Kata history: Pinan Learning the pinan series of kata is generally the first step of a new study in the art of karate. These five kata contain diversified techniques and movements, but have a similar ombusen (movement pattern)
Pinan are considered modern kata, in the sense that they were created at the beginning of the twentieth century in Okinawa. The primary goal of these kata was to simplify the apprencticeship of karate. Sensei Anko Itosu (1830-1915) was one of the first master to develop karate teaching in an academic context. He made great efforts to introduce his art to Okinawa's primary schools curriculum. Karate thus became a physical discipline practiced in larger groups, with a specific pedagogy more adapted to the modern context following the Meiji restoration.
People from mainland Japan knew little about `karate-jutsu` (or `To De`, i.e. The hand of the continent, China) before the 20th century, but soon showed great interest and asked for more elaborate demonstrations. The traditionnal practice of karate differed greatly throughout the Okinawa archipelago, and Sensei Itosu realized that karate could not be taught in the traditional way, mainly because of the deadly nature of its techniques. The same logic was applied to the traditional kata, deemed too complex or hard to practice for beginners (Seisan, Passai, Kushanku). The pinan series was thus presented in 1904. The term pin-an, taken in its japanese linguistic sense, means `A peaceful mind`. In the chinese language, `pinang` is a short farewell to wish someone a safe trip. Master Itosu's most famous student, Funakoshi Gischin, changed the term pinan to heian when he introduced karate to mainland Japan. This is why today most shotokan schools practice the very same kata, only under a different name.