Do you teach the Pinans?

[mal103]

Absolutely, although they were created more recently from other longer Kata they are a great learning tool. You mostly keep a basic layout and gradually build you up in technical moves.

I think realisation arrives around Heian Yondan where you pull someones head down onto your knee, some younger students finally realise what sort of MA they are learning, others finally see how the applications start to unfold and its not just all about basic blocking etc.

There are several nuggets held within and you can fill several lessons with the more interesting techniques. They become more beautiful as you progress in your MA journey, as in you become better at doing them, they then become more art than exercise.