Pyung Ahn Oh-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 Oh Dan Hyung ATO.jpg

Written Instructions

  • Joonbee
  • 1. Left foot steps 90° counterclockwise into left Back Stance. Left Outward Block.
  • 2. Without stepping, right U-Punch (horizontal Middle Punch).
  • 3. As one long breath is exhaled: right foot slowly slides to left foot simultaneous with left U-Punch (horizontal Middle Punch) as right fist chambers.
  • 4. Right foot steps 90° clockwise into right Back Stance. Right Outward Block.
  • 5. Stance remains the same, left U-Punch.
  • 6. As one long breath is exhaled: left foot slowly slides to right foot simultaneous with right U-Punch as left fist chambers.
  • 7. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Right Double-Arm Block.
  • 8. Left foot steps forward into left Front Stance. Low X-Block (right wrist over left).
  • 9. Without stepping, wrists remain crossed into Knifehand High X-Block (right wrist over left).
  • 10. Without stepping, hands separate. Right foot steps forward into right Front Stance. Left hand pulls to left hip simultaneous with right Middle Punch with Kihap.
  • 11. Pivot 180° counterclockwise into right-facing Horse Stance. Right Low Block.
  • 12. Without stepping, left backhand strike 180° counterclockwise. Right Target Crescent Kick to left palm, landing into front-facing Horse Stance. Right Elbow Target Strike into left palm.
  • 13. Left foot slides behind the right foot. Right Double-Arm Block.
  • 14. Leftook left. Left foot slides into left Back Stance. Right Half Mountain Block.
  • 15. Forward jump, turning 180° counterclockwise, landing left foot crossed behind right foot (knees bent and back straight). Low X-Block (right wrist over left) with Kihap.
  • 16. Right foot steps 90° clockwise into right Front Stance. Right Double-Arm Block.
  • 17. Pivot 180° counterclockwise into left Back Stance. Right Low Fingertip Thrust simultaneous with left Horizontal Forearm Block. Left Low Block simultaneous with right Half Mountain Block.
  • 18. Left foot pulls toward right foot until shoulder-width apart. Hands remain the same.
  • 19. Twist 180° counterclockwise with right foot crossed behind left foot simultaneous with right reverse Low Block moving into Outward Mountain Block.
  • 20. Right foot steps right into right Back Stance. Left Low Fingertip Thrust simultaneous with right Horizontal Forearm Block. Right Low Block simultaneous with left Half Mountain Block.
  • 21. Move the right foot to return to ready position.
  • End.