The last blog was all about techniques for brown belts. Now we will look at Kata Heian Godan. This Kata is the fifth of the Katas of the Heian series and is an intermediate learner’s Kata. This is also the last Kata in the Heian series.

In this Kata, the Karateka uses the following:

• Forward stance and back stance movements
• Open hand blocks, wrist grabs and elbow breaks
• Jumps and sweeps
• Back fist and hammer fist attacks

Look to the left and switch to a back stance with an inner forearm block and a punch to the side. Join your legs, look straight, bring your hand forward slowly while breathing, grab the opponent’s wrist, turn the arm and break the elbow. Repeat this sequence on the other side as well.

For the next count, start with a double hand inner forearm block, then pull back, join your leg, switch to a forward stance, and block kick. Now lift your hands, open palm, turn, close the right fist, pull back, push forward with the hand and breathe slowly.

Next is a move forward and punch. Shift your weight and perform an outer forearm block with the right hand, turn your left foot for a crescent kick, switch to a horse stance, and finish with a short down block.

Now turn towards the front, left hand open, right hand in a fist, and breathe slowly. With your right leg, perform a crescent kick on your palm, switching to horse stance with an elbow strike. Next is a back fist, using the other hand like a support under your elbow. Look towards the back, with a cat stance on your left leg, perform an under chin punch, and jump.

Attack with both fists downwards, come back up, switch to a back stance, and a double hand inner forearm block. Now go to forward stance towards your front, open your left hand, turn, open your right hand, grab the opponent’s head, and execute a palm heel strike to the groin. Shift your weight to a back stance, down block with the left hand and an upward strike with the right hand. Pull your leg back, turn towards the other side, slow down block with the right hand and an upward strike with the left hand. Repeat from the forward stance, head grab, groin strike, back stance and kiai!

That ends the movements for Kata Heian Godan. Keep practicing until you get it right. Our next blog will introduce the Kata Tekki Shodan.