This is a very rough guide to the 9th Kyu (Orange Belt) Kata, Heian Shodan.
The comments below the picture will be 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 Shodan 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!

Make sure you start as you mean to go on. Focused and with good attitude.
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Half way move.
Don't move your body weight too much to start with. Prepare your block
but keep your right leg bent, ready to powerinto the stance.
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Use your legs to power your block forwards, towards your opponant.
Don't just fall into the move.
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Make sure you have good posture as you step forwards into the punch.
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Half way move.
Keep your body weight over your left leg as you turn....
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...and use the power stored in that bent leg to drive the block forwards,
not around.
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Half way move.
Pull the arm up using the anti-clockwise rotation of the hips
to help. Keep the left elbow under control, don't let it waggle out.
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Using full body rotation, stike with a hammer fist onto your opponants
collar bone.
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Make sure you land in a solid stance with no wobbles.
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Half way move.
Prepare for your next block and stance, storing power in your bent
right leg...
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Drive the block forwards, don't let it swing around.
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Half way move.
For Kata, make your reaction arm bent, not straight. Hold your
hip rotation back until the end of the move, don't let it creep forwards
too soon.
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Land in a solid stance...
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...with good hip/body rotation...
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...and a stong reaction arm and strong block.
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Half way move.
Make sure your reaction arm is, as always, pointing in the direction
you are about to go.
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Make sure you end up pointing directly to the side, don't over or
under rotate and end up pointing to a corner.
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Check you are punching Chudan and spot on target. Don't lose focus
and let your arm punch wild.
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Half way move.
Try not moving your right arm from the previous move. As your
body turns, it will naturally find its way to the correct position
i.e. on your left shoulder.
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Make sure your bodyweight and power of the block is going forward,
don't let it spin in a clock-wise direction.
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