The Pinans:
These forms are often spelled in various schools as Pinan,
Pinon, or Pinion. These are the forms that represent the
'Karate' roots. This series of five forms is loosely based
on the Okinawan Pinans and / or the Heians of Shotokan
Karate. In this case, however, One Pinan is actually a version
of Taikyoku Shodan substituted in
place of Pinan Shodan / Heian Shodan. The Two Pinan currently in Shaolin
Kempo was created by Professor Nick Cerio, and is based
on the footwork of Taikyoku Shodan as opposed to the
form Pinan Nidan which it replaced.
Three Pinan, Four Pinan and Five Pinan resemble Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yondan and Pinan Godan respectively. There are
some minor variations, but they are easily recognized
as modified versions of the older Pinan series
developed by Itosu Ankoh in about 1905.
