These written instructions and videos will help you learn Shotokan Karate Kata – Heian Yondan. Heian Yondan is also known as Shotokan Kata 4. It is the kata that usually follows after Heian Sandan. Heian Yondan is a lower-level Shotokan kata that teaches basic kicks, strikes and stances. It is one of the Shotokan katas taught to color belt (non-black belt) Karate students.
The information on this page is designed to help students pass their belt tests. There are video instructions for this kata so you can watch the kata performed by experts. There are also written step-by-step instructions for Shotokan kata 4 located at the bottom of the page. For other Shotokan katas, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Shotokan Karate Katas section.
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Step-By-Step Instructions For Shotokan Karate Kata – Heian Yondan
Demonstration Video for Shotokan Kata – Heian Yondan
Written Instructions for Shotokan Kata 4 – Heian Yondan
Heian Yondan has 27 movements. This kata requires accurate Shotokan stances (daichi).
- Ready position
- Turn left 90 degrees, and step forward left back stance, left upper level inside knife-hand block. Simultaneous right upper level knife-hand rising block. Arms form a rectangle with 90 degrees angles
- Turn right 180 degrees pivoting on both feet to right back stance, right upper level inside knife-hand block. Simultaneous left upper level knife-hand rising block. Arms form a rectangle with 90 degrees angles
- Turn left 90 degrees, pivoting on the right foot, step forward left front stance, downward x-block
- Step forward right back stance, right middle augmented block
- Bring left foot to right knee, bring right fist back into draw-hand by hip, bring left fist to rest on top of right fist. Simultaneously execute a upper level horizontal left back-fist strike with a left leg side snap kick
- Turn left 90 degrees, pivoting on the right foot, step forward left front stance, right front elbow strike into left palm
- Turn right 90 degrees, pivoting on left foot, bring right foot to left knee, bring left fist back into draw-hand by hip, bring right fist to rest on top of left fist. Simultaneously execute a upper level horizontal right back-fist strike with a right leg side snap kick
- Turn right 90 degrees, pivoting on left foot, step forward right front stance Left front elbow strike into right palm
- Feet in place, left downward knife-hand block, simultaneously bring right arm up to right upper level knife-hand rising block
- Turn left 90 degrees, pivoting on both feet, left front stance, left rising knife-hand block, simultaneous right upper knife-hand strike
- Left foot in place, right middle front snap-kick
- Step forward, right cross stance, right vertical back-fist strike (chest level), yell Kiai
- Turn left 225 degrees, pivoting on right foot, step forward left back stance (slowly), cross arms in front of upper chest, then middle reverse wedge block (closed fists)
- Left foot in place, right middle front snap-kick
- Step forward right front stance, middle combination punch (right lunge punch, then left reverse punch)
- Turn right 90 degrees, pivoting on left foot, right back stance (slowly), cross arms in front of upper chest, then middle reverse wedge block (closed fists)
- Right foot in place, left middle front snap-kick
- Step forward left front stance, middle combination punch (left lunge punch, then right reverse punch)
- Turn left 45 degrees, pivoting on right foot, left back stance, left middle augmented block
- Step forward, right back stance, right middle augmented block
- Step forward, left back stance, left middle augmented block
- Shift weight forward, left modified front stance (no side distance), reach forward with both hands to grasp sides of opponents head, then right rising knee strike, simultaneously bring closed fists down to sides of kicking knee, yell Kiai
- Turn 180 degrees left, pivoting on left foot, step back into left back stance, left middle knife-hand block
- Step forward right back stance, right middle knife-hand block
- Pull right foot back into ready position
Related Pages
Other Shotokan Kata Resources
if you need more help with your kata, we would suggest looking at our section on the best Shotokan books. These Shotokan books provide detailed kata instruction and tips.
References
- American Shotokan Karate Federation, Heian Yondan, http://askf.org/katas/heian_yondan.asp