper Block) in the sequence of three.
2nd Kiai (Move 17): Final Right Oi Zuki (Lunge Punch) in the sequence of three.
Unique/New Techniques Introduced
Shuto Uke (Knife Hand Block)
Kokutsu Dachi (Back Stance)
Tate-Mawashi Tettsui-Uchi (Vertical Circular Hammerfist Strike) on move 4.
Key Movement Breakdown
The kata is fundamentally organized into four major directional segments, with the first 17 movements focusing on Zenkutsu Dachi and the final four movements introducing Kokutsu Dachi~
Heian Shodan (平安初段)
Meaning peaceful mind 1st level
Taken from our 8th Kyu Red belt karate examination.
Heian Shodan is the first kata of 5 in the 5 Heian Kata series.
The first Heian kata focuses on stances zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and kokutsudachi (back stance).
Strikes oi zuki (stepping punch), Tettsui uchi (hammer fist strike) and blocks age uke (upper block), shuto uke (knife hand block).
Heian shodan is an excellent kata for shomen (square facing) and hanmi (side facing) practice.
The body and hips should be square (shomen) for the stepping punches and (side facing) hanmi for the blocks.
This is the first time a karateka practices shuto uke (knife hand block), kokutsudachi (back stance) in a shotokan kata.
There are four knife hand blocks in this kata.
Heian Shodan is the required kata for 8th Kyu red belt here at SKO.
Some Shotokan Dojo practice this kata with a few differences.
When executing age uke, some dojo stretch their marking arm out straight, whereas we simply open the hand in the age uke position as can be seen in the tutorial below.
Another slight difference can come with tetsui uchi, some Dojo do a much smaller movement on the strike and some Shotokan Dojo leave the front foot still.
Don’t worry if you have limited space for kata practice, click here for an article and video explaining how you can practice heian shodan in a small space and still get all the benefits of regular kata practice. Oss!
Step-by-Step Heian Shodan Kata Breakdown
This tutorial assumes a basic understanding of Shotokan terminology and stances. We will use the traditional counting system (Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi, Ku, Ju, Ju Ichi, Ju Ni, Ju San, Ju Shi, Ju Go, Ju Roku, Ju Shichi, Ju Hachi, Ju Ku, Ni Ju).
Preparation: Yoi (Ready Stance)
Musubi Dachi (Attention Stance). Stand with heels together, feet angled outwards at 45 degrees, hands flat at your sides, thumbs bent.
Heiko Dachi (Parallel Leg Stance) / Yoi. From Musubi Dachi, open your left foot out to the left, then your right foot out to the right, so your feet are shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forwards. Bring your hands together in front of your lower abdomen, right fist covered by left hand, then drop them naturally to your sides in a relaxed ready position.
Heian Shodan Kata Tutorial
Move Number | Technique | Stance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Ichi (One): | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | Turn 90 degrees to your left. | |
2. Ni (Two): | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | Step forward with your right leg. | |
3. San (Three): | Right Lower Block (Gedan Barai) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the right Zenkutsu Dachi, rotate 180 degrees clockwise (pivoting on your left foot) and stepping with your right leg. |
4. Shi (Four): | Right tate-mawashi tettsui-uchi (vertical circular hammerfist strike) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the right Zenkutsu Dachi, pull the right arm back sharply and the right leg slightly, then circle upwards and come down with a right tate mawashi tettsui uchi as you land back into zenkutsu dachi. |
5. Go (Five): | Left Lunge Punch (Oi Zuki) | Step forward with your left leg, stepping to your right side. | |
6. Roku (Six): | Left Lower Block (Gedan Barai) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, look then rotate 90 degrees counter clockwise (pivoting on your right foot) and looking forward to the front. |
7. Shichi (Seven): | Right upper block (Age Uke) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, step forward with your right leg |
8. Hachi (Eight): | Left upper block (Age Uke) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the right Zenkutsu Dachi, step forward with your left leg |
9. Ku (Nine): | Right upper block (Age Uke) and 1st Kiai | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, step forward with your right leg |
10. Ju (Ten): | Left Lower Block (Gedan Barai) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, rotate 270 degrees counter-clockwise (pivoting on your right foot), step out with your left leg |
11. Ju Ichi (Eleven): | Right Lunge Punch (Oi Zuki) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | Step forward with your right leg. |
12. Ju Ni (Twelve): | Right Lower Block (Gedan Barai) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the right Zenkutsu Dachi, rotate 180 degrees clockwise (pivoting on your left foot) and stepping with your right leg. |
13. Ju San (Thirteen): | Left Lunge Punch (Oi Zuki) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | Step forward with your left leg, stepping to your left side. |
14. Ju Shi (Fourteen): | Left Lower Block (Gedan Barai) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, look then rotate 90 degrees counter clockwise (pivoting on your right foot) and looking forward towards the starting point of Heian Shodan. |
15. Ju Go (Fifteen): | Right Lunge Punch (Oi Zuki) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, step forward with your right leg |
16. Ju Roku (Sixteen): | Left Lunge Punch (Oi Zuki) | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the right Zenkutsu Dachi, step forward with your left leg |
17. Ju Shichi (Seventeen): | Right Lunge Punch (Oi Zuki) 2nd Kiai | Zenkutsu Dachi (front stance) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, step forward with your right leg |
18. Ju Hachi (Eighteen): | left knife-hand block (shuto-uke) | From the left Zenkutsu Dachi, rotate 270 degrees counter-clockwise (pivoting on your right foot), step out with your left leg | |
19. Ju Ku (Nineteen): | Right knife-hand block (shuto-uke) | Kokutsu Dachi (back stance) | From the left kokutsu Dachi, step 45° to your left, into right kokutsu-dachi. |
20. Ni Ju (Twenty): | Right knife-hand block (shuto-uke) | Kokutsu Dachi (back stance) | From the right Kokutsu Dachi, rotate 135 degrees clockwise (pivoting on your left foot). |
21. Ni Ju Ichi (Twenty one): | Left knife-hand block (shuto-uke) | Kokutsu Dachi (back stance) | From the right kokutsu Dachi, step 45° to your right, into left kokutsu-dachi. |
Yamae
From the left kokutsu Dachi shuto uke, bring your left foot back to meet your left foot, ending in Shizentai (Yoi).
Rei (Bow)
From Yoi Dachi, bring your feet together to Musubi Dachi.
Perform a standing bow (Zarei), inclining your upper body forward, eyes looking about two meters in front of you.
Heian shodan is the first or second shotokan kata practiced by shotokan karateka when they first start karate.
