Pinan Nidan & Heian Shodan differences

Iain's explanation of the first movement of Pinan Nidan/ Heian Shodan is technique to free oneself from an attempted grab from behind. Importantly the elbow points directly back as it is used to attack the opponent's midline. Movement #4 is a finger lock as explained by Iain, hence the need to shorten the stance as it will put all the pressure on the opponent's finger. The 2 movements are different.

On the other hand I do find it interesting that Heian Shodan ommits the grab from behind defence...

Mike

Michael has done a great job of explaining my take on the kata so I’ve nothing to add there. As I say on the DVD, the bunkai drill I label as “Nidan 2” would be “Shodan 1” is Shotokan.

The general point is that there is much value in looking at alternative versions of the kata. There are things you see in some versions that you don’t see in others. For example, the stamps in Shotokan’s Tekki-Shodan are not there in Wado’s Naihanchi; those stamps can have useful functions though and the Wado types would be oblivious to that potential if they were unaware of the Shotokan variation. It’s similar here. By looking at the other versions of the Pinan Nidan / Heian Shodan we get to appreciate the wider system that the katas record. A bit like how reading differing translations of the same text can give a better understanding of the original than just sticking with a single translation.

All the best,

Iain

Thanks guys !

So actually the first two directions in Pinin Nidan/Heian Shodan deal with removing oneself from grabs.  Can understand how this is logically more advanced than Pinan Shodan/Heian Nidan first number of techniques.

I wonder if this helps explain why JKA formalised these Kata in different order, ie they lost the understanding of the bunkai and from a style and not substance perspective Heian Shodan looks the 'simpler' Kata

Glad I adequately explained your take on the kata Iain.

I do have a question about the first movemnt of Heian Shodan/ Pinan Nidan of Shotokan. Considering the direction of the first movement i.e. 90 degree turn and followed by a step forward punch. Wouldn't that make it a simmilar application to the two simetrical down block step forward punch in the middel of the kata? This would obviously be redondant. Would there be another possible application of that movement?

Hi Michael,

Michael Stolberg wrote:

I do have a question about the first movement of Heian Shodan / Pinan Nidan of Shotokan. Considering the direction of the first movement i.e. 90 degree turn and followed by a step forward punch. Wouldn't that make it a similar application to the two symmetrical down block step forward punch in the middle of the kata? This would obviously be redundant. Would there be another possible application of that movement?

With regards to the primary bunkai taught in my dojo (and shown on The Pinan / Heian Series: The Complete Fighting System DVDs) the first “lower block” is a shift to the side while pulling the opponent’s arm so they are pulled off balance and you have a clean shot at the side of their jaw. The “turning lower-block” is then used as a forearm strike to the base of the skull and neck crank to take them to the floor.

The “lower-blocks” after the final “rising –block” (which are done at 45 degrees outside of Shotokan) I see as arm-bars to set up the following strikes by dropping the opponent’s head.

So similar motions, but the surrounding motions suggest different functions i.e. we have “lower-blocks” as strips, takedowns and locks and it is the movements around it that make clear what it what.

I hope that makes some sense. Always hard to describe in words, but this is shown on that DVD for those that have it.

All the best,

Iain

Thanks for the explanation Iain.

I am actually awaiting the shipping of this very DVD!

Can't wait to get it!

Mike

Having learned (in order) Pinan 1-5, Heian 1-5 and the ITF Tuls, my personal observation is that the most significant difference is the stances, specifically how one technique may use Karate back stance, Karate cat stance (and I note that Iain's cat stance on the DVDs is much different to mine) and TKD's L-stance. To me, the rest is mainly re-ordering rather than technique difference. The stances make the greatest difference as they govern everything else. Iain has opened up the purpose of stances to me.