Heian Shodan Kata by Hirokazu Kanazawa I Heian Shodan Kata I Hirokazu Kanazawa

Heian Shodan is the first of five katas taught in this series. The creation of the Heian series of katas has been attributed to the great Okinawan karate teacher Master Yasutsune Itosu (1831 - 1915) who was one of Master Gichin Funakoshi's two primary teachers. This series of five katas was originally known by its Okinawan name Pinan Shodan. When the Founder of Shotokan Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi first introduced karate to Japan it was he who changed the name of the five katas in this series from the Okinawan pronunciation of Pinan to Heian (Peaceful Mind). It is speculated that perhaps he did so in order to have these katas more readily accepted by Japanese society. It is interesting to note that this kata was originally the second kata taught in this series, and that Heian Nidan was originally the first kata taught. However, Master Funakoshi reversed the order, as he felt it was more appropriate to teach Heian Shodan first since it is a much less complex kata than Heian Nidan. This kata introduces the student for the first time to several new hand techniques jodan-age-uke (upper level rising block) chudan-tetsui (middle level hammer fist) and shuto-zuki, (sword hand strike), as well as the concept of tai-sabaki (body shifting). This kata contains 21 movements and should take the student approximately 30 seconds to complete. The correct performance of this kata is required in order to advance in rank from 10th kyu (white belt) to 9th kyu (yellow belt). There are two kiai points found in Heian Shodan. The first one occurs on the last jodan-age-uke (upper level rising block) at the top of the embusen (line of attack). The second one occurs on the last chudan-oi-zuki (middle level lunge punch) at the bottom of the embusen (line of attack). About Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa Kanazawa Soke (10th Dan Black Belt) was one of the world most renowned and respected traditional karate masters of all time. He was the first karateka to have won the notorious All Japan karate Championship. In 1957 kumite champion (while nursing a broken wrist) In 1958 kumite and kata champion Although trained in Judo in his early years, Kanazawa Soke took up karate whilst at University under the late headmaster of JKA shotokan, sensei Matsatoshi Nakayama. Kanazawa Soke is also one of the few remaining karateka privileged to have studied under Master Gichin Funakoshi, the famous Okinawin schoolteacher who brought karate to mainland Japan from Okinawa and founded the Shotokan style. In 1978, Kanazawa Soke set up SKIF (Shotokan Karatedo International Federation). SKIF is now the worlds largest Shotokan Karate Association, having several million members in over 130 countries. 1) Heian Shodan 2) Heian Shodan kata by hirokazu kanazawa 3) Heian shodan kata 4) Hirokazu Kanazawa 5) Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa 6) How to do Heian Shodan 7) Shotokan Karate Heian Shodan 8) Heian Shodan Shotokan Karate #heianshodankatabyhirokazukanazawa #heianshodankata #hirokazukanazawa