Kata Requirements for Gradings Kata is a formal presentation of Judo techniques and is an important part of Judo tradition.   Jigoro Kano (Judo's founder) believed that practicing kata is as important as randori practice or competing in a tournament for learning judo. Judo Scotland have recently reintroduced some Kata to the syllabus for all judokas above orange belt, this is to allow the Judoka to build up Kata skills and thus develop their Judo knowledge and understanding steadily.  There are several Judo Katas with the Nage no Kata (throwing forms) and the  Katame no Kata (groundwork forms) being the most commonly taught.   Judo Scotland are running Kata specific courses for coaches and there are also separate Kata competitions that can be entered where the aim is to do each technique in a classic and faultless manner- see the text here for an example of how exacting this can be for Kata specialists. Note however in a club technical grading situation the Coach and Examiners role is to encourage the players to try their best to do the Katas to a level appropriate to their age, grade and ability. It takes many years of diligent study to be able to perform Katas faultlessly. The Kata Videos on the left are provided to help you study the formal method of demonstrating throws (Kata). Nage no Kata requirement for Green belt- 12th Mon or 2nd Kyu Formal bow to open mat. Uki otoshi Ippon seoi nage Kata guruma Formal bow to close mat. Nage no Kata requirement for Blue-15th Mon or 2nd Kyu Formal bow to open mat. Uki goshi Harai goshi Tsuri komi goshi Formal bow to close mat. Nage no kata for Brown belt-18th mon and 1st Kyu Formal bow to open mat. Okuri Ashi Barai Sasae Tsuri Komi Ashi Uchi mata Formal bow to close mat. Note that to progress though the Technical Dan Grades a good understanding of Kata and the ability to demonstrate it is a requirement. Katame no Kata requirement for Brown Belt - 18th Mon and 1st kyu Formal bow to open mat. Kuzure Kesa Gatame Kata Gatame Kami Shiho Gatame Yoko Shiho Gatame Kuzure Kami Shiho Gatame Formal bow to close mat.

Judo Kata (borrowed from Wikipedia) Kata Forms Forms (kata) are pre-arranged patterns of attack and defence, which in judo are practised with a partner for the purpose of perfecting judo techniques. More specifically, their purposes include illustrating the basic principles of judo, demonstrating the correct execution of a technique, teaching the philosophical tenets upon which judo is based, allowing for the practice of techniques that are not allowed in competition, and to preserve ancient techniques that are historically important but are no longer used or allowed in contemporary (sport) judo. Knowledge of various kata is a requirement for the attainment of a higher rank. There are seven kata that are recognized by the Kodokan today: Free practice forms (Randori), comprising two kata: Throwing forms (Nage no Kata) Grappling forms (Katame no Kata) Old style self-defence forms (Kime no Kata) Modern self-defence forms (Kodokan Goshin Jutsu) Forms of "gentleness" (Ju no Kata) The five forms (Itsutsu no Kata) Ancient forms (Koshiki no Kata) Maximum-efficiency national physical education kata (Seiryoku Zen'yō Kokumin Taiiku no Kata) The first five of these are contested at International Judo Federation, World Kata Championships held annually since 2009. There are also other kata that are not officially recognized by the Kodokan but that continue to be practised. The most prominent example of these is the Go no sen no kata, a kata that focuses on counter-attacks to attempted throws.