Pyung Ahn Cho-Dan

This form is a traditional taekwondo form, meaning it pre-dates contemporary forms (such as those used by the ITF, ATA, and WT). In other words, this is a form used during the 1950s within the Nine Kwans that eventually came together to form taekwondo.

  • Older forms such as this one were often based on forms from other martial arts.
  • The details and names of these older forms tend to vary more widely from school to school as well.

The version shown here is just one version; the reader should recognize that there will be variations among schools. The Pyung Ahn forms (also called Pyong An, Pinan, or Heian) originated in Okinawa. They were adapted by Anko Itosu from older Karate kata such as Kusanku and Channan into forms suitable for teaching karate to young students. When Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to Japan, he renamed the kata to Heian, which is translated as "peaceful and calm".

The Pinan kata were introduced into the school systems on Okinawa in the early 1900s, and were subsequently adopted by many teachers and schools. Thus, they are present today in the curriculum of martial arts styles such as Shitō-ryū, Wadō-ryū, Shōrin-ryū, Kobayashi-ryū, Kyokushin, Shinki-Ryu, Shōrei-ryū, Shotokan, Matsubayashi-ryū, Shukokai, Shindo Jinen Ryu, Kosho-ryū Kempo, and Kenyu Ryu. From Shotokan Karate they were adapted into use in Traditional Taekwondo.

One of the stories surrounding the history of the Pinan kata claims that Itosu learned a kata from a Chinese man living in Okinawa. This extremely long kata was called "Chiang Nan" by the Chinese man. The form became known as "Channan", an Okinawan/Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation. The original long form of the Channan kata is lost. Itosu divided the form into 5 kataswhich he thought would be easier to learn. In taekwondo, these are:

  • Pyung Ahn Cho-Dan
  • Pyung Ahn Ee-Dan
  • Pyung Ahn Sam-Dan
  • Pyung Ahn Sa-Dan
  • Pyung Ahn Oh-Dan

All of these forms use an I-shaped embusen.

Video

Diagram

PyungAhnCho-Dan.png

Written Instructions

  • Joonbee
  • 1. Left foot steps 90° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left Low Block.
  • 2. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Middle Punch.
  • 3. Turn 180° clockwise into right Front Stance. Right Low Block.
  • 4. Right foot retracts slightly. Simultaneously, right fist goes to left shoulder. Right Downward Hammerfist Strike.
  • 5. Left foot steps forward into left Front Stance. Left Middle Punch.
  • 6. Left foot steps 90° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left Low Block.
  • 7. Without stepping, left Knifehand High Block.
  • 8. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right High Block.
  • 9. Left foot steps forward into left Front Stance. Left High Block.
  • 10. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right High Block with Kihap.
  • 11. Pivot 270° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left Low Block.
  • 12. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Middle Punch.
  • 13. Turn 180° clockwise into right Front Stance. Right Low Block.
  • 14. Left foot steps forward into left Front Stance. Left Middle Punch.
  • 15. Left foot steps 90° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left Low Block.
  • 16. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Upper-Target Punch (i.e., High Punch).
  • 17. Left foot steps forward into left Front Stance. Left Upper-Target Punch (i.e., High Punch).
  • 18. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Upper-Target Punch (i.e., High Punch) with Kihap.
  • 19.  Pivot 270° counterclockwise into right Back Stance (left foot forward). Left Double Knifehand Block.
  • 20. Right foot steps forward so that you're on a 45° angle into left Back Stance (right foot forward). Right Double Knifehand Block.
  • 21. Right foot steps clockwise 225° into left Back Stance. Right Double Knifehand Block.
  • 22. Left foot steps forward so that you're on 45° angle into left Back Stance. Left Double Knifehand Block.
  • Alternative Version of Steps 19-22:
    • In the above version, it's only the second Back Stances that are angled. In this version, all four Back Stances are angled.
    • 19. Pivot 225° counterclockwise into right Back Stance (left foot forward). Left Double Knifehand Block.
    • 20. Right foot steps forward along the same angle into left Back Stance (right foot forward). Right Double Knifehand Block.
    • 21. Right foot steps 90° clockwise into left Back Stance. Right Double Knifehand Block.
    • 22. Left foot steps forward along the same angle into right Back Stance. Left Double Knifehand Block.
  • 23. Move the left foot to return to ready position.
  • End.