HEIAN SHODAN

   Heian Shodan is the first kata in the Heian series and is usually the first kata that a beginner must learn. It has 21 movements and its embusen is roughly I-shaped. Essential points to learn in H1 include the oi-zuki (lunge punch) and gedan-barai (down block) which comprise over half of the kata. Also of great importance is developing the zenkutsu-dachi (front stance), the main stance of H1. The student must try to master the arc-like moves of the feet and reversing direction, skills which appear time and time again in all kata. One must also develop power from the hips in both the hanmi (for blocks) and shomen (for punches) positions.
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Technique
Translation
Stance
Target
Notes
1
gedan-barai

down block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

2
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

3
gedan-barai

down block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

4
kentsui-tate-mawashi-uchi

vertical hammer-fist strike
zenkutsu-dachi
--
target collarbone
5
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

6
gedan-barai

down block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

7
age-uke

rising block
zenkutsu-dachi
jodan

8
age-uke

rising block
zenkutsu-dachi
jodan

9*
age-uke

rising block
zenkutsu-dachi
jodan

10
gedan-barai

down block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

11
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

12
gedan-barai

down block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

13
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

14
gedan-barai

down block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

15
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

16
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

17*
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

18
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

19
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

20
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

21
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan