Judo term
Kata
- Pronunciation
- kah-tah
- Meaning
- Prescribed form
In Judo
Kata is prescribed form practice. Tori and Uke follow defined roles, attacks, and responses so that one principle, such as timing, distance, or balance, becomes clearly visible. Remembering the order is only part of it; the form should show why each technique works.
How to recognize it
Recognize Kata when a pair performs an agreed sequence and Uke deliberately supplies the attack or response each technique needs, instead of resisting freely.
Don't mix it up
Prescribed form versus free practice
In Kata both roles are fixed in advance. In attacks and responses change freely within agreed practice rules, so each partner reacts to what actually happens.