Pinan

Series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate styles PinanOther namesPing'an, Pin'an, Heian, Pyung-Ahn, Pyeong-anMartial artKaratePlace of origin Shuri, Okinawa, JapanCreatorAnkō ItosuDate of creation1880s The Pinan (Chinese: 平安, Píng'ān; Japanese: ピンアン, Pin'an) kata are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Anko Itosu from older kata such as Kusanku and Channan into forms suitable for teaching karate to young students. Pinan is the Chinese Pinyin notation of 平安; when Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to Japan, he changed the kata name to Heian (平(へい)安(あん)), which is the onyomi pronunciation of the same kanji. Pinan or Heian means "peaceful and safe". Korean Tang Soo Do, one of 5 original kwan of Korea, also practice these kata; they are termed, Pyung Ahn (Korean: 평안, Pyeong-an), which is a Korean pronunciation of the term "ping-an". History According to Motobu Chōki, one of Ankō Itosu's early students, the Pinan kata was created by Itosu and were originally called Channan (チャンナン), possessing slightly different movements. When Motobu asked Itosu ab