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[kata's]
Heian Yondan is the fourth of the
Peaceful Mind series. Comprising 27 movements, this Kata should take approximately 50 seconds to perform.
The most difficult movements are generally considered by novices
and many older students to be the back stance and the side snap
kick. These challenging techniques require flexible hips and ankles.
Strong knees are also helpful. These techniques were not structured so that anyone could learn and
perform them. Most adult novices find these techniques to be
impossible to perform to the level demonstrated in books and
videos. Because of that, they are given an inordinate amount of
training attention by students and instructors that is better
utilized elsewhere. The side snap kick is nearly without use in
combat, and the shape of a back stance is also relatively
unimportant compared to other tasks that the student could
undertake. In the end, most students who struggle against these two
techniques for years eventually learn a horrible truth: They will
never be able to do them properly. 1.
Natural Position
- Begin the kata with your hands relaxed at your sides in fists. Your feet
should hip width apart. 2.
Two Handed Block
- Step out with the left foot into a back stance. Bring both open hands by the
right waist and then slowly bring them up and around strongly. Add tension and
decelerate as you progress. The left arm performs a high level inside block with
the back of the open hand. The right arm performs an upper level rising block,
but the forearm and open fingers should point in the direction of the left foot. The
fingertips of the right hand should point at the height of the left wrist. The
forearms should be about 8 inches apart so that your face will fit between them.
The wrists of both arms must be perfectly straight. The left elbow is at a
perfect 90 degree angle as is the left shoulder. The right shoulder should be at
45 degrees, and the right elbow should be at 135 degrees. When finished, this
technique forms a nice rectangle between the arms. 3.
Two Handed Block
- Pull the hands down from their upward position to one beside the left waist.
Leave the hands open in the knife hand shape. Pivot on the heels to the right
looking 180 degrees in the other direction and repeat the decelerating tensed
blocking action to the right. 4.
Lower Block and Punch
- Turn to the left 90 degrees and step in that direction with the left foot. The
left leg now moves into a front stance. From their upraised position cross the
wrists of the right and left arms and then block downward strongly with the left
arm and punch over the top of it with the right fist. 5.
Double Hand Block
- Step forward with the right foot so that it becomes the front foot in a back
stance. Fold for a double hand block by putting the right fist in front of the
left shoulder and the left fist touching the right elbow. Block with the right
arm and the left arm supporting. 6.
Side Snap Kicks - From the double hand block position you are in
now pull the left leg up to the right knee. The left knee should point outward
in the direction that you are going to kick. The left hand should be at the
right waist in the cup and saucer position. Side snap kick to the left as you
throw a left side backfist strike. Leave the backfist out after you strike. Snap
the kick back immediately and step down into a front stance that has no width -
the heels are in line. Drive the right elbow into the left palm, which is now
being pulled back from the backfist strike. The fist of the elbow strike hand
can be palm down or palm inward. 7.
Repeat - From this position pull the left foot about halfway
toward the right and then raise the right foot to the left knee, turn the head
to the other direction and throw the mirror image of these techniques. 8.
Knife Hand Block and Strike
- Look over the left shoulder. Move the left hand down as if to block to the
lower level with a knife hand block and place the open right hand up in the air
with the elbow at a 90 degree angle as if about to perform an outside block.
Pivot on both heels to the left 90 degrees so that your left foot becomes the
front foot in a left sided front stance that is very wide and shallow. The
shoulders should finish facing 45 degrees to the left. The right arm should
strike in a round move to the neck level with the palm flat and facing upward.
The left hand should be in an open palm block to the upper level. The right
elbow should be bent at about 10 degrees, and the right hand should be parallel
to the floor. 9.
Front Snap Kick and
Backfist Strike - Front snap
kick by stepping forward with the right foot to kick. As you step down, bring
the left hand out in front of you with the open palm facing down at stomach
level. The right fist should be somewhat behind the head, and right elbow should
point from between the eyes. Pull the elbow down strongly as you lunge forward
with a vertical backfist strike and plant the right foot and at the same time
withdraw the left hand back to the waist, finishing by pulling the left foot
forward and behind the right foot into a crossed feet stance. Kiai on the
strike. 10.
Wedge Block - Pivot anti clockwise to the left on your right foot. As you pivot,
extend the left foot outward to the 225 degree right flank from the kiai point.
The left foot becomes the front foot in a new back stance. As you step outward,
cross both hands at the wrists quickly with the palm sides of the fists facing
inward. Burst them apart and then slowly wedge block with increasing tension and
deceleration. 11.
Front Snap Kick
- Step forward with the right foot and front snap kick to the middle level.
Leave the arms in the wedge position. 12.
Double Punch - Punch with the right and then the left. Punch directly from the wedge
block posture you are in. The first punch snaps fast and the second punch
thrusts strong. 13.
Wedge Block - Move the right foot back in and then extend it out to the 90 degree
angle to the right into a new back stance. Repeat the wedge block above. 14.
Front Snap Kick
- Step forward with the left foot and front snap kick to the middle level. Leave
the arms in the wedge position. 15.
Double Punch - Punch with the left and then the right. Punch directly from the wedge
block posture you are in. The first punch snaps fast and the second punch
thrusts strong. 16.
Double Hand Blocks - Shift the left foot to the left 45 degrees so
that it becomes the front foot in a new back stance. Double hand block with the
left arm and the right arm supporting. Fold for a double hand block by putting
the left fist in front of the right shoulder and the right fist touching the
left elbow. Block as the foot settles in as the front foot of a right side back
stance. 17.
Repeat - Step forward and double hand block again. 18.
Repeat - Step forward and double hand block again. 19.
Hair Grab - Bend the front knee and straighten the back knee so that your stance
goes from a back stance to a front stance. Shoot both hands up quickly so that
the two open hands grab up to ear level as if on the sides of someone's head. 20.
Knee Strike - Bring the right knee upwards strongly and hold that position for a
brief instant. Pull both hands downward from their extended positions with the
elbows straight. The open hands turn to fists on reaching their lowest point.
Place the fists to either side of the shin. The arms should be on a 45 degree
angle downward when the action is complete. Kiai. 21.
Knife Hand Block
- Pivot to the rear 180 degrees on the left foot in an anti clockwise direction.
Step down with the right foot into a new back stance so that it becomes the rear
foot. Knife hand block to the middle level with the left hand. 22.
Knife Hand Block
- Step forward and knife hand block with the right hand. 23.
Finish - Step the right foot back to the natural position to finish.
Count |
Move |
Stance |
---|---|---|
Rei | Musubi Dachi | |
Yoi | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
1 | Haishu Haiwan Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
2 | Migi Haishu Haiwan Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
3 | Gedan Juji Uke | Zenkutsu Dachi |
4 | Migi Chudan Morote Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
5 | Yoko Keage Uraken Uchi | Hikite Gamae |
6 | Migi Mae Empi | Zenkutsu Dachi |
7 | Yoko Keage Uraken Uchi | Hikite Gamae |
8 | Hidari Mae Empi | Zenkutsu Dachi |
9 | Hidari Gedan Shuto Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
10 | Migi Jodan Shuto Uchi | Zenkutsu Dachi |
11 | Migi Jodan Mae Geri | |
12 | Hidari Teisho Uke | Zenkutsu Dachi |
13 | Migi Chudan Uraken Uchi (KIAI) | Kosa Dachi |
14 | Chudan Kaki wake Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
15 | Migi Jodan Mae Geri | |
16 | Migi Chudan Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
17 | Hidari Chudan Gyaku Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
18 | Chudan Kaki wake Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
19 | Hidari Jodan Mae Geri | |
20 | Hidari Chudan Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
21 | Migi Chudan Gyaku Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
22 | Hidari Chudan Morote Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
23 | Migi Chudan Morote Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
24 | Hidari Chudan Morote Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
25 | Morote Kubi Osae | Zenkutsu Dachi |
26 | Migi Hiza Geri Uchi (KIAI) | |
27 | Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
28 | Migi Chudan Shuto Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
Yame | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
Rei | Musubi Dachi |