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Heian Nidan - Step by Step

This is a very rough guide to the 8th Kyu (Red Belt) Kata, Heian Nidan. The little black compass symbols show where the "front" "side" and "back" directions are and the red arrow points in the direction your head should be facing in relation to the front.

The comments below the picture are written by Sensei Cerin Rees and are some of the things that he works on while doing the Kata. We can all learn things from eachother, so please feel free to send us your comments to go with Heian Nidan along with your name, grade and club and we will put them up here. With your help, we will get a wide range of tips and hints and our Karate can only get better!

Yoi. From the very moment you go into Yoi, you should be switched on and ready. This is part of the Kata and should be done with the same strong attitude.

Back Stance, double block. Arms should be shaped like a rectangle

Pull someone into an uper cut punch. Make sure back knee is still strong and not caved in.

Tetsui strike. Make sure reaction arm is pulled back and secure.

Same sequence on the other side. Check your stance is strong.

Again, ensure the back knee is still strongly bent and not caving in.

Make sure your right shoulder is not raised up too high.

Move back foot half way. Your fists don't stop here, but continue traveling through this position.

Kicking Yoko Geri Kiagi and striking Uraken Uchi. Don't let your bum stick out like mine is!

Reverse angle of previous move.
Check the position on your foot, and keep your bum further in than mine!

Blocking Shuto Uke to the front. Again, checking your back stance

Shuto Uke. Keep your back knee strongly bent and not caving in.

A third Shuto Uke.

Pressing block is done half way through the move.

Kiai as you strike Nukite. Right elbow should be directly above the left wrist.

Using back leg, turning quickly into a strong back stance first time. Keep the weight on the back leg from the start. Don't rock back and forth.

Shuto Uke at an angle. Make sure you look first. Don't block blindly.

Turn fast using front leg. Again, don't let your body weight rock back and forth.

Shuto Uke at an angle. Keep checking your back knee to prevent caving in.

Half Way Move.
Don't move your hips too soon. Keep them still until the last moment.

When you do finish the block, use your hips and body for the power and land in a strong front stance first time.

Kicking Mae Geri. Keep your upper body still and don't let your shoulders hunch up like I have.

Gyaku Tsuki punch timed to land with your foot and as your body rotates to get maximum power and speed.

Half way move.
Don't let your front knee cave in, but use body rotation to prepare for the second half of the move.

Use the body rotation and reaction arm to power the block, but check your front knee.

Mae Geri kick, again keeping the upper body still.

Reverse punch, again timed with the landing of the foot and body rotation.

Make sure you have a strong front stance, and the power drives from the legs and hips, not just the arms.

Using back leg, turning Gedan Barai as in Kihon Kata.

Blocking Age Uke at an angle. Make sure you look just before you move.

Using front leg, turn into Gedan Barai again. Try not to block around in an arc, but drive the block forwards.

Age Uke at an angle with a strong Kiai.

Don't ruin a great Kata with a weak Yame. Be of the attitute that you can do another one again and break another dozen people.


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