Heian Shodan - 平安初段

Heian Shodan is the first kata in the Heian series and is usually the first kata that a beginner must learn. It has 21 movements and its embusen is roughly I-shaped. Essential points to learn in H1 include the oi-zuki (lunge punch) and gedan-barai (down block) which comprise over half of the kata. Also of great importance is developing the zenkutsu-dachi (front stance), the main stance of H1. The student must try to master the arc-like moves of the feet and reversing direction, skills which appear time and time again in all kata. One must also develop power from the hips in both the hanmi (for blocks) and shomen (for punches) positions.

Kyodo	Technique	Translation	Stance	Target	Notes
1	gedan-barai	down block	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
2	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
3	gedan-barai	down block	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
4	kentsui-tate-mawashi-uchi	vertical hammer-fist strike	zenkutsu-dachi	–	target collarbone
5	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
6	gedan-barai	down block	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
7	age-uke	rising block	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan
8	age-uke	rising block	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan
9*	age-uke	rising block	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan
10	gedan-barai	down block	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
11	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
12	gedan-barai	down block	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
13	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
14	gedan-barai	down block	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
15	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
16	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
17*	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
18	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
19	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
20	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
21	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan