HEIAN YONDAN
The fourth level Heian has 27 counts and has many similarities to H2. The kata's primary stance is kokutsu-dachi (back stance), but students first learning this kata must also contend with the new kosa-dachi, a cross stance that is quite awkward for most karateka. H4 introduces the student to many new techniques such as kosa-uke, shuto-uchi, kakiwake-uke, mae-empi, and hiza-tsuchi. To perform H4 properly, a certain amount of flexibility is required as all of the mae-geri (front kicks) are jodan (upper level). Heian Yondan also has more kicks (5) than the other Heian kata. Slow moves must also be mastered in this kata; there are four of them. Much of H4 involves double-hand techniques, with morote-uke (double-hand block {x4}) occurring more than any other technique. Obviously, morote-uke was held in high regard during this kata's creation.
#
|
Technique
|
Translation
|
Stance
|
Target
|
Notes
|
1
|
haiwan-uke /
zenwan-hitae-kamae
|
back of forearm block /
forearm forehead posture
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
jodan
jodan
|
slow speed
|
2
|
haiwan-uke /
zenwan-hitae-kamae
|
back of forearm block /
forearm forehead posture
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
jodan
jodan
|
slow speed
|
3
|
ryoken-kosa-uke
(ryoken-juji-uke)
|
both fists cross block
(X-block)
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
4
|
morote-uke
|
double-hand block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
5
|
ryoken-koshi-kamae
|
both fists hip posture
|
ashi-dachi
|
--
|
|
6
|
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
|
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
chudan
|
|
7
|
mae empi-uchi
|
front elbow strike
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
--
|
|
8
|
ryoken-koshi-kamae
|
both fists hip posture
|
ashi-dachi
|
--
|
tsugi-ashi
|
9
|
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko geri-keage
|
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
chudan
|
|
10
|
mae-empi-uchi
|
front elbow strike
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
--
|
|
11
|
shuto-gedan-barai &
jodan-uke /
shuto-soto-mawashi-uchi
|
low knife-hand sweep &
face block /
outside sword-hand strike
|
hizakutsu
|
gedan
jodan
jodan
|
|
12
|
mae-geri
|
front kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
13*
|
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi
|
vertical back-fist strike
|
kosa-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
14
|
ryoken-kakiwake-uke
|
both fists wedge block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
slow speed
|
15
|
mae-geri
|
front kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
16
|
oi-zuki
|
lunge punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
17
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
18
|
ryoken-kakiwake-uke
|
both fists wedge block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
slow speed
|
19
|
mae-geri
|
front kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
20
|
oi-zuki
|
lunge punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
21
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
22
|
morote-uke
|
double-hand block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
23
|
morote-uke
|
double-hand block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
24
|
morote-uke
|
double-hand block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
25*
|
hiza-tsuchi
|
knee strike
|
ashi-dachi
|
--
|
|
26
|
shuto-uke
|
knife-hand block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
27
|
shuto-uke
|
knife-hand block
|
kokutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
