hi---just returned to karate

[Heva]

No. The literal translation for "Shodan" is "Beginner Step", but is usually used in the contect of "1st Step"

When used on it's own, it generally means a grade. ("Shodan" means 1st Dan, or 1st Step)

With the Kata, the "Shodan" is used to give katas of the same type an identifier.

Eg.

Heian Shodan = Peaceful Mind, 1st Step

Heian Nidan = Peaceful Mind, 2nd Step

Heain Sandan = Peaceful Mind, 3rd Step

etc etc

Tekki Shodan = Horse Riding, 1st Step

Tekki Nidan = Horse Riding, 2nd Step

etc etc

thankyou for that.that was interesting. in the karate i do we have:

Pinan Nidan

Pinan Shodan

Pinan Sandan

Pinan Yodan ect.

so we must do 2nd step (nidan) before 1st step (shodan) then. hmmmm

just out of curiousity, what does 'Pinan' mean?

[alsey]

as i know it pinan means tranquillity, though the interpretations vary slightly. peace, or peaceful mind are common ones. heian is the japanese for it.

pinan nidan is less complicated than pinan shodan and is often taught first. in shotokan pinan nidan was renamed heian shodan, and pinan shodan became heian nidan, so the simpler one comes first. there's a discussion about this in the 'kata' thread.

[Heva]

thanks for that alsey, il have a look