Pyung Ahn Ee-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

This diagram is copyright John B. Correljé and is used with permission. Terms and conditions are available at http://sites.google.com/site/tangsoodochonkyong Pyung Ahn Ee Dan Hyung ATO.jpg

Written Instructions

  • Joonbee
  • 1. Left foot steps 90° clockwise into left Back Stance. Right High Block simultaneous with left Outward Block.
  • 2. Without stepping, right Uppercut simultaneously with left fist parry.
  • 3. Without stepping, left Upper-Target Punch to left.
  • 4. Turn 180° clockwise into right Back Stance. Left High Block simultaneous with right Outward Block.
  • 5. Without stepping, left Uppercut. Right fist parry.
  • 6. Without stepping, right Upper-Target Punch to right.
  • 7. Left foot steps forward. simultaneously, right foot chambers (Crane Stance) and both fists chamber at left hip. Look right.
  • 8. Right Side Kick simultaneous with right Punch to right, landing into left Back Stance. Left Double Knifehand Block.
  • 9. Right foot steps forward into right Back Stance. Right Double Knifehand Block.
  • 10. Left foot steps forward into left Back Stance. Left Double Knifehand Block.
  • 11. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Vertical Fingertip Thrust. Left knifehand presses downward below right elbow. Kihap.
  • 12. Pivot 225° counterclockwise into left Back Stance. Left Double Knifehand Block .
  • 13. Right foot steps forward along the same angle into right Back Stance. Right Double Knifehand Block.
  • 14. Right foot steps 90° clockwise into right Back Stance. Right Double Knifehand Block.
  • 15. Left foot steps forward along the same angle into left Back Stance. Left Double Knifehand Block.
  • 16. Left foot steps 135° counterclockwise into left elongated Front Stance. As body turns, the eyes stop at 45°. Right fist scoops low into Outward Block in front of eyes. Left fist chambers.
  • 17. Right Front Kick, landing in right Front Stance. Left reverse Middle Punch.
  • 18. Twist torso 90° clockwise into right elongated Front Stance. Left fist scoops low into Outward Block in front of eyes. Right fist chambers.
  • 19. Left Front Kick, landing into left Front Stance. Right reverse Middle Punch.
  • 20. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Double-Arm Block.
  • 21. Pivot 225° counterclockwise into left Front Stance. Left Low Block. Left Knifehand High Block.
  • 22. Right foot steps forward along the same angle into right Front Stance. Right High Block.
  • 23. Right foot steps 90° clockwise into right Front Stance. Right Low Block. Right Knifehand High Block.
  • 24. Left foot steps forward along the same angle into left Front Stance. Left High Block with Kihap.
  • 25. Turn 45° counterclockwise moving the left foot.
  • End.