Katame-no-Kata

Quick Facts

About the kata

Katame no kata is a partner judo kata in which tori demonstrates on partner uke fifteen ground-fighting techniques. The Kodokan divides them into three groups of five: holds (osaekomi waza) Kesa Gatame, Kata Gatame, Kami Shiho Gatame, Yoko Shiho Gatame and Kuzure Kami Shiho Gatame; chokes (shime waza) Kata Juji Jime, Hadaka Jime, Okuri Eri Jime, Kataha Jime and Gyaku Juji Jime; and joint locks (kansetsu waza) Ude Garami, Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame, Ude Hishigi Ude Gatame, Ude Hishigi Hiza Gatame and Ashi Garami. Tori approaches uke kneeling in kyoshi from a distance of toma, about 1.2 metres, to chikama, about 30 centimetres. According to the IJF criteria, each technique ends only with the return to kyoshi. During each hold uke tries to escape three times, and tori must follow each attempt with a logical response; for chokes and joint locks there is only one escape attempt. The last technique, Ashi Garami, is the only one to start standing: tori attempts Tomoe Nage, uke defends with a step forward, and tori locks his knee. According to Bradic and Callan (EJU proceedings, 2016), this is a lock that today's competitive judo bans. The Kodokan requires the kata for the 3rd dan examination.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

The English Wikipedia translates 固の形 as Forms of grappling, and describes the kata as a demonstration of katame waza (固技), ground-fighting techniques. The Kodokan states a judoka learns from it the principles of holding, the response to it, choking and joint locking.

Creator and history

According to the Kodokan, the kata originated with Nage no kata around Meiji 17 to 18, that is 1884 to 1885, and reportedly had ten techniques at first, later fifteen. The English Wikipedia states it originated at the Kodokan in 1884 to 1887 and names Jigoro Kano as author. Bradic and Callan (2016), citing Bennett (2009), write that in 1906 Kano submitted fifteen techniques of this kata to the Butokukai, adopted after minor changes; elsewhere in the same text, it states it had ten techniques until 1915. We have not been able to determine clearly when the five techniques were added.

Bunkai – applications

Bradic and Callan (EJU proceedings, 2016) analyse the first group as training in action and reaction: five holds, fifteen escapes by uke and fifteen responses by tori make thirty-five technical elements. For Kesa Gatame, uke first grabs tori's arm and tries to roll over, then slides a knee between tori and the mat, and finally tries a bridge escape; tori answers each attempt with a change of position.

In competition

The IJF places Katame no kata among the five official katas of its competitions, with Nage no kata, Ju no kata, Kime no kata and Kodokan Goshin Jutsu. On the tatami, five judges score, and each technique receives 1 to 10 points. A technique out of order counts as forgotten: it scores zero, and the pair's total score is divided by two once. At the end, tori steps back two steps and uke one, both adjust their judogi kneeling in kyoshi, stand up, step back and bow. The starting spot is chosen by uke, per the IJF criteria.

Competition status

• Judo IJF (International Judo Federation) – Judo — Official kata list ↗

In grading syllabi

• IJF system (dan grades): 2nd dan