gold/yellow to orange - belt testing...

Gold/Yellow to Orange - Belt Testing Requirements

Kata: Pinan Nidan

Including form execution, and 3 basic bunkai drills: - 1st Kata move: Attacker: same hand grabs Defender: rotates wrist around, strike on top (alternate version w/grab instead of the strike on top) - Middle moves: Attacker: punches Defender: upper blocks, reverse punch (going frontward & backwards) - Ending blocks: Attacker: grabs wrist Defender: shuto strikes to assailant

Kobudo Kata: Shimi Igiri Bo Ichi

Including form execution, and 3 basic bunkai - 1st kata move: Barrel up & rotate disarm - behind the neck striking sequence under chin - (alternate) behind the neck strike at groin sequence

Blocks: Open hand Shuto (knife hand)

Punches: Hammer Fist (Tettsui uchi)

Kicks (Geri): Round Kick (Back Leg w/ Pivots) Side Kick (Back Leg w/ Pivots)

Stances (Dachi): No new ones

Technique (waza): Break Falls

Breaking:

Adults - Knife Hand to White Board

Children - Hammerfist to White Board

Definitions:

Embusen

Pinan

Count to 10 in Japanese

Kiai

Bunkai

Yoi

Rei

Kumite

Kiyotske

*Sparring: 3 minutes rounds

Yellow/Gold Belt Pinan Nidan : aka Heian, Ping-an, Pinnan, Heinan, Channan, Seibukan katas

Anko Itosu (1831-1915)

Meaning/s: Peaceful Mind, Way of peace, Great Peace, Calm Mind, Peace Kata, Serenity, or

Security.

Yasutsune “Anko” Itosu (1830-1915) was born in Shuri, Okinawa and of the Shuri-Te system,

and he developed the Pinans. The Pinans are a series of five forms developed around 1903 to

1906 and incorporated into the public school system in Okinawa Perfecture. These forms are still

referred to as Heian kata in mainland Japan, and particularly in the Shotokan system. The history

of this kata is also somewhat controversial. Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu stylists claim that Itosu

developed all five kata using either the kata Passai and Kusanku. The Matsumura Seito Shorin-

Ryu tradition states that Itosu only developed Pinan 5 by himself. (It is curious to note that

Chosin Chibana, Itosu's senior disciple and Kobayashi founder, taught only Pinan 5 and

Naihanchi 3 out of respect for Itosu's authorship.) Hohan Soken (family inheritor of Bushi

Matsumura's style) taught only Pinan 1 and 2; saying that Matsumura had devised these two and

laid framework for Pinan 3 and 4.

Many historians believe that Itosu created the Pinans from two other Shuri katas known as

Kusanku & Channan. Using the Kusanku before it was broken down into Sho (lesser) and Dai

(greater) and Channan (the form was called "Chiang Nan" or Channan in Okinawan the

pronunciation ). The Channan kata has been said to be lost, but legend has it that Bushi

Matsumura, Itosu's teacher, either devised these kata or that the Pinan’s were an older set of

Chinese kata passed on by Matsumura, and were originally called Channan Sho and Dai. They

were based on kata taught at Fukien Shaolin in the Five Elder style. The Chinese reading for this

name is "Chiag Nan." Chiag Nan was the name of a Chinese Diplomat who resided Shuri. It is

possible that Bushi got the techniques from him. Itosu created Pinan Sandan, Yondan, and

Godan and added them to his own system. Some sources say he took them from other Chinese

kata also called Chiag Nan that he got from a Chinese master, who may have also been Chaig

Nan himself. These three are not Matsumura kata, but were passed down other Shorin lines.

These forms have been said to have been made to be taught to elementary school & high school

children in Okinawa. In addition to creating several kata, the other kata that Itosu taught, such as

Chinto, Useishi (Gojushiho), Passai Dai, and Kusanku Dai, etc., were changed from their

original guises, in order to make them more palatable to his physical education classes (Kinjo,

1991). When Karate was first introduced publicly in the high school in okinawa. Itosu did not

want to give the impression that Karate -do was about violence or aggression. This name Pinan

seems to be inspired by the Bubishi. In article 1 on the History and Philosophy of White Crane. It

says, "Immeasurable self-conquests are made possible through a peaceful mind and inner

harmony. The strength and resiliency gained from martial art training fosters an inner force with

which one can overcome any opponent and conquer worldly delusion and misery."

It has also been said that when Gichin Funakoshi was hired by Japan to teach karate; he used the

Pinan's as the main portion of his kata. Gichin Funikoshi revised the order of 1 and 2, Hence

today, this is the reason we learn them out of counting sequence order

now. His philosophy was to teach Pinan Nidan first because he felt it

was an easier transition into the Pinan series. He also changed the kata

name to Heian, and initiated deeper stances and higher kicks. He also

replaced front kicks with side kicks and altered other moves in the

series. Funakoshi was so well known for teaching the Pinan series that

he was often referred to as the "Pinan Sensei." Interesting enough, he did

not learn the Pinans from Itsou as he had already finished his training

with the great mejin before they were developed. According to several

sources, Funikoshi was first introduced to the Pinans during a trip to

Osaka where he received instruction from Kenwa Mabuni, the founder

of Shito-Ryu. During his subsequent visits he learned a number of the kata from Mabuni that

would eventually be taught in the Shotokan system. Regardless of their origin or lineage, there is

no doubt that today the Pinan Series is practiced world-wide by Okinawan, Japanese, as well as

some Korean styles.

In either case, it is widely accepted and known that Itosu was among the first to teach karate

(toudi) publicly. Karate having previously been taught and practiced in secrecy for hundreds of

years. Itosu began his public teaching of karate as physical education in the school system as

early as 1901, where he taught at the Shuri Jinjo Primary School (Iwai, 1992; Okinawa Pref.,

1994). He also went on to teach at Shuri Dai-ichi Middle School and the Okinawa Prefectural

Men's Normal School in 1905 (Bishop, 1999; Okinawa Pref., 1994, 1995).

The five katas follow a sequence designed to introduce the beginner to kata and to progressively

introduce more techniques as the student advances. The series incorporates almost all of the

basic stances and many of the basic techniques of the various Okinawan systems of karate,

thereby making the Pinans suitable for beginners and intermediates. Mastering each form

requires years of practice in order to understand the finer points of each movement. Although the

Pinans do not contain symbolic movements often seen in more advanced kata, there are a variety

of combat interpretations for several of the basic techniques included in the forms.

Understanding the techniques and their usage against the attacker will help the student to take

away a practical application from the Pinans. The applications of the pinan’s include a variety of

defenses against unarmed and armed assailants and a variety of street fighters and incorporates

strikes, kicks, pressure points, throws and restraints. They are commonly considered to

emphasize speed. It is said once one has mastered the 5 Pinan Kata they could walk the street

with a peaceful mind, as they contained all self defense. These kata were developed by Itosu

Sensei to make learning the long and difficult kata known as Kusanku-dai (also known as

Kanku-dai, and Kosokun-dai) easier to learn and parts of this intricate kata are broken down into

5 parts of varying difficulty. It has been said that there were originally 8 Kata, but some have

been lost in time.

On the other side of the coin, there is another theory that states that Itosu did not create the Pinan

kata, but actually remodeled older Chinese-based hsing/kata called Channan. This theory states

that Itosu learned a series of Chinese Quan-fa hsing from a shipwrecked Chinese at Tomari, and

reworked them into five smaller components, re-naming them Pinan because the Chinese

pronunciation "Chiang-Nan" was too difficult (Bishop, 1999). It has been argued that the source

for these Channan kata was a Chinese from an area called Annan, or a man named Annan

(Bishop, 1999). On the other hand, others say that the man's name was Channan (Iwai, 1992).

Still others go into even more detail, stating that Itosu learned these hsing/kata from a man

named Channan, and named them after their source, later adding elements of the Kusanku Dai

kata to create the Pinan (Gima, et al, 1986; Kinjo. 1999). According to Tsukuo Iwai, one of

Japan's most noted Budo researchers and teacher of Choki Motobu's karate in Gunma Prefecture,

Motoburyu Karatejutsu, which is being preserved by Choki's son, Chosei Motobu, in Osaka,

contains what is known as Shiraguma no Kata, which he maintains used to be called Channan.

He also states that this kata is "somewhat similar to the Pinan, yet different." (Iwai, 1997).

Early written references to Channan and Pinan references to Channan can be found as far back as

1934. In the karate research journal entitled Karate no Kenkyu, published by Nakasone Genwa,

Motobu Choki is quoted referring to the Channan and the Pinan kata:

"(Sic.) I was interested in the martial arts since I was a child, and studied under many teachers. I studied with Itosu Sensei for 7-8

years. At first, he lived in Urasoe, then moved to Nakashima Oshima in Naha, then on to Shikina, and finally to the villa of Baron

Ie. He spent his final years living near the middle school. I visited him one day at his home near the school, where we sat talking

about the martial arts and current affairs. While I was there, 2-3 students also dropped by and sat talking with us. Itosu Sensei

turned to the students and said 'show us a kata.' The kata that they performed was very similar to the Channan kata that I knew,

but there were some differences also. Upon asking the student what the kata was, he replied 'It is Pinan no Kata.' The students left

shortly after that, upon which I turned to Itosu Sensei and said 'I learned a kata called Channan, but the kata that those students

just performed now was different. What is going on?' Itosu Sensei replied 'Yes, the kata is slightly different, but the kata that you

just saw is the kata that I have decided upon. The students all told me that the name Pinan is better, so I went along with the

opinions of the young people.' These kata, which were developed by Itosu Sensei, underwent change even during his own

lifetime." (Murakami, 1991; 120)

There is also reference to Pinan being called Channan in its early years in the 1938 publication

Kobo Kenpo Karatedo Nyumon by Mabuni Kenwa and Nakasone Genwa. Mabuni and Nakasone

write that those people who learned this kata as Channan still taught it under that name (Mabuni,

et al, 1938). Hiroshi Kinjo , one of Japan's most senior teachers and historians of the Okinawan

fighting traditions, and a direct student of three of Itosu's students, namely Chomo Hanashiro,

Chojo Oshiro, and Anbun Tokuda, wrote a series of articles on the Pinan kata in Gekkan

Karatedo magazine in the mid-1950s. In the first installment he maintains that the Pinan kata

were originally called Channan, and there were some technical differences between Channan and

the updated versions known as Pinan (Kinjo, 1956a). Again according to Hiroshi Kinjo, Hisateru

Miyagi, a former student of Itosu who graduated from the Okinawa Prefectural Normal School in

1916, stated that when he was studying under the old master, Itosu only really taught the first

three Pinan with any real enthusiasm, and that the last two seem to have been rather neglected at

that time (Kinjo, 1956b). Although one can speculate about what this means, it is nevertheless a

very interesting piece of testimony by someone who was "there."

This kata is also said to have been taught to Sokon Matsumura (1829-1898) by a Chinese man

named Chinto, but this legend cannot be corroborated, according to a 1914 newspaper article by

Gichin Funakoshi (1867-1957), based upon the talks of his teacher Anko Asato (1827-1906),

who was a student of Sokon Matsumura: "Those who received instruction from a castaway from

Annan in Fuzhou, include: Gusukuma and Kanagusuku (Chinto), Matsumura and Oyadomari

(Chinte), Yamasato (Jiin) and Nakasato (Jitte), all of Tomari, who learned the kata separately.

The reason being that their teacher was in a hurry to return to his home country." (sic, Shoto,

1914). It is believed by this author that the "Matsumura" in the above excerpt is a misspelling of

Kosaku Matsumora, of Tomari. The fact that Kosaku Matsumora is said to have taught Chinto to

Chotoku Kyan, is evidence that Matsumora may also have been taught this kata as well (Kinjo,

1999).

There is also interesting oral testimony passed down in the Tomari-di tradition that is propagated

in the Okinawa Gojuryu Tomaridi Karatedo Association of Iken Tokashiki that states that Itosu

learned the Channan/Pinan kata in one day. The proponents of Tomari-di said that there was no

need to learn "over-night kata" and that this is the reason that the Tomari traditions did not

include instruction in the Pinan kata (Okinawa Pref., 1995). This sentiment also echoes the

statement by one of Itosu's top students, Yabu Kentsu, made to his students: "(sic) If you have

time to practice the Pinan, practice Kushanku instead (Gima, et al, 1986, p. 86)."

Pinan kata strives to develop a mental state in the practitioner similar to the state of awareness in

Zen Buddhism. That is, where the mind is completely relaxed, yet completely alert at the same

time. In Pinan kata, the practitioner is surrounded on all sides by several imaginary opponents,

but does not know in which direction the first attack will be unable to react to an attack by

multiple opponents. it is essential to clear your mind of all distractions in order to change

direction and prepare for the next attack. All five Pinan kata begin with an imaginary opponent

attacking from the left. In Matsubayashi shorin-ryu it was decided for the first move of each

Pinan kata that the practitioner should move away from the attack by steppingback with the right

foot and twisting into a cat stance. In other Shorin-ryu styles the practitioner, however, moves

into the oncoming attack by moving the left foot first. Psychologically this is an enormous

difference. The way this technique is performed can chang the entire nature and philosophy of

the Pinan form. Pinan kata is about developing the skill to move out of the way of harm by

stepping at an angle in the cat stance. The practitioner must land with the weight down so that

the spring is already tightly compressed once the practitioner's leg touches the ground. in Pinan,

the practitioner learns to move away which is a basic for beginner and intermediate Level

practitioners. In more advanced kata, the practitioner develops the skill to move in when being

attacked. The first time in the Matsubayashi-shorin-ryu curriculum that this technique is used is

at the begining of Wankan kata. In pinan, step at an angle, away from the attacker so that it is

advantageous to deliver the counter attack. As soon as the toes of the right foot touch the ground,

use the legs to snap the hips and generate power on the blocks, When the practitioner steps back

to avoid the attack they must land with their weight already dropped, so that the coil is already

compressed. This create greater speed and power on the subsequent counter attack. Before

turning or changing direction in pinan, the practitioner must remember to look in the direction of

the attack before moving their bodies.

Itosu Anko passed away in March 1915, leaving behind a legacy that very few today even

recognize or comprehend.

PINAN NIDAN (words)

1. Position of attention

2. REI

3. Ready stance

4. Turn left 90° step w/ left foot into front stance and execute (lh) down block

5. Step back w/ left foot into cat stance and execute (lh) hammer fist

6. Half moon step (rf) and execute a (rh) reverse punch KIAI

7. Turn right 180° step w/ right foot and execute (rh) down block

8. Step back w/ right foot into cat stance and execute (rh) hammer fist

9. Half moon step (lf) and execute a (lh) reverse punch KIAI

10. Turn left facing FRONT and execute a (lh) down block

11. Half moon step (rf) and execute a (rh) overhead block

12. Half moon step (lf) and execute a (lh) overhead block

13. Half moon step (rf) and execute a (rh) overhead block

14. Turn left to BACK RIGHT ANGLE (step w/LF) and execute a down block

15. Half moon step and execute a (rh) reverse punch to the head KIAI

16. Step w/ right foot to BACK LEFT ANGLE and execute a (rh) down block

17. Half moon step and execute a (lh) reverse punch to the head KIAI

18. Step w/ left foot facing BACK and execute a (lh) down block

19. Half moon step (rf) and execute a (rh) reverse punch

20. Half moon step (lf) and execute a (lh) reverse punch

21. Half moon step (rf) and execute a (rh) reverse punch KIAI

22. Turn left to LEFT FRONT ANGLE into a cat stance (rt foot back) and execute a

downward (left side) shuto

23. Step w/ right foot into opposite cat stance and execute a downward (right side) shuto

24. Step w/ right foot facing RIGHT FRONT ANGLE into a cat stance (left foot back)

and execute a downward (right side) shuto

25. Step w/ left foot into opposite cat stance and execute a downward (left side) shuto

26. Maintain position and cat stance while turning left until facing FRONT

27. Step back with left foot into ready stance

28. REI

Pinan Nidan Kata vs #2

1. - Ready position, feet parallel, fists in front 2. - Step out left, horse stance, look left, down block 3. - Shift, cat stance, knuckle strike 4. - Step through, RFF front stance, straight body punch and yell 5. - Turn right, horse stance, look right, down block 6. - Shift, cat stance, knuckle strikc 7. - Step through, LFF front stance, straight body punch 8. - Turn left, LFF front stance, down block 9. - Circle step, RFF front stance, RH upper block 10. - Circle step, LFF front stance, LH upper block 11. - Circle step, RFF front stance, RH upper block 12. - Turn left, LFF front stance, LH down block 13. - Circle step right, straight face punch and yell 14. - Turn right, RFF front stance, RH down block 15. - Circle step right, straight face punch 16. - Turn left, LFF front stance, LH down block 17. - Circle step, RFF front stance, straight body punch 18. - Circle step, LFF front stance, straight body punch 19. - Circle step, RFF front stance, straight body punch and yell 20. - Turn left, cat stance, low guard 21. - Step forward, cat stance, low guard 22. - Turn right, cat stance, low guard 23. - Step forward, cat stance, low guard 24. - Step back, ready position, feet parallel, fists in front

PINAN NIDAN

Backside view Backside view



Shima Igiri Bo Ichi *Most Kobudo Katas are named after the person who developed them or the area they came

from.

1. Begin at attention facing N w/ bo in right hand, palm facing out

2. Reach up and grip the bo with left hand, turn right hand over

3. Step out w/ left foot into horse stance, block down

4. Step back w/ left foot into cat stance facing W, aim, left hand is outstretched palm up,

right hand is near right shoulder, bo is on top of right elbow angled slightly upward

5. Step forward w/ left foot into front stance facing W, rotate down

6. Shuffle step forward, punch

7. Pivot to cat stance facing E, right foot forward, switch grip on both hands, aim

8. Step forward w/ right foot into front stance facing E, rotate down


10. Step out w/ left foot into front stance facing N, ankle strike, left hand forward and down

11. Step forward w/ right foot into front stance, side strike, right hand forward

12. Drop onto left knee, strike underneath, right hand forward

13. Step up and forward, feet together, rotate bo to left side, switch grip on right hand

14. Step out w/ left foot into horse stance, chamber left hand at side, right hand brings bo up

and over head to right side

15. Reach across w/ left hand and grip the bo, strike across, right hand forward

16. Strike underneath, right hand forward

17. Step forward w/ left foot, wind bo vertically until left hand is behind head

18. Kick the bo w/ right foot and land right foot forward

19. Cross step behind w/ left foot and wind down to left side

20. Step back w/ left foot, raise right foot

21. Step forward w/ right foot into front stance, punch

22. Step over w/ left foot and pivot to front stance facing SE, left foot forward, float the bo to

block left

23. Rotate down, kick and clear, rotate front to back to front

24. Shuffle step forward, wind up, wind down


26. Step over w/ right foot and pivot to front stance facing SW, right foot forward, float the

bo to block right

27. Rotate down, kick and clear, rotate front to back to front

28. Shuffle step forward, wind up, wind down


30. Step forward w/ left foot to front stance facing S, ankle strike, left hand forward

31. Step forward w/ right foot to front stance, side strike, right hand forward

32. Shuffle step forward, punch up to front, punch down to rear

33. Step back w/ left foot to cat stance facing NE, right foot forward, block to right

34. Step back w/ right foot to cat stance facing NW, left foot forward, switch grip on both

hands, block to left

35. Step up, feet together facing N, beginning posture, bow

Shima Igiri Bo Ichi Kata vs. #2

1. - Feet together, bo on right shoulder 2. - LF step out, horse stance, down block 3. - Look left, angled overhead block, overhead strike, thrusting strike 4. - Look right, angled overhead block, overhead strike, thrusting strike 5. - LF step forward, LFF front stance, LHF low strike 6. - RF step forward, RFF front stance, left side strike 7. - Drop to back knee, high reverse strike 8. - LF step up, feet together, bo on left side 9. - Grab bo with RH, LF step out, horse stance, switch bo to right side 10. - Left side strike, reverse strike 11. - LF step forward, LFF front stance, LHF uppercut 12. - RF step forward, RFF front stance, RHF overhead strike 13. - Shuffle forward, thrusting strike 14. - Turn left, switch hands, LFF front stance, push block, overhead strike 15. - Lift LF, clear, LFF front stance, reverse strike 16. - Overhead strike, thrusting strike 17. - Turn right, switch hands, RFF front stance, push block, overhead strike 18. - Lift RF, clear, RFF front stance, reverse strike

19. - Overhead strike, thrusting strike

Kobudo katas in the snow.

Photo taken from: http://newmoon2000.tripod.com/oneway/04-November.html

gold/yellow to orange - belt testing...

Documents