Opinions on Judo Kata

[spelingmastir]

To Experienced Judoka,

What are your feelings on learning/practicing judo kata? They seem to make a lot more sense than many striking art kata but I'd just like to hear what some of you think. Thanks.

[judogido]

There are 2 camps.

One side says kata is a load of crap - you do it just to get past a grading.
The other says it is an invaluable resource which will help you improve your overall game.

Personally I enjoy the nage-no-kata. It feels nice when it flows well & I do think it is worthwhile to know and to practice. I like the idea you do techniques you might not ordinarily learn. How often would you drill uki-otoshi in class? Or even yoko-guruma and uki-waza?

I struggled with the difference between uki-goshi and o-goshi until I clued on to it in the kata.

Have a look at this thread for Nage-no-kata videos and study sheet.
Judo's Nage-No-Kata (1st judo kata) info, videos, resources

[YeahBee]

White men don't dance so it is great to have an excuse to do KATAS, no but seriously it is excersie in blance and memory keeps your brain fresh and we need it after 45 Ouchi matas like we did in training today

[Bubble Boy]

As I get older and to a point where I can't shake injuries as quickly, I'm looking more at kata competition vs shiai. Nage No Kata and Katame No Kata specifically. I've got a guy at the club who wants to go the same direction but he's 230, 6 ft +, and I'm a short fucker, so...we may end up looking like two monkey's screwing a foot ball...
Hard randori and shiai takes it's toll over time.

[YeahBee]

You don't say!! frick I am only 22 and my classmates laugh at me in Uni when I walk like a crooked old man, the advatange of being a heavy weight is seriously a disadvantage when you are yourself thrown by us fuckers

[wellrounded]

waste of time if you are very competitive.

Though soametimes when I experienced slumps in my technique and competition, I would do a bit of pure kata to clear my mind, and relax to get back that edge

[spelingmastir]

Thanks for the replies guys. I kinda predicted who would be replying - the die-hard judoka!

[judogido]

Originally Posted by spelingmastir

Thanks for the replies guys. I kinda predicted who would be replying - the die-hard judoka!

Did you expect BJJers opinions?

Originally Posted by wellrounded

waste of time if you are very competitive.

Though soametimes when I experienced slumps in my technique and competition, I would do a bit of pure kata to clear my mind, and relax to get back that edge

Seems the older you get, the more appreciative you are of the kata and the more you sing it's praises. Maybe because you are too old to compete anymore, so you start to "overvalue" it? Or maybe you get wiser than the rest of us. You get some who insist it is a vital part of training will improve your randori & shiai.

I dont feel my judo improved in proportion to my kata.

I think it's nice to do - but if I am preparing for Nationals, I'm not going to spend any time on kata. I'm going to do a lot of circuits, TONS of randori and lots of tech drills.

[Thalion]

Kata are interesting to me in an historical way. Are the bridge between old jujutsu and judo.

Some kata are good to learn the techniques (Nage no and katame no kata) some are good to learn the principles of judo ( Ju no and Go no kata) some are good to learn the basics of old jujitsu (Kime no and koshiki no kata) and some if you like some Aikijujitsu stuff (Goshin jitsu, made by Tomiki sensei, also an Ueshiba student).

It's something that you can concentrate on, after competition time.

[Darkslide632]

Originally Posted by judogido

There are 2 camps.

One side says kata is a load of crap - you do it just to get past a grading.
The other says it is an invaluable resource which will help you improve your overall game.

Personally I enjoy the nage-no-kata. It feels nice when it flows well & I do think it is worthwhile to know and to practice. I like the idea you do techniques you might not ordinarily learn. How often would you drill uki-otoshi in class? Or even yoko-guruma and uki-waza?

I struggled with the difference between uki-goshi and o-goshi until I clued on to it in the kata.

Have a look at this thread for Nage-no-kata videos and study sheet.
Judo's Nage-No-Kata (1st judo kata) info, videos, resources

Hey now... I drill yoko guruma in class and used it quite successfully this last tournament!