<!-- End of StatCounter Code -->red grade and do not put much effort into further practice beyond that. This is a shame.
It is the forced choreography that embodies Kata that provides the main benefit. Through the repetition of a technique in a very proscribed way one aims to perfect each technique and through that aim, to focus their Judo on the core precept of 'maximum efficiency, minimum effort' where technique, balance, speed and timing overcome brute strength.
The above is all very well in Nage no Kata and Katame no Kata (the first two in the list below) but there are a further fifteen Kata listed. Three of them are the Kata of Counters and for these, the above applies at least equally. In order to be successful in applying a counter to a throw (at full speed) one must possess good timing and an understanding of Kuzushi (balance). The technique not only has to be properly applied but also instinctively otherwise the 'moment' will be missed. Unfortunately, these three Kata's are hardly known amongst club Judoka and their practice is limited. This is also a shame.
Of the remaining twelve Kata, several relate to self-defence and so whilst having little application to sport Judo, do clearly hark back to the days of Ju Jitsu and Judo as a martial art. Their purpose is clear as part of history (as attacks by swords are not common now) but also include useful lessons for today which make Judo at least as relevant for the street as any other martial art. The other Kata's demonstrate the correct application of force, balance and other desirable qualities such as exercise.
To ignore Kata is to ignore the soul of Judo. Kano's philosophy was clear on this. Judo was designed to encompass ones whole life and without a soul, one ends up as just a shell. It is with this in mind that the list below is designed to be as complete as possible. Further information is provided where relevant and this will be updated as it becomes available.
Kata Name
Description
Video
Nage no Kata
This is the first kata that a student learns. It consists of five sets of three throws each which are demonstrated both left and right handed.
The first set are hand techniques. The second set hip throws. The third set are leg techniques with the fourth being front sacrifice throws. The final set are side sacrifice throws.
Throughout the kata one can see how a threat (for example a blow to the head) develops so that as the aggressor 'learns' the defenders action the defender moves onto another techniques to defeat the attack.
Kodokan Demonstration Video
Katame no Kata
This is the groundwork kata. There are fifteen techniques split into three sets of five each. The first set are hold downs with the second set strangles and chokes. The final set are arm-locks with the very final technique including a leg-lock (which is banned from contest).
The kata demonstrates the techniques with genuine attempts at escape and how these are dealt with. In so doing it emphasises the importance of fluidity in Judo. One must not be 'stuck' in the one technique but be prepared to adapt and change as circumstances red grade
and do not put much effort into further practice beyond that. This is a shame.
It is the forced choreography that embodies Kata that provides the main benefit. Through the repetition of a technique in a very proscribed way one aims to perfect each technique and through that aim, to focus their Judo on the core precept of 'maximum efficiency, minimum effort' where technique, balance, speed and timing overcome brute strength.
The above is all very well in Nage no Kata and Katame no Kata (the first two
in the list below) but ther
are a fur
her fifteen Kata listed. Three of them are the Kata of Counters and for these, the above applies at least equally. In order to be successful in applying a counter to a throw (at full speed) one must possess good timing and an understanding of Kuzushi (balance). The technique not only has to be properly applied but also instinctively otherwise the 'moment' will be missed. Unfortunately, these three Kata's are hardl is l
mited. This is also a shame.
Of the remaining twelve Kata, several relate to self-defence and so whilst having little application to sport Judo, do clearly hark back to the days of Ju Jitsu and Judo as a martial art. Their purpose is clear as part of history (as attacks by swords are not common now) but also include useful lessons for today which make Judo at least as relevant for the street as any other martial art. The other Kata's demonstrate the correct application of force, balance and other de
sirable qualities such as e
ercise.
To
gnore Kata is to ignore the soul of Judo. Kano's philosophy was clear on this. Judo was designed to encompass ones whole life and without a soul, one ends up as just a shell. It is with this in mind that the list below is designed to be as complete as possible. Further information is provided where relevant and this will be updated as it bec
mes available.
Kata Name Description Video Nage no Kata This is the first kata that a student learns. It consists of five sets of three throws each which are demonstrated both left and right handed.
The first set are hand techniques. The second set hip throws. The third set are leg techniques with the fourth being front sacrifice throws. The final set are side sacrifice throws.
Throughout the kata one can see how a threat (for example a blow to the head) develops so that as the aggressor 'lea
aram>
Kodokan Demonstration Video Katame no Kata This is the groundwork kata. There are fifteen techniques split into three sets of five each. The first set are hold downs with the se
cond set strangles and ch
kes. The final
set are arm-locks with the very final technique including a leg-lock (which is banned from contest).
The kata demonstrates the techniques with genuine attempts at escape and how these are dealt with. In so doing it emphasises the importance of fluidity in Judo. One must not be 'stuck' in the one technique but be prepared to adapt and change as circumstances dictate.
utube-nocookie.com/v/srQbSNCa53w&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6">
Kodokan Kata Tournament 2006 Ju no Kata This is often called the 'Kata of
Gentleness'. The reali
y is that in or
er to demonstrate the correct amount of control, a lot of hard work is required. It consists of three sets of five techniques which show different attacks and defences demonstrating the efficient redirection of force and movement.
A demonstraton of this Kata by Bob Cleevely and Zolly Borzak at the European Ka
a Championship is also available [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n7i43-Gzjg ]here.
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Kodokan Demonstration Video Kime no Kata This is the traditional Kodokan judo self-defence kata. Standing and kneeling defences are demonstrated. The purpose of the kneeling techniques dates back to ancient Japan where one would kneel at a low table whilst entertaining. Inc
uded are defences against empty handed, knife and sword attacks using strikes, chokes, joint locks and throws.
Kodakan Kata Competition Kodokan Goshin Jitsu Kodokan self defence kata. This demonstrates a modern version of the Includes defence against empty hand, knife, stick (jo), and pistol
attacks using strikes, joint locks and throws.
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Kata Competition Hungary Itsutsu no Kata The kata of five forms. Professor Kano died before giving names to the techniques seen here. The primary purpose is the demonstration of 'tai-sabaki'. As such, it shows the key Judo principle of 'maximum efficiency' but is also meant to be evocative of the movement of nature. The video to the right is from a 2 can see Mifune perform the same [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdWvLDYlu48 ]here. <object w
dth="270" height="225">
Kodokan Ka
ta Competition K
shiki no Kata This kata dates
back to Kito-ryu jujitsu, before Judo was formed by Kano. Its purpose is to show the techniques of kumiuchi or fighting while wearing heavy armour.
but was developed by Mikonosuke Kawaishi. It is called the 'Kata of Counters' but in actuality, there are several such counters as can be seen below.
Demonstrated are a number of techniques first shown as a pure technique and then again with the appropriate counter defeating it.t<object width="270" height="225"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Sr_q2vFGtaI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></paramue"></
aram>
Wiedenbruck, Germany*l Kaeshi no Kata pThis alternative kata of counters was developed by Yukio Tani who taught in Great Britain in the early part of the 20th century.
It was passed onto Masutaro Otrani, one o
f the founders
f the B
C.
It consists of ten techniques and the counters to them.a<object width="270" height="225">
Unknown Source*c Nage-Ura no Kata=This is a different set of counters that was developed into a Kata by Kyuzo Mifune 1ate to show the Kata as performed by him. B
t it should be mentioned that some of the techniques (Kata Gurama to Tome Nage) would probably be very hard for anyone other than Mifune to pull off.
The same Kata as on the right is also available [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JktLlw_IYro ]here with some slow motion added so that you can better see how the techniques are performed.
o
odokankSeiiryoku Zenyo Kokumin TaikuTDeveloped in 1924 as a means of physical education which is both useful for warm-up and cool-down in Judo. It is sometimes called the 'national exercise' where 'national' obviously refers to Japan.
It consists of two groups of exercises where all but one have a direct application in self-defence. It should be performed with full energy in each blow and at a brisk speed.e<object width="270" height="225">o
scriptaccess" value="always">
Unknown Source*tKodokan Joshi Judo GoshinhorThe KodokanŐs women's judo self defence kata was developed in 1943 by Jiro Nango, Kano's nephew. It consists of techniques that were considered be suitable to train women for the purpose of their self-defence.
The kata demo
strates a numb
r of attacks that are to be expected on 'the street' and the defences thereof. There is some concern that this video does not fully demonstrate the kata as the number of moves does not match those listed [ http://www.judoinfo.com/goshinho.htm ]here.
b<object width="270" height="225
>
Unknown Source*eRenkohoeThe kat
a of arresting tech
iques. These were developed for the Tokyo police department after Judo proved superior to Ju Jitsu in 1886. These techniques are used to control a non-compliant person placed under arrest.
rUnable to locate a video
but further information [ http://www.judoinfo.com/renkoho.htm ]here.aKimi-ShikilSometimes called the 'kata of decision'. This kata demonstrates the use of body movement in responding to attacks including both kneeling and standing defences against empty hand, knife and sword attacks. In this it is similar to Kime no Kata.
The accompanying video is the only reference found. Whilst the techniques match the description of the kata found [ http://www.judoinfo.com/kimeshiki.htm ]here, the demonstration may not be correct.
Nagaoka Hidekazu & Samura Kaichiro*sShobu no Kata The kata of attack or contest. Although there is reference to this as a separate kata no further detail has been found. Other references refer to this as the previous name for Kime no Kata (above). It is likely that this is the case. The two best references are [ http://www.usjudo.org/kimenokata.pdf ]here and [ http://judoinfo.com/katakime.htm ]here.
nUnable to locate a videodGo no KatanThe kata of 'Hardness' or 'Strength' was first developed at the Kodokan in 1887 but at the time, according to Professor Toshiro Daigo, it was considered inadequate and Kano was not pleased with its ten techniques.
So the kata was left whilst the powers that be 'thought it over' and as it appears that not that much thought went into it, was dropped and is not now considered to be an 'official' Kodokan Kata. It is sometimes referred to as the 'lost' kata.
During WW2, Mifune did do some work on this kata, but this has only served to add to the general confusion regarding it. It is hardly taught or practised today.
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