It’s quite common for many
students once they have passed a grade, to never really feel the need to
continue their study of the Heian Kata.
It’s quite common for black
belts to have completely forgotten their previous kata, being so caught
up studying Bassai, Empi, Jion and Hangetsu.
However, continued attention
and study of these Heian Kata should follow, and not just up to Black
belt. Many very senior Dan grades devote most of the kata training time
to the Heian kata’s, for these kata teach such important fundamentals,
and need to be perfected for a lifetime.
Heian Yondan, the fourth in the
series is a very popular kata. More than any of the earlier Heian Kata,
Yondan introduces a new type of rhythm to kata training. It has
interesting contrasts between very deep and slow to incredibly sharp
movements. This contrast between slow and fast introduces rhythm to the
beginning student, and helps them to develop the control to not just
rush through the kata. It helps them develop their leg movements, and
the ability to synchronize leg and arm movements.
This kata introduces juiji-uke,
Shuto-uchi, kakewake-uke, and hiza-geri, and perfection of these new
movements is imperative in your continued study of the rest of the Heian
series.