Embracing Freedom in Katame-no-Kata
Blog by Sebastiaan Fransen, 5th dan Judo
https://www.spfransen.nl/neem-de-vrijheid-in-het-katame-no-kata/
If you are not familiar with katame-no-kata, first read “A Different View on Katame-no-Kata.” It’s essential to understand that in this kata, uke demonstrates three escapes for each osae-waza (hold-down technique), prompting tori to react accordingly. For shime-waza (chokes) and kansetsu-waza (joint locks), tori responds to a single escape attempt by uke.
Uke is free to choose their escapes within the kata, provided they are logical and realistic. Tori must then adequately respond by adjusting their position or posture.
The Kodokan Sources on Freedom
The Kodokan clearly states this freedom in their handbook and DVD, emphasizing logical variations:
The Kodokan DVD indicates around 6:30: “Although these are three basic escape methods, other logical escapes are permissible. Whichever method uke chooses, it must exploit tori’s positioning to break the control.”
The English textbook also uses “etc.” after listing possible escapes, highlighting openness to additional variations.
Japanologist Loek van Kooten confirms the Japanese text explicitly uses terms like 例えば (“for example”) and 等を試み (“try etc.”), reinforcing this flexibility.
Avoid Making Katame-no-Kata Lifeless
Strictly copying escapes and defenses from official materials turns kata practice into a mechanical, predictable exercise. It becomes lifeless if tori anticipates uke’s every move, eliminating exploration and responsiveness.
In “Judo Formal Techniques,” Otaki and Draeger warn against rigidity, emphasizing kata’s true value:
Uke should sincerely attempt escapes only after tori achieves control and gives a signal. No official rules dictate specific escape techniques, making this kata more realistic than nage-no-kata. Using fixed escapes reduces the kata’s effectiveness as envisioned by Jigorō Kanō.
They stress the importance of spontaneous escapes, particularly in osae-waza, urging energetic, varied attempts lasting 5 to 10 seconds for demonstrations, extending up to 30 seconds in training sessions.
Benefits of Flexible Training
This freedom enriches the training by:
Keeping tori alert through unpredictable escape sequences.
Allowing uke to explore and refine different escape strategies.
Encouraging realistic and dynamic interactions.
Though certain patterns naturally emerge, the practice remains dynamic and engaging when uke varies their escape methods.
Conclusion
To effectively train katame-no-kata, both tori and uke should embrace flexibility, altering the sequence, timing, and intensity of their actions. Such practice ensures that the kata remains lively, challenging, and educational, enhancing practitioners’ skills in control, awareness, positioning, and strategic responsiveness.
Therefore, take advantage of the freedom in katame-no-kata!
