Should the judo kata be practised for the vast amount of knowledge that can be gained from them, or do you see them as a means of getting another grade?

Kata should be practised when ever the opportunity presents its self. The main problem seems to be the availability of experienced instructors and kata partners. But each time I have had the opportunity to attend a kata session / course I have taken away a better understanding of the Judo I practice and also it has shown me just how much more there is to learn. At the end of the day if you practice either Kata or Judo just to gain another belt, then you are probably missing the point !!!

If you want to be awestruck by how well Kata can be done you can do no better than the Kodakan Video series. The Nage-No-Kata is daunting stuff to watch and it will make you feel like a white belt. Performed to perfection by two 5th dan grades it is a ballet of Judo, inspiring yet seemingly unattainable at the same time. Practice of this basic Kata would help to resolve some of the midgi / Hidari debate as all throws are performed to the left and right. Kata Guruma takes on a new challenge as I have yet to meet anyone who can execute the throw to the left as well as the right side.

Como dijo el Gran Maestro Jigoro Kano. “Las katas son la estética del Judo. En las katas se encuentra el espíritu del Judo, sin el cual es imposible ver la meta” (Translation by Julia McCall:- As the great master Jigoro Kano said: Kata is the most beautiful part of Judo (the aesthetics). In Kata you find the spirit of Judo, without it, it is impossible to see the end goal.)

After attending Shihan Gordon Lawson 5th Dan and Sensei Anne Parker 3rd Dan’s excellent Katame-no-kata course at Thatcham last Sunday. My son asked an interesting question. Why is it that we learn the Nage-no-kata right and left handed but only seem to do the ground work kata right handed (migi). It has got me wondering now just how difficult it would be and if anyone else has ever tried it. I would guess that it would have to be done completely either right or left handed all the way through and not in the same way as we learn the Nage-no-kata