Pinan sono go ura
Name
Romaji: Pinan sono go ura
Japanese: 平安その五裏 / 平安裏五段
Meaning: Fifth Pinan form, ura. Sono go means the fifth form. Ura means rear, reverse or inner side; in kata it names a circular or reversed variant. Some sources use Pinan godan ura; Galaz Dojo uses Pinan sono go ura consistently. See Pinan for the shared background.
Introduction
Pinan sono go ura develops the technical foundation of Pinan sono go through larger circular movements. The same demands on direction, stance and technique remain, with increased difficulty in pivoting, balance and landing. This is controlled practice of technique through rotation, not a decorative spinning version.
Place in the system
Group: Pinan ura. Level: intermediate / advanced foundation. Learn this after performing Pinan sono go steadily, with a sound understanding of its embusen, stances, techniques and transitions. Ura does not teach the basic form from scratch. Kicks require controlled recovery; close techniques and any crossed landings must already be understood.
Gaze must find the direction before rotation finishes. Turn through the pivot, hips and centre without throwing the upper body; maintain body height. Coordinate feet, hips, hikite, breathing, stance and kime. Land in a clear direction without extra adjustment steps, preserving zanshin between techniques and through the finish. Rotation serves the technique; speed cannot replace balance or a technical finish.
Technical profile
Rotation, pivoting, balance, stance transitions and technical completion organise the 20 main teaching counts. The principal rotation angles are 360°, 405°, 450°, 585°. The stances and techniques below retain their own structure throughout circular movement.
Kiai: 9 on Migi chūdan oi tsuki after 360°; 14 on the jumping Kake-dachi landing with Seiken gedan jūji uke. The first point differs from the basic form’s count 10.
Embusen and technical diagram
Diagram unavailable: The embusen diagram described in the source is absent from this edition. Follow the directions and movement sequence in the text.
The underlying embusen follows the basic form, with side and main lines, transitions and the closing direction. Circular movements lengthen the route without removing its directional requirements. Read every direction with its sequence count; a diagram would not specify all details of hips, gaze, hikite, kicks, hands or breathing.
Check 450° in counts 1 and 3, 360° in 5, 6, 9 and 12, the jump/landing in 14, the 450° sequence in 15, 585° in 16 before low Shōtei/Shutō control and 405° in 19. The source’s embusen checklist also mentions a 360° component in count 15; follow the complete ordered directions in the table rather than collapsing the rotation sequence. Check Heisoku, Kake and Kiba transitions, the 180° turn, diagonals, final Manji, finishing position and naore.
Stances
Kokutsu-dachi gives rear-weighted stability to opening Uchi uke/Gyaku tsuki after 450°. Heisoku-dachi gathers active Waki no kamae. Zenkutsu-dachi supports Morote, Gedan jūji uke, Chūdan oi tsuki and low Shōtei/Shutō control without shortening. Kiba-dachi is level, laterally stable and active for low control and Manji. Tsuruashi-dachi belongs to kick recovery/balance according to dojo standard. Kake-dachi receives rotations and jumps with stable direction. Musubi-dachi is the active transition before the last Manji structure. This final Pinan ura emphasises rotation, jump control and Manji-like completion.
Principal techniques
- Seiken uchi uke / Chūdan gyaku tsuki: coordinated defence/counter in the same direction after 450°. Waki no kamae: active, directed gathering in Heisoku-dachi.
- Seiken morote uchi uke: supported middle block after 360° or 450°. Seiken gedan jūji uke: defined low cross after 360° and later in the jumping landing. Shutō jōdan jūji uke: high cross from the same stance, maintaining level and centre.
- Ryō shō tsukami uke: controlled two-hand grip or catch, not loose hand movement. Seiken chūdan oi tsuki: counter after open-hand control and 360°, with hips, clear line, hikite and kiai in count 9.
- Teisoku uke / low block: leg and low-line control during the 180° turn into Kiba-dachi; keep supporting leg and direction stable.
- Haishu uke: slow open-hand control; head and gaze follow its direction.
- Teisoku mawashi geri / Hiji jōdan uchi: kick and close elbow to different lines, with recovery and centre control. In count 12, connect kick, elbow, 360° rotation, Kake-dachi landing and Morote uchi uke without losing balance.
- Morote jōdan age tsuki: structured upward double action in a quick transition after Kake-dachi, not a loose arm lift.
- Jumping Seiken gedan jūji uke: downward control with simultaneous distance/direction change. In count 14, the low Kake-dachi landing and crossed block are the technical finish, not a display jump. Follow dojo-standard knee/jump landing control.
- Shōtei/Shutō gedan uke: low control before the Manji-like structure; source terminology varies, so follow the selected dojo standard consistently.
- Manji uke: two-direction or two-level control in stable Kiba-dachi, with active upper arm, clear head direction and zanshin. Musubi-dachi in count 18 is not a pause.
Start and finish
Begin in Fudō-dachi, facing shinden. Announce Pinan sono go ura, then perform a slow yoi according to dojo standard, finishing in Heikō-dachi or the locally selected yoi position. At mugōrei, continue without ongoing counts after hajime. The 20 numbered main counts exclude start, yoi, naore and yasume. At naore, return to Fudō-dachi according to dojo standard. Keep looking in the previous direction until the turn is complete. At yasume, return to the resting position.
Movement sequence
The following teaching sequence supports practice and revision according to the selected Galaz Dojo/modern Kyokushin standard; it does not replace dojo instruction.
| No. | Direction | Stance | Technique | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 450° anticlockwise | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari uchi uke / migi chūdan gyaku tsuki | Rotate 450° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Block hidari chūdan uchi uke and punch migi chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 2 | Gather in 90° | Heisoku-dachi | Migi waki no kamae | Turn 90° and retract the left foot to Heisoku-dachi. Slowly draw the right fist straight back to a ready position across the body, left fist above it. |
| 3 | 450° clockwise | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi uchi uke / hidari chūdan gyaku tsuki | Rotate 450° clockwise on the left foot into Migi kokutsu-dachi. Block migi chūdan uchi uke and punch hidari chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 4 | Gather in 90° | Heisoku-dachi | Hidari waki no kamae | Turn 90° and retract the right foot to Heisoku-dachi. Slowly draw the left fist straight back to a ready position across the body, right fist above it. |
| 5 | 360° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi morote uchi uke | Keeping the hands in position, rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and Migi morote chūdan uchi uke. |
| 6 | 360° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Seiken gedan jūji uke | Keeping the hands in position, rotate 360° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Block Seiken gedan jūji uke from jūji position at the right ear. |
| 7 | Same position | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Shutō jōdan jūji uke | Drive both arms up to Shutō jōdan jūji uke, left arm under right according to dojo standard. |
| 8 | Same position | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Ryō shō tsukami uke / migi shutō waki no kamae | Twist both shutō hands, indicate a gripping action and retract to migi shutō waki no kamae, left hand above. |
| 9 | 360° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi chūdan oi tsuki, kiai | Keeping the hands in position, rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. Punch migi chūdan oi tsuki with kiai, retracting the closed left hand to hikite. |
| 10 | Turn 180° | Kiba-dachi | Migi teisoku uke / low block | Turn 180° and block with the right leg in teisoku uke, as if attacked from behind. Set the right foot down in Kiba-dachi and finish with a low block according to dojo standard. |
| 11 | Slow block preparation | Kiba-dachi | Hidari haishu uke | Turn the head 180° left. Bring right shōtei in front of the face as protection, slowly moving the open left hand from under the right armpit to hidari haishu uke around head height. Retract the right hand to hikite. |
| 12 | Kick, elbow and 360° rotation | Migi kake-dachi | Migi teisoku mawashi geri / migi hiji jōdan uchi / migi morote uchi uke | Strike the left hand with the right foot using teisoku mawashi geri according to dojo standard. Retract the leg and strike migi hiji jōdan uchi against the left hand. As the right foot sets down, rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Migi kake-dachi and migi morote uchi uke. |
| 13 | Quick transition | Stance resembling Kokutsu | Migi morote jōdan age tsuki | Retain Kake-dachi, raise the right fist as the left hand follows the right arm. Turn the head forwards and quickly enter a stance resembling kokutsu with morote jōdan age tsuki, according to dojo standard. |
| 14 | Jumping turn | Kake-dachi | Seiken gedan jūji uke, kiai | Take a small step forwards with the left foot, draw both fists to the ready position, jump up and turn 90° left. Land low in Kake-dachi and block Seiken gedan jūji uke with kiai. |
| 15 | 450° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi morote uchi uke | Rise from Kake-dachi and rotate 450° clockwise on the left foot into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. Block migi morote chūdan uchi uke. |
| 16 | 585° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Migi shōtei/shutō gedan uke | Keeping the hands in position, rotate 585° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Block the low line with migi shōtei/shutō gedan uke according to dojo standard, raising the open left hand beside the right ear. |
| 17 | Hip turn left | Hidari kiba-dachi | Hidari gedan barai / manji uke | Turn the hips into Hidari kiba-dachi. Retract the right hand and extend its closed fist upwards above the right shoulder. Simultaneously block Hidari gedan barai in Manji uke structure, keeping the head facing left. |
| 18 | Gather in | Musubi-dachi | Retained manji structure | Retain the arm positions and bring the left foot to the right into Musubi-dachi. Maintain structure, direction and zanshin. |
| 19 | 405° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari shōtei/shutō gedan uke | Keeping the hands in position, rotate 405° clockwise on the left foot into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. Block the low line with hidari shōtei/shutō gedan uke according to dojo standard, raising the open right hand beside the left side of the head. |
| 20 | Hip turn right | Migi kiba-dachi | Migi gedan barai / manji uke | Turn the hips into Migi kiba-dachi. Retract the left hand and extend its closed fist upwards above the left shoulder. Simultaneously block Migi gedan barai in Manji uke structure, keeping the head facing right. |
Breathing, rhythm and kiai
Distinguish the rotations, gathered preparations, ordinary turns, blocks, attacks and combinations described below. Slow controlled passages retain their timing; explosive passages still require a stable finish. Do not let rotation make breathing shallow or hurried. Gaze, pivot, landing, breathing, kime and zanshin create rhythm.
Kiai: 9 on Migi chūdan oi tsuki after 360°; 14 on the jumping Kake-dachi landing with Seiken gedan jūji uke. The first point differs from the basic form’s count 10.
Technical key points
Gaze must find the direction before rotation finishes. Turn through the pivot, hips and centre without throwing the upper body; maintain body height. Coordinate feet, hips, hikite, breathing, stance and kime. Land in a clear direction without extra adjustment steps, preserving zanshin between techniques and through the finish. Rotation serves the technique; speed cannot replace balance or a technical finish.
Check 450° in counts 1 and 3, 360° in 5, 6, 9 and 12, the jump/landing in 14, the 450° sequence in 15, 585° in 16 before low Shōtei/Shutō control and 405° in 19. The source’s embusen checklist also mentions a 360° component in count 15; follow the complete ordered directions in the table rather than collapsing the rotation sequence. Check Heisoku, Kake and Kiba transitions, the 180° turn, diagonals, final Manji, finishing position and naore.
- Seiken uchi uke / Chūdan gyaku tsuki: coordinated defence/counter in the same direction after 450°. Waki no kamae: active, directed gathering in Heisoku-dachi.
- Seiken morote uchi uke: supported middle block after 360° or 450°. Seiken gedan jūji uke: defined low cross after 360° and later in the jumping landing. Shutō jōdan jūji uke: high cross from the same stance, maintaining level and centre.
- Ryō shō tsukami uke: controlled two-hand grip or catch, not loose hand movement. Seiken chūdan oi tsuki: counter after open-hand control and 360°, with hips, clear line, hikite and kiai in count 9.
- Teisoku uke / low block: leg and low-line control during the 180° turn into Kiba-dachi; keep supporting leg and direction stable.
- Haishu uke: slow open-hand control; head and gaze follow its direction.
- Teisoku mawashi geri / Hiji jōdan uchi: kick and close elbow to different lines, with recovery and centre control. In count 12, connect kick, elbow, 360° rotation, Kake-dachi landing and Morote uchi uke without losing balance.
- Morote jōdan age tsuki: structured upward double action in a quick transition after Kake-dachi, not a loose arm lift.
- Jumping Seiken gedan jūji uke: downward control with simultaneous distance/direction change. In count 14, the low Kake-dachi landing and crossed block are the technical finish, not a display jump. Follow dojo-standard knee/jump landing control.
- Shōtei/Shutō gedan uke: low control before the Manji-like structure; source terminology varies, so follow the selected dojo standard consistently.
- Manji uke: two-direction or two-level control in stable Kiba-dachi, with active upper arm, clear head direction and zanshin. Musubi-dachi in count 18 is not a pause.
Common errors
Common errors are late gaze, lost direction, short or misaligned stances after rotation, a forward-collapsing Kokutsu-dachi, passive gathered preparation, unstable lateral or crossed landings, techniques delivered before landing, weak hikite, missing supporting hands, disconnected combinations, unretracted kicks, arm swings without hip connection, extra steps and kiai without kime. Correct each against the specific stance, technique and count requirements on this page; maintain the finish and zanshin.
Bunkai and application
Keep applications technically clear and close to the basic form. The functions under Principal techniques cover defence, control, strikes and counters. Rotation changes direction, distance, angle or opponent before the technical finish; gaze and zanshin prepare balance, intent and continued readiness. Practise with a partner under control and keep complexity appropriate to the kata.
Training method
- Review Pinan sono go without ura turns.
- Check embusen and main counts.
- Isolate 450° rotations to Kokutsu-dachi.
- Practise Uchi uke and Chūdan gyaku tsuki after rotation.
- Practise Waki no kamae in Heisoku-dachi.
- Add Morote uchi uke after 360°.
- Add Gedan jūji uke after 360°.
- Practise Shutō jōdan jūji uke and Ryō shō tsukami uke.
- Add Chūdan oi tsuki with kiai after 360°.
- Practise leg and low blocks in Kiba-dachi.
- Practise Haishu uke slowly.
- Practise Teisoku mawashi geri and Hiji jōdan uchi separately.
- Practise rotation to Kake-dachi with Morote uchi uke.
- Practise the transition to Morote jōdan age tsuki.
- Isolate the count-14 jump with Seiken gedan jūji uke and kiai.
- Practise the count-15 450° rotation.
- Practise the count-16 585° rotation slowly.
- Practise Shōtei/Shutō gedan uke and Manji uke.
- Add breathing, rhythm, kime and kiai.
- Perform the whole kata slowly without counting.
- Practise simple partner bunkai, then return to the kata.