Pinan sono yon ura
Name
Romaji: Pinan sono yon ura
Japanese: 平安その四裏 / 平安裏四段
Meaning: Fourth Pinan form, ura. Sono yon means the fourth form. Ura means rear, reverse or inner side; in kata it names a circular or reversed variant. Some sources use Pinan yondan ura; Galaz Dojo uses Pinan sono yon ura consistently. See Pinan for the shared background.
Introduction
Pinan sono yon ura develops the technical foundation of Pinan sono yon 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 yon 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°, 450°, 540°. The stances and techniques below retain their own structure throughout circular movement.
Kiai: 10 on Migi uraken sayū ganmen uchi as Kake-dachi lands, not on Chūdan mae geri; 19 on Migi hiza geri with the pulling hands.
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, 540° in count 2, and 360° in 4, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 20. Control each balance position and kick recovery, the protected shuto direction, the crossed landing, grip in count 18 and knee in 19, and the final shuto. Keep Kake wake slow and the two-punch sequence ordered.
Stances
Kokutsu-dachi: stable rear-weighted opening double shuto and closing Shutō mawashi uke. Zenkutsu-dachi: crossed and reinforced blocks, Shutō ganmen uchi, Kake wake control and punches; retain length after rotation. Tsuruashi-dachi: controlled balance before and after side kicks and in kick transitions. Kake-dachi: stable, directed crossed landing after Chūdan mae geri for Uraken sayū ganmen uchi. The form emphasises kicks, elbows, crossed stance and the shuto finish.
Principal techniques
- Shutō uchi uke / Shutō jōdan uke: coordinated double middle/high defence after the large initial turns. Seiken gedan jūji uke: crossed low block or catching control after 450°, centred in stable Zenkutsu-dachi.
- Morote uchi uke: reinforced middle control after rotation, with supporting hand and centre line.
- Waki no kamae / Tsuruashi-dachi: active slow balance preparation. Jōdan yoko geri / Uraken jōdan yoko uchi: coordinated attack to two lines or levels, prioritising supporting-leg stability, hips and recovery over height.
- Hiji jōdan ate: close elbow after the kick and placement, connected to hip turn and meeting the open hand according to dojo standard.
- Shutō ganmen uchi: head-level strike after body turn, protected by the opposite hand; do not pass the body’s centre line.
- Chūdan mae geri / Uraken sayū ganmen uchi: kick followed by short explosive uraken on landing in Kake-dachi.
- Kake wake kamae: slow, structured crossed preparation or opening/separating control. Chūdan mae geri / Nihon chūdan tsuki: kick after 360°, recovery before stance placement, then two centred punches in the correct order with hip connection.
- Grip indication / Hiza geri: head or upper-body control and knee technique with active hand pull, preserving posture.
- Shutō mawashi uke: circular control or repositioning after rotation, finishing in stable rear-weighted Kokutsu-dachi. Keep hikite and zanshin.
Start and finish
Begin in Fudō-dachi, facing shinden. Announce Pinan sono yon 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 shutō uchi uke / migi shutō jōdan uke | From yoi, retract the right fist to the ready position, placing the left fist vertically above it. Rotate 450° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari kokutsu-dachi and perform the double shuto block. |
| 2 | 540° clockwise | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi shutō uchi uke / hidari shutō jōdan uke | Bring the left hand to the ready position with the right above it. Rotate 540° clockwise on the left foot into Migi kokutsu-dachi and perform the mirrored double shuto block. |
| 3 | 450° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Seiken gedan jūji uke | Keeping the hands prepared, rotate 450° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Bring the hands to jūji at the right ear and finish with Seiken gedan jūji uke, right arm above left. |
| 4 | 360° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi seiken morote uchi uke | Bring the left fist to the ready position with the right above it. Rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and block Migi morote chūdan uchi uke. |
| 5 | Balance preparation | Tsuruashi-dachi | Waki no kamae | Slowly bring the left leg to Tsuruashi-dachi. Retract the right fist to the ready position, placing the left above it according to waki no kamae. |
| 6 | Kick and elbow | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / hidari uraken jōdan yoko uchi / migi hiji jōdan ate | Kick Hidari jōdan yoko geri while striking Hidari uraken jōdan yoko uchi. Retract the left foot to Tsuruashi-dachi, open the left hand in shuto position, set down in Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and finish with Migi hiji jōdan ate against the open left hand. |
| 7 | 45° body turn | Tsuruashi-dachi | Waki no kamae | Turn the body 45° and raise the right leg to Tsuruashi-dachi. Bring the hands to left waki no kamae. |
| 8 | Kick and elbow | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / migi uraken jōdan yoko uchi / hidari hiji jōdan ate | Kick Migi jōdan yoko geri while striking Migi uraken jōdan yoko uchi. Retract the right foot to Tsuruashi-dachi, open the right hand, set down in Migi zenkutsu-dachi and finish with Hidari hiji jōdan ate against the open hand. |
| 9 | Turn left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Migi shutō ganmen uchi | Retain Zenkutsu-dachi and partially turn the upper body and gaze 135° anticlockwise. Bring the right hand behind the head for Shutō ganmen uchi and cover with left shōtei jōdan. Finish facing left with Migi shutō ganmen uchi, retracting the left hand in front of the forehead. |
| 10 | Kick and 270° turn | Migi kake-dachi | Migi chūdan mae geri / migi uraken sayū ganmen uchi, kiai | Kick Migi chūdan mae geri at 45°, retaining the hands. Before setting the right foot down, rotate 270° clockwise on the left foot and jump or step into Migi kake-dachi. Land with Migi uraken sayū ganmen uchi and kiai. |
| 11 | 135° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Kake wake kamae | From Kake-dachi, turn 135° left and bring the left foot to Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Perform slow Kake wake kamae with the arms crossed downwards. |
| 12 | 360° clockwise + kick | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi chūdan mae geri / nihon chūdan tsuki | Keeping the hands in the block position, rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot. Kick Migi chūdan mae geri, advance into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and deliver two chūdan punches: left and right. |
| 13 | Turn 90° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Kake wake kamae | Cross the right foot without bringing the feet together and turn 90° clockwise into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. Perform slow Kake wake kamae, right over left. |
| 14 | 360° anticlockwise + kick | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari chūdan mae geri / nihon chūdan tsuki | Keeping the hands in the block position, rotate 360° anticlockwise on the right foot. Kick Hidari chūdan mae geri, advance into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and deliver two chūdan punches: right and left. |
| 15 | Diagonally left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken morote uchi uke | Move 45° anticlockwise into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and block Hidari morote chūdan uchi uke. |
| 16 | 360° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi seiken morote uchi uke | Bring the left fist to the ready position, right fist above. Rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and block Migi morote chūdan uchi uke. |
| 17 | 360° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken morote uchi uke | Bring the right fist to the ready position, left fist above. Rotate 360° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and block Hidari morote chūdan uchi uke. |
| 18 | 360° clockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Indicated grip towards the head | Bring the left fist to the ready position, right fist above. Rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Open both hands and indicate gripping an imagined opponent's head in front of the body. |
| 19 | Knee technique and turn | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Migi hiza geri / hidari shutō mawashi uke, kiai | Pull the hands down and kick Migi hiza geri with kiai, as if drawing the opponent's head into the knee. Place the right foot in front and turn 180° anticlockwise into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Finish with Hidari shutō mawashi uke. |
| 20 | 360° clockwise | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi shutō mawashi uke | Keeping the hands in position, rotate 360° clockwise on the left foot into Migi kokutsu-dachi and finish with Migi shutō mawashi uke and zanshin. |
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: 10 on Migi uraken sayū ganmen uchi as Kake-dachi lands, not on Chūdan mae geri; 19 on Migi hiza geri with the pulling hands.
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, 540° in count 2, and 360° in 4, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 20. Control each balance position and kick recovery, the protected shuto direction, the crossed landing, grip in count 18 and knee in 19, and the final shuto. Keep Kake wake slow and the two-punch sequence ordered.
- Shutō uchi uke / Shutō jōdan uke: coordinated double middle/high defence after the large initial turns. Seiken gedan jūji uke: crossed low block or catching control after 450°, centred in stable Zenkutsu-dachi.
- Morote uchi uke: reinforced middle control after rotation, with supporting hand and centre line.
- Waki no kamae / Tsuruashi-dachi: active slow balance preparation. Jōdan yoko geri / Uraken jōdan yoko uchi: coordinated attack to two lines or levels, prioritising supporting-leg stability, hips and recovery over height.
- Hiji jōdan ate: close elbow after the kick and placement, connected to hip turn and meeting the open hand according to dojo standard.
- Shutō ganmen uchi: head-level strike after body turn, protected by the opposite hand; do not pass the body’s centre line.
- Chūdan mae geri / Uraken sayū ganmen uchi: kick followed by short explosive uraken on landing in Kake-dachi.
- Kake wake kamae: slow, structured crossed preparation or opening/separating control. Chūdan mae geri / Nihon chūdan tsuki: kick after 360°, recovery before stance placement, then two centred punches in the correct order with hip connection.
- Grip indication / Hiza geri: head or upper-body control and knee technique with active hand pull, preserving posture.
- Shutō mawashi uke: circular control or repositioning after rotation, finishing in stable rear-weighted Kokutsu-dachi. Keep hikite and zanshin.
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 yon without ura turns.
- Check embusen and main counts.
- Isolate 450° rotations to Kokutsu-dachi.
- Isolate the 540° turn in count 2.
- Practise 450° to Seiken gedan jūji uke.
- Add Morote uchi uke after 360°.
- Practise Tsuruashi-dachi and Waki no kamae.
- Coordinate Jōdan yoko geri and Uraken jōdan yoko uchi.
- Practise Hiji jōdan ate after the kick and placement.
- Practise Shutō ganmen uchi with protection.
- Practise Kake-dachi and Uraken sayū ganmen uchi.
- Practise Kake wake kamae slowly.
- Combine 360°, Chūdan mae geri and Nihon chūdan tsuki.
- Practise the Morote uchi uke sequence.
- Practise grip and Hiza geri.
- Practise the final Shutō mawashi uke.
- Add breathing, rhythm, kime and kiai.
- Perform the whole kata slowly without counting.
- Practise simple partner bunkai, then return to the kata.