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Last Update: April 12, 2006


Kime-no-Kata (Forms of Decision) Part 1


Written by: David J. Ellis, 6-time Florida State Champion in Kime-no-Kata


[NOTE: I started off writing this and after looking at the length, I decided to divide it up in 2 parts.]

Here are some of my personal observations of Kime-no-Kata after judging Kata competitions lately:
1) Uke’s attacks must be real/genuine (on target and with force) otherwise the techniques can’t be effective.
2) Uke must practice using the dagger and sword both in weapon handling and them in attacks.

Here are my personal notes that I have taken from several Kime-no-Kata clinics, training sessions, books and videos:

Opening:
  • Tori on left as they face judges.
  • Uke holds dagger and sword in right hand with sword on outside with both blades up.
  • Sword/dagger at 45 degree angle even during standing bows.
  • During kneeling bow, Uke puts sword down first then dagger, tip first. Dagger inside sword, blades toward Uke. The weapons parallel to Uke’s legs to Uke’s right.
  • Place weapons down approximately 6 feet behind kneeling position of Uke. Uke holds weapons vertically with the tip toward the mat, blades toward Uke. Tips should be to the right. Sword first, dagger on inside.

Idori (Kneeling)
1. Ryote dori (Two hand grab/hold)
  • As Uke grabs, he/she kiais, does NOT go to live toes.
  • Tori brings knees together and pulls hands backward. Tori comes up to toes (Live toes). When pulling hand backward, go from fist to open hand. Tori kicks to Uke’s solar plexus and kiais. Tori grabs Uke’s wrist with right hand and performs Waki-gatame, making sure to pull forward while applying the pressure. Uke’s pinky finger should be upward.
  • Uke taps Tori's thigh twice.

2. Tsukkake (Stomach Punch)
  • Uke draws back his/her right fist, palm up, comes up on his/her toes (Live toes) and punches at Tori’s solar plexus and does a kiai.
  • Tori comes to toes (Live toes), opening body 90 degrees to right pivoting on left knee. At the same time, Tori catches Uke’s right elbow with left hand, drawing Uke forward and punches Uke between eyes, fist palm up, while kiaing. Tori takes Uke’s right wrist with right hand pulling to right hip. Tori reaches around Uke’s neck with left hand on Uke’s lapel and applies choke and hara-gatame while taking a Tsugi-ashi step with the right foot.
  • Uke taps the mat twice.

3. Suri age (Forehead thrust)
  • Uke raises hips, comes up on toes (Live toes), kiais, thrusts palm of right hand toward Tori’s forehead, trying to break Tori’s neck.
  • Tori leans back, turns slightly left, and comes up on toes (Live toes). Tori deflects Uke’s thrust by blocking upward with right forearm, palm facing Uke then grabbing Uke’s right wrist with Tori’s right hand from under Uke’s arm. Tori places left hand against Uke’s arm near armpit. Tori off balances Uke forward at the same time, kicks Uke in solar plexus with right foot. Tori pivots to right on left knee and twists Uke’s right arm and pulls Uke to Uke’s front onto the mat on his/her face. Tori places left knee on back of Uke’s right elbow. Tori applies armlock by pulling up with the right hand.
  • Uke taps the mat twice.

4. Yoko Uchi (Side Blow)
  • Uke raises hips, comes to toes (Live toes), kiais, and strikes at Tori’s left temple with the right fist with a hammer punch.
  • Tori ducks under Uke’s arm, plants right foot on the mat at Uke’s right side and comes up to toes (Live toes) on left foot. Tori controls Uke by getting Kata gatame position. Tori places left hand against Uke’s right hip as Tori is pushing Uke down into kata gatame. Tori presses Uke’s right elbow toward Uke’s right cheek with left hand. Tori raises body and with right hand, fingers together, strikes Uke perpendicularly in the solar plexus with right elbow while kiaing.

5. Ushiro-dori (Hold from behind)
  • Uke kneels behind Tori then pulls forward using fists about 9 inches from Tori. Uke raises hips, plants right foot at Tori’s right side and grabs around Tori’s upper arms. Uke tries to grab his/her left wrist with right hand and kiais.
  • Tori raises arms from side, clasping Uke’s left arm to him/her with right hand. Tori grabs high on Uke’s left sleeve with left hand and comes up on toes (Live toes). Tori slides right leg back between Uke’s legs and rolls to left as left seoi-nage. Tori brings right arm over Uke and controls Uke in Ushiro Kesa gatame. While Tori controls Uke with right arm in right armpit, Tori kiais and punches toward Uke’s groin with left fist.

6. Tsukkomi (Dagger thrust to stomach)
  • Uke places dagger in gi jacket above belt with blade up. Uke steadies the dagger with left hand while grabbing with right hand. Uke draws out with blade upward. Uke raises hips, comes to toes (Live toes), steps forward with left foot, kiais, and thrusts the dagger toward Tori’s solar plexus.
  • Tori pivots 90 degrees to the right on left knee coming up on left toes (Live toes). At the same time, Tori catches Uke’s right elbow with the left hand drawing Uke forward, strikes Uke between eyes with fist, palm up, and kiais. Tori takes Uke’s right wrist, pulls to the right hip, holds against right thigh. Tori reaches around Uke’s neck with left hand to apply a choke at the same time as hara-gatame.
  • Uke taps the mat twice.

7. Kiri Komi (Downward slash)
  • Uke places dagger to left side belt. Uke draws “short sword” with right hand. Uke raises hips and comes to toes (Live Toes). Uke takes a step forward with right foot, kiais, and tries to slash Tori’s head.
  • Tori catches Uke’s right wrist in right hand and puts left hand on Uke’s forearm. Tori pivots to right on left knee, comes up on left toes and steps back with right foot. Tori breaks Uke’s balance toward Uke’s right front corner by tsugi ashi steps while trapping Uke’s right arm in left armpit. Tori applies waki gatame.
  • Uke taps Tori’s thigh twice.

8. Yoko tsuki (Dagger thrust to side)
  • Uke walks to Tori’s right side, Uke’s knees should be even with Tori’s knees. Uke draws dagger with right hand, blade up. Uke raises hips and comes to toes (Live toes) and turns to left and steps with left foot, then attempts to stab Tori and kiais.
  • Tori comes to toes (Live toes) and pivots on left knee 180 degrees to right and raises right knee. At the same time, Tori catches Uke’s right elbow with left hand. This draws Uke forward and punching between the eyes with right fist, palm up and kiais. Tori takes Uke’s right wrist with right hand pulls it to right hip and holds against right thigh. Tori reaches around Uke’s neck with left hand applies choke. At the same time Tori applies hara-gatame to Uke’s right arm.
  • Uke taps the mat twice.