I recently visited my former dojo (AAK / Shotokan Karate) and chat with some of those who I previously trained with and are now instructors. If I stayed, I would have became black belt. Anyway, I did a quick observation and the students were practicing Heian Nidan. Which is an orange belt kata in their system. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hc1NMdjU9U"]Heian Nidan - Shotokan Karate - YouTube[/ame] Since I'm training in Kyokushin, one of our katas is Pinan / Heian Sono Ni which has a strong resemblance to Heian Nidan but with subtle differences. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrhFuHpj0MA"]Pinan sono Ni Kyokushinkai kata - YouTube[/ame]
****o-Ryu version: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnQ7uc_H7tc"]Pinan Shodan ****o Ryu - YouTube[/ame] Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkD83JBIB3o"]Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, Pinan Shodan. Eihachi Ota - YouTube[/ame] Wado-Ryu version: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlNgCrPV56Q"]Wadoryu Pinan Shodan by Sensei Roberto Danubio 6.Dan - YouTube[/ame] It was originally known as Pinan Nidan, and these three lineages, among others, refer to it as such. I'm sure Dr. Titchen will correct me if I'm wrong about this, but I believe the name and order was changed by Gichin Funakoshi (Shotokan). Since Oyama learned this kata while studying Shotokan, Kyokushin keeps the ordering, as the second kata in the Heian/Pinan series instead of the first, as in these systems. Interestingly, Wado-Ryu seems to have kept the original order of the kata, despite its founder having studied Shotokan originally. My history and politics of Wado-Ryu/Japanese karate is rusty at best, but I would guess the other karate teachers he studied under probably influenced him to keep the original placement of the kata.