The Pinan (平安) kata series, Shodan-to-Godan (Pinan is often translated as ‘peaceful/tranquil mind’), are widely taught to students in a variety of karate styles. They are attributed to Itosu Yasutsune ‘Anko’ (1831-1915) who is said to have adapted them from older kata. However from which kata is less than certain.
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Itosu introduced karate into the Okinawan school system in the early 20th century, systematized it and simplified older kata to make them easier for children to learn. Some sources suggest that Itosu developed the Pinan kata from the kata Kusanku and Gojushiho. Other sources suggest that Itosu learnt a kata called Channan (Chiang Nan) from a Chinese man living in Okinawa and developed the Pinan kata from this.
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Itosu simplified the kata by changing many of the more lethal strikes into straight forward punches and blocks. He felt it too dangerous to teach the applications of the kata to school children and so taught karate as a form of physical exercise and means of self-discipline.
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He also re-labelled many movements to disguise their true meaning and dissociate them from their applications. So the use of the word ‘block’ was used to disguise the more lethal strikes, grabs and locks that these movements in the kata really represent.
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The downside of this watering down of the kata is that the understanding and appreciation of what the kata are really about has been lost amongst the many karate dojo and systems.
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Many of the kata movements are often misinterpreted in the study of bunkai with many applications wrongly interpreted as ‘block and punch’ combinations, when in fact they contain a rich source of strikes, locks, grabs, sweeps, throws and ground techniques.
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Not many people will actually look for those skills, or use those skills they learn in a real situation. This can be said of all kata, so the level of training needed to maintain them can often seem disproportionate to the level of risk one faces in real life, hence why the analysis of kata is perhaps not considered important.
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I am convinced that the translation for Pinan has NOTHING to do with the obscure “peaceful/tranquil mind”. The alternative translation “Pingan” in Chinese, means something like “stay safe” or “be protected from danger”. And this has ramifications for how we should view the Pinan kata.
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My belief is that Anko Itosu did not intend for these characters to be read as “Peaceful Mind” and that they do in fact have a name directly related to their purpose and combative function.
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There’s nothing “tranquil” about the Pinan kata. When you break-down and analyze the kata, it seems to me that the techniques and principles they contain are primarily about using them to ‘stay safe’. When studied correctly, the Pinan kata will help to protect you…… study them deeply.
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“The most important thing is the kata, which have been passed down through generations. Nowadays, people tend to look down on kata, but it is a core part of karate.” – Ryusho Sakagami Itosu-ryu Karatedo 3rd Generation Soke
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 Photo Credit: Itosu-ryu Karatedo International Federation
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