Heian Nidan
("Peaceful" (possibly "Basic") "Second Level")

About the kata

This is the originally first form in the Heian series that Itosu developed. Later, Funakoshi renamed this as the second kata since he felt it was more difficult to learn than the former second kata.

How to do the kata

1. Yoi
   (Ready Position)
   Stand ready with your feet about shoulder width apart, hands closed in front of the hips, and eyes focused forward.
2. Hidari Jodan Morote Haiwan Uke Kokutsu Dachi
   (Left head-high Two-Handed Forearm Block, Back Stance)
   Look to the left and step in that direction with the left foot into a back stance while executing the forearm block.
3. Hidari Chudan Soto Uke Migi Ura Zuki
   (Left Mid-high Outside Block, Right-hand Close Punch)
   With no stance change, sweep the left hand down and across like an outside block. The right hand punches, but without full extension.
4. Hidari Chudan Mawashi Tettsui Uchi
   (Left-hand Circular Hammer Strike)
   With no stance change, pull back the right hand while swinging the left hand in an arc parallel to the floor into a hammer fist strike.
5. Migi Jodan Morote Haiwan Uke Kokutsu Dachi
   (Right Head-high Two-Handed Forearm Block, Back Stance)
   Look 180#deg; to the right and reverse your back stance in place towards that direction while executing the forearm block.
6. Migi Chudan Soto Uke Hidari Ura Zuki
   (Right Mid-high Outside Block, Left-hand Close Punch)
   With no stance change, sweep the right hand down and across like an outside block. The left hand punches, but without full extension.
7. Migi Chudan Mawashi Tettsui Uchi
   (Right-hand Circular Hammer Strike)
   With no stance change, pull back the left hand while swinging the right hand in an arc parallel to the floor into a hammer fist strike.
8. Migi Chudan Soto Geri Keage Migi Jodan Uraken Uchi
   (Right-foot Mid-level Side Snap Kick, Right-hand Head-high Back-fist Strike)
   Look 90° to the right and step up slightly with the left foot towards the right foot. At the same time, bring the right hand back to the left into the "cup and saucer" position. Simultaneously, kick and strike to the right. Recoil both the foot and hand, but do not step down; remain on one foot.
9. Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
   (Left-hand Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
   Look 180° to the left and step the right foot down into a back stance. At the same time execute a left-hand knife hand block.
10. Migi Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
    (Right-hand Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
    Step forward with a right hand knife-hand block in a back stance.
11. Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
    (Left-hand Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
    Step forward with a left hand knife-hand block in a back stance.
12. Hidari Chudan Osae Uke Migi Chudan Shihon Nukite Uchi Zenkutsu Dachi Kiai
    (Left-hand Mid-level Pressing Block, Right-hand Mid-level Spear-hand Strike, Front Stance, Kiai)
    Press downward with the left hand and spear forward with the right hand while stepping forward into a front stance. Kiai.
13. Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
    (Left-hand Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
    Look 90° to the right using your peripheral vision. Moving your left, rear, foot, pivot counter-clockwise on your right foot in a 270° spin. Stop and land in a back stance while executing a left-hand knife-hand block.
14. Migi Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
    (Right-hand Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
    Step forward and 45° to the right into a new back stance and block with the right hand.
15. Migi Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
    (Right Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
    Begin by looking 135° to the right over the right shoulder. Keeping the left foot in place, step with the right foot 135° to your right; you should end up inline with your first knife-hand block, but facing the other direction. Turn via your right side into a back stance while doing a knife-hand block with the right hand.
16. Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke Kokutsu Dachi
    (Left-hand Mid-level Knife-hand Block, Back Stance)
    Step forward and 45° degrees to the left into a new back stance and block with the left hand.
17. Migi Chudan Gyaku Uchi Uke Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Right-hand Mid-level Reverse-form Inside Block, Front Stance)
    Look 45° to the left then step deeply in that direction with the front foot. While pulling back strongly with the left hip, execute an inside block with the right hand.
18. Migi Chudan Mae Geri Keage Hidari Chudan Gyaku Zuki Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Right-foot Mid-level Front Snap Kick, Left-hand Mid-level Reverse Punch, Front Stance)
    Kick forward with the right foot and land in a front stance while punching forward with the left hand.
19. Hidari Chudan Gyaku Uchi Uke
    (Left-hand Mid-level Reverse-form Inside Block)
    Without stepping, pull back strongly on the right hip while executing an inside block with the left hand.
20. Hidari Chudan Mae Geri Keage Migi Chudan Gyaku Zuki Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Left-foot Mid-level Front Snap Kick, Right-hand Mid-level Reverse Punch, Front Stance)
    Kick forward with the left foot and land in a front stance while punching forward with the right hand.
21. Migi Chudan Morote Uke Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Right-hand Mid-level Augmented Block, Front Stance)
    Step forward into a front stance while doing an augmented block with the left hand supporting the right arm.
22. Hidari Gedan Barai Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Left-hand Downward Block, Front Stance)
    Look 90° to the right using your peripheral vision. Moving your left, rear, foot, pivot counter-clockwise on your right foot in a 270° spin. Stop and land in a front stance while executing a left-hand downward block.
23. Migi Age Uke Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Right-hand Rising Block, Front Stance)
    Step forward and 45° to the right into a new front stance and block with the right hand.
24. Migi Gedan Barai Zenkutsu Dachi
    (Right Mid-level Downward Block, Front Stance)
    Begin by looking 135° to the right over the right shoulder. Keeping the left foot in place, step with the right foot 135° to your right; you should end up inline with your first downward block, but facing the other direction. Turn via your right side into a front stance while doing a downward block with the right hand.
25. Hidari Age Uke Zenkutsu Dachi Kiai
    (Left-hand Rising Block, Front Stance, Kiai)
    Step forward and 45° degrees to the left into a new front stance and block with the left hand. Kiai.
26. Yoi
    (Ready Position)
    Return to the ready position by first looking to the left. Then, keeping the right foot in place, step counter clock-wise with the left foot, ending in both the same posture and location that you started the form with.