Heian Yondan - 平安四段
The fourth Heian, with 27 counts, is the longest of Heian katas, and has many similarities to H2. The kata’s primary stance is kokutsu-dachi (back stance), but students first learning this kata must also contend with the new kosa-dachi, a cross stance that is quite awkward for most karateka. H4 introduces the student to many new techniques such as kosa-uke, shuto-uchi, kakiwake-uke, mae-enpi, and hiza-tsuchi. To perform H4 properly, a certain amount of flexibility is required as all of the mae-geri (front kicks) are jodan (upper level). Heian Yondan also has more kicks (5) than the other Heian kata. Slow moves must also be mastered in this kata; there are four of them. Much of H4 involves double-hand techniques, with morote-uke (double-hand block {x4}) occurring more than any other technique. Obviously, morote-uke was held in high regard during this kata’s creation.
| Kyodo | Technique | Translation | Stance | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | haiwan-uke/ zenwan-hitae-kamae |
back of forearm block/ forearm forehead posture |
kokutsu-dachi | jodan/ jodan |
slow speed |
| 2 | haiwan-uke/ zenwan-hitae-kamae |
back of forearm block/ forearm forehead posture |
kokutsu-dachi | jodan/ jodan |
slow speed |
| 3 | ryoken-kosa-uke (ryoken-juji-uke) |
both fists cross block (X-block) |
zenkutsu-dachi | gedan | |
| 4 | morote-uke | double-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 5 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists hip posture | ashi-dachi | – | |
| 6 | uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi/ yoko-geri-keage |
sideways back-fist strike/ side snap kick |
ashi-dachi | jodan/ chudan |
|
| 7 | mae-enpi-uchi | front elbow strike | zenkutsu-dachi | – | |
| 8 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists hip posture | ashi-dachi | – | tsugi-ashi |
| 9 | uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi/ yoko geri-keage |
sideways back-fist strike/ side snap kick |
ashi-dachi | jodan/ chudan |
|
| 10 | mae-enpi-uchi | front elbow strike | zenkutsu-dachi | – | |
| 11 | shuto-gedan-barai & jodan-uke/ shuto-soto-mawashi-uchi |
low knife-hand sweep & face block/ outside sword-hand strike |
hizakutsu | gedan jodan/ jodan |
|
| 12 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | jodan | |
| 13* | uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi | vertical back-fist strike | kosa-dachi | jodan | |
| 14 | ryoken-kakiwake-uke | both fists wedge block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 15 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | jodan | |
| 16 | oi-zuki | lunge punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 17 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 18 | ryoken-kakiwake-uke | both fists wedge block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 19 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | jodan | |
| 20 | oi-zuki | lunge punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 21 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 22 | morote-uke | double-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 23 | morote-uke | double-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 24 | morote-uke | double-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 25* | hiza-tsuchi | knee strike | ashi-dachi | – | |
| 26 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 27 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan |