The Pinan Nidan kata is generally associated with Wado Ryu Karate but its use in teaching is not confined to that style. The kata consists of several short attacks (consistent with the Wado Ryu) and several blocks. The emphasis of this kata is on encouraging the trainee to keep a medium distance from the opponent and then quickly reducing that distance when an attack is to be executed. The name "Pinan" means "heavenly way" and this can be taken to mean many things (many katas are named rather cryptically). Nidan is the level of the kata, Nidan means the second level, although in the Pinan set Nidan is the lowest level of kata which is used for teaching today.