Kata Aikido

When practice really does make perfect

Kata is how you get your Aikido techniques down perfectly.

The first use of Aikido Kata is in a set routine (called a Form or Pattern in some other martial arts). An example here would be the Junanahon No Kata (Basic 17) of Tomiki Aikido, or the ancient Koryo Dai San Kata (learned for Black Belt level).

The other use of Aikido Kata is to denote the way Aiki techniques are taught in class and absorbed by the students.

Here, Aikido Kata is practising one Aikdo technique again and again with different training partners, so you eventually get it right.

You might repeat a Kote-gaeshi Aikido throw fifty times in succession with your partner.

And if you're the one playing Uke's role (Uke is the guy who attacks so you can throw him), then you're going to be doing a lot of Kotegaeshi Breakfalls...

But don't worry. At some point during Aikido Kata practise, your Instructor will shout: "Yamae!" - which means "STOP!"

Then he'll command: "Kotei!" - which means "CHANGE!" Followed by "Hajime!" - meaning "BEGIN!"

Then you do your Aikido throws all over again, but with the roles reversed... Uke is now Tori, and Tori becomes Uke; so both of you get a turn at giving and receiving Aikido techniques.

(In traditional Aikido, the one doing the throwing is called Nage. Tori is the Tomiki term.)

After learning each Aikido technique at Kata level like this, you progress to doing it in Free Practise: Kageri Gaeko. Uke attacks fast or slow, varying his timing but still not resisting Tori's techniques.

Then you learn to handle your Aikido techniques at Hikki Tati Gaeko level - where Uke resists slightly, teaching you to switch techniques smoothly when the first one won't work.

Finally, you graduate to Randori level, where Uke resists everything you do. At this level, you can make your Aikido work on anybody.