Shitō-Ryū Kata:  Heian Sandan (平安三段)

 

Heian Sandan (平安三段) is another Itosu-kei kata, created between 1902 and 1905 by Itosu Ankō for training by students at Shuri Junjō Chūgakkō (Shuri Standard Middle School).   According to tradition, Heian Sandan, like the other four Heian kata, was derived from an ancient and more complex kata called Channan.  Its purpose was to provide middle school aged children with a kata containing self-defence techniques appropriate for their age in a format that was easier to learn than most other traditional kata.  It is traditionally taught third (hence its name) in the sequence of the five Heian kata.    The video presented below was filmed at the Jikishin-Kai hombu dōjō in San Diego, featuring David Bertrand, who was several times a regional and national tournament kata champion in the 1990s.

Heian Sandan Description

After bowing and announcing the name of the kata ("Heian Sandan") ...

Yōi (cross open hands at groin level in musubi dachi) and kiyomeri kokyū (purification breaths)
Kamaete (shift right foot into nami heikō dachi while closing hands into fists at knee width)

  1 Turn 90 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with hidari yoko uke
  2 Draw right foot forward into musubi dachi with migite-ue hasami uke then hidarite-ue hasami uke
  3 Turn 180 degrees right into migi neko-ashi dachi with migi yoko uke
  4 Draw right foot forward into musubi dachi with hidarite-ue hasami uke then migite-ue hasami uke
  5 Turn 90 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with hidari yoko uke
  6 Hidari osae uke, then step forward into migi han-zenkutsu dachi with migi nukite zuki and kiai
  7 Twist the right hand a half-turn counter-clockwise and pull it against the back of the right hip while shifting left into migi han-kōkutsu dachi, then continue turning left and step  forward into hidari shikō dachi with hidari yoko kentsui uchi
  8 Step forward into migi han-zenkutsu dachi with oizuki
  9 Pivoting on the right foot, turn 180 degrees left into musubi dachi and place the knuckles of both fists against the top of the pelvic bone so that the arms protrude to the side like wings
  10 Step forward into migi shikō dachi with migi ude uke, then migi yoko zuki chūdan immediately returning the right hand to the right hip
  11 Step forward into hidari shikō dachi with hidari ude uke, then hidari yoko zuki chūdan immediately returning the right hand to the right hip
  12 Step forward into migi shikō dachi with migi ude uke, then migi yoko zuki chūdan (this time leaving the arm extended)
  13 Step forward into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with oizuki
  14 Draw right foot forward into nami heikō dachi while maintaining punching position with left hand
  15 Stepping around with left foot turn 180 degrees left into nami heikō dachi with migi seiken zuki over left shoulder
  16 Step one shoulder width to the right into nami heiko dachi with migi seiken zuki over right shoulder

Zanshin yame (by simply moving fists to kamaete position and facing forward)
Naotte (perform tekagami movement while sliding right foot into musubi dachi)
Rei (bow)

Key Training Aspects of Heian Sandan

 
The Key

Heian Sandan is typically the third kata taught to students of Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō.   It presents the student with some new technique that many find challenging initially, such as hasami uke, ude uke, yoko zuki, and backward-spinning footwork.  Thus, Heian Sandan marks the beginning of the student's transition from beginner to intermediate level.  As such, it is expected that students will display improved performance of all kihon, especially correct and stable stances, appropriate timing and tempo of movements, as well as greater speed, power,  and focus.

One of the key factors that serves as evidence of this improvement in kihon is maintaining iaigoshi (flexed hips, knees, and ankles) in musubi dachi in Steps #2, #4, and #8.  Another is the application of strong koshi-mawari (hip rotation) to simultaneously draw the right hand to the hip and shift from han-zenkutsu dachi to han-kōkutsu dachi in Step #7.

The movements performed in shikō dachi (#10, #11, and #12) are also a  key indicator of a student's progress.  Care must be taken when performing the ude uke blocks to maintain a correct and stable shikō dachi, and not allow the leading knee to buckle forward as the elbow swings inward.  It is also vital to perform the yoko zuki as straight sideways punches, rather than arcing backfist or hammerfist strikes.

Lastly, the over-the-shoulder punches at the end of the kata must be performed with enough power to knock out an opponent, thus requiring proper application of koshi-mawari.

Although Heian Sandan is a brief kata, containing only 16 movements, it is nevertheless one that challenges the student to achieve significant gains in skill.

Additional Information

MakimonoWhen learning a new kata, it is important to remind oneself of the adage: "Manabu no tame ni hyakkkai, jukuren no tame ni senkai, satori no tame ni manga okonau" (学ぶのために百回、熟練のために千回、悟りのために万回行う.).  A hundred times to learn, a thousand times for proficiency, ten thousand repetitions for complete understanding.   A related Okinawan saying is "ichi kata san nen" (一型三年):  one kata three years.  Think of it this way:  it takes about 40 seconds to perform Heian Nidan.  So in just ten minutes per day for only ten days (or twenty minutes a day for just five days), you can learn the correct sequences of movements in Heian Nidan.   But to become truly proficient-to be able to perform it correctly, and with the speed, power, timing, and bushi damashii (samurai spirit) necessary to make its techniques effective in a real self-defence situation will take a thousand repetitions, which equates to 100 days at ten repetitions a day.   And to fully understand and apply all of its principles, nuances, and variations will take 1,000 days (three years) at ten repetitions per day.

Just as some of the performance characteristics of Heian Sandan are more challenging than previous kata, so is the bunkai (分解), or analysis, of several of its techniques.  The purpose and use of hasami uke or ude uke, for instance, is less obvious than the purpose of more basic blocks and strikes.  Thus, when practicing Heian Sandan, it is essential to use the imagination to visualise the types of attack that these techniques are intended to defend against.  The traditional training method of karate-do is for the sensei to provide little more than hints or suggestions for bunkai, so that the students are forced to improve their ability to visualise the opponents actions and enhance their creativity and analytical skills.

Similarly, when practicing ōyō (応用)—effective or practical use—the variety of such applications increases with intermediate and advanced kata, particularly the number and variety of techniques that are jūhō ("soft methods"), such as throws, foot sweeps, holds, joint locks and dislocations, or strangulation techniques.  As students learn more kata and are exposed to a greater variety of possible applications, this process becomes more facile.