JUDO Kata
Judo's philosophy is based on two primary principles:
"Seiryoku-Zenyo" 精力善用 "maximum efficient use of energy" and "Jita-Kyoei" 自他共栄 "mutual welfare and benefit"
These are done with an Uke partner, like a Karate kata, a series of techniques in order eg Nage Kata being a series of 15 throws
When I was studying Judo, these were sometimes referenced and often covered on courses, and the senior black belts working towards their higher Dan grades in Judo learnt and practiced them - I never saw the point in learning and developing them, and they have not been passed into STMA as Kata
The Kodokan refinement into the 68 throws and 32 Newaza are comprehensive, more than enough source material, and the techniques in the ten kata appear elsewhere in JJ
Kata are pre-arranged patterns of techniques and in judo they are practised with a partner.
Their purposes include
-illustrating the basic principles of judo,
- demonstrating the correct execution of a technique,
- teaching the philosophical concepts upon which judo is based,
- allowing for the practice of techniques that are not allowed in randori,
- to preserve ancient techniques that are historically important but are no longer used in contemporary judo
There are ten kata that are recognized by the Kodokan today
1 and 2. Randori no kata
- Nage no kata
- Katame no kata
3. Kime no kata
4. Kōdōkan goshinjutsu
5. Jū-no-kata
6. Gō-no-kata
7. Itsutsu-no-kata
8. Koshiki-no-kata
9. Seiryoku Zen'yō Kokumin Taiiku
10. Joshi-goshinhō
Randori-no-kata 乱取りの形, Free practice forms comprising two kata:
Nage-no-kata 投の形, Forms of throwing
Fifteen throws, practiced both left- and right-handed, three each from the five categories of nage waza:
te waza Hand, koshi waza Hip, ashi waza Leg, ma sutemi waza Forward Sacrifice, and yoko sutemi waza Side Sacrifice
Katame-no-kata 固の形, Forms of grappling and holding
Fifteen techniques in three sets of five, illustrating the three categories of katame waza:
osaekomi waza Pins, shime waza Chokes and kansetsu waza Locks
Kime-no-kata 極の形, Forms of decisiveness
Twenty techniques, illustrating the principles of defence in a combat situation - performed from Suwari kneeling and Tachi standing positions
Attacks are made unarmed and armed with a dagger and a sword.
This kata utilises atemi waza, striking techniques, that are forbidden in randori
Kōdōkan goshinjutsu 講道館護身術, Kodokan skills of self-defence
The most recent recognised kata, twenty-one techniques of defence against attack an unarmed assailant and one armed with a knife, stick and pistol.
This kata incorporates various jujutsu techniques such as wrist locks and atemi waza.
Jū-no-kata 柔の形, Forms of gentleness & flexibility
Fifteen techniques, arranged in three sets of five,
demonstrating the principle of Jū and its correct use in offence and defence
Gō-no-kata 剛の形, Forms of force
One of the oldest kata,
comprising ten forms that illustrate the efficient use of force and resistance.
Now rarely practiced.
Itsutsu-no-kata 五の形, The five forms
An advanced kata, illustrating the principle of seiryoku zen'yō and "the movements of the universe"
The kata predates the creation of Kodokan and originated in Tenjin Shinyō-ryū.
Koshiki-no-kata 古式の形, Traditional forms
Derived from Kitō-ryū Jujutsu,
this kata was originally intended to be performed wearing armour.
Kano chose to preserve it as it embodied the principles of judo
Seiryoku Zen'yō Kokumin Taiiku 精力善用国家体育, Maximum-efficiency national physical education
A series of exercises designed to develop the physique for judo
Body conditioning for Grapplers
Joshi-goshinhō 女子護身法, Methods of self-defence for women
An exercise completed in 1943, and of which the development was ordered by Jiro Nango, the second Kodokan president
There are 3 unofficial Kata created later by Judo Shihans, two being Nage counters, one being Katame counters, escapes from the pins and locks
Go-no-sen-no-kata 後の先の形 A “kata” of pre-emptive counter techniques
Nage-waza-ura-no-kata 投げ技裏の形 A much better set kata of counter techniques, created by Kyuzo Mifune
Katame-waza ura-no-kata 固め技裏の形, Forms of reversing controlling techniques - a kata of counter-attacks to controlling techniques
The principles of the Nage counters can be seen in NINPO, both pre-emptive and direct counters to a Judo throw
The pin and lock counters and reversals are seen in AIKI JUTSU standing and in NEWAZA, eg GRACIE Blue 1 is the Combative counters
Drills such as revering the Scarf Hold are praciced in Judo Newaza anyway, as well as Wrestling schools
