Let’s Talk Story: Pinan 9/Palama Set 9

What was your experience learning Pinan/Palama Set 9?

Pinan 9 was the first Kajukenbo form that was a challenge for me. Pinans 1 to 4 were all new to me, coming into the art. Pinans 5 and 6 reminded me of the Tae Kwon Do forms I grew up learning, but were more realistic. Seven and eight were just fun.

But my sifu taught me 9 around the same time he taught me 10. They both get confusing enough with the right-side/left-side work, along with the turns and spins. Learning them at the same time resulted in me starting a practice session with Pinan 9 and accidentally ending up somewhere in 10, and having to start over. This problem became a nightmare when I started practicing Pinans 9 and 10 on the left side.

I’ve been told that Pinan 9 is our interpretation of Karate’s Heian Nidan (Also known as Pinan Shodan). However, I think this is false.

I contacted my Karate friend here in Okayama to discuss this, and found that though the opening motions of Heian Nidan are almost identical, the rest of the form is completely different.

Heian Ni Dan:

However, there are similarities in the later part of Pinan 9 that look like a different Karate form called “Bassaidai”.

抜塞大（Bassaidai):

What do you think?

And what was your experience learning this form?

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