Is Heian Yondan a kata to be done slowly or fast? (Shito Ryu)?

Question

thanks in advance

Answer 1

well i do parts of it slow and parts fast. the only part i do slow is the part where you chamber before the hammer fist and kick and at the end of the last reinforced inside/outside block before the knee. i flair that part a little. but for the most part, it should be done fast. its not a breathing kata if thats what your asking. but you can ask your sensei if your still not sure

Answer 2

Agreed that your sensie should be able to tell you. I take an Okinawin style, but we do not have that kata. Your instructor is the best source for any info on kata that you need, or one of the upper ranked belts who already does it.

Answer 3

Talk to your sensei !

Answer 4

Again, ask your sensei.

I think that the pace changes during the kata. You probably know this already, but you've got to make sure that if you decide to do the kata faster, you keep the speed in the same sort of preportions. You need to remember to speed up the techniques, but keep the right pauses between them, especially, but not just for both kiai. The first two strikes/blocks (depending on the bunkai) are fairly fast in the style i'm training in, but just looking on youtube, i see a number of different ways to perform the technique in shito-ryu in the heian version, never mind the pinan.

Answer 5

Yes talk to your Sensei

But I will add ONE thing.

Their is not ONE pace, it is AT least in JKL a series of set speeds some slow some fast. the Rising we are taught takes 7 seconds others 5.

So as said, ask your Sensei so you do it the way your school does!

Answer 6

Your Sensei can tell you exactly how it should be done. However, Keep this in mind when training at home. Always do the kata slowly so that you can correct each move before you move on to the next one.  Here is the mistake that most people make. You are going to develop a habit of doing things a certain way. If you are doing it wrong the longer you do it wrong the harder it will be to get your mind and body to do it correctly. A good example can be seen in beginners doing simple kata. In a lot of kata the first techniques involves turning to the left and executing a down block while in a forward stance. Then you step forward while doing a punch. Now comes the part most people mess up. When you turn 180 degrees it is easy to end up in a forward stance that is to narrow.  For some reason most people will move the back foot to make the stance wider. Then they continue with the kata.  After weeks they get frustrated because they are still doing the 180 degree turn and ending up to narrow.  If you really think about it they are correcting the wrong foot. If the stance is to narrow it is because you placed your front foot in the wrong place while you were doing the turn. By moving the back foot you are not re-programing your mind and body to make the turn correctly.  The only way to fix this kind of error is to go back and make the turn again being sure to place the front foot in the right place. After a few weeks the problem is fixed.

My whole point here is to fix each move, stance, strike,...etc. as you go along. If you do that you will learn faster. Go as slow as you need to to do it right.

Then in class do the kata as your Sensei says to do it.

Best of Luck.