History of Gonosen No Kata

Gonosen no kata is a kata of fundamental counters of standing judo. Developed by the masters of Waseda University in Japan and propagated by Mikonosuke Kawaishi, shichidan and technical director of the French Federation of Judo, it consists of twelve attacks countered by Tori. This spectacular kata has become extremely popular in Europe, even more so than in Japan.
In 1955 in Europe, Luxembourg s National Champion Roger Rodolphe had opportunities to learn this kata from Kawaishi Sensei himself. Rodolphe Sensei introduced Gonosen no Kata to the United States Judo Association All-Carolina summer camp at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1999. Gary Monto, Gene Fodor, and Virgil Bowles, all of whom had prior experience with this kata, assisted. Gary performed as Tori with Dr. Ronald Allan Charles as Uke.
In 2000, with Rodolphe Sensei directing, Dr. Charles presented this kata to All-Carolina camp attendees at The College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. At the conclusion of this series of camp clinics, the USJA adopted this kata and certified several instructors and judges to help propagate Gonosen no Kata.
Virgil Bowles was instrumental in obtaining the current format of practice from France and, with the assistance of Dr. Charles, wrote the guidelines.

GUIDELINES & GENERAL INFORMATION

Gonosen no Kata is comprised of twelve techniques and their counters.
Opening: With Tori on the right side and Uke on the left, as seen from the Kamiza (place of honor), both begin with the following simultaneous movements: At a point outside the mat area danger zone, Uke and Tori perform ritsurei (standing bow) in a closed posture (heels together, toes apart) to the mat area.
Starting with the left foot, then the right, they walk using ayumi ashi (normal walking) to the center of the mat area and stop eighteen feet apart. Uke and Tori perform ritsurei toward the Kamiza in a closed posture. Uke and Tori turn toward each other and perform ritsurei in a closed posture.
Each takes one step forward, starting with the left foot and then the right, and assumes shizen hontai (normal open posture), putting them twelve feet apart. After a brief pause, Tori and Uke, starting with the left foot, then the right, walk to the center of the mat using ayumi ashi. They stop at a distance of two feet, facing in shizen hontai, ready to start the kata.


1. UKE'S ATTACK: OSOTO GARI - TORI'S COUNTER: OSOTO GARI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes right natural posture.
• Uke attempts osoto gari.
• Tori blocks the throw and then counters with osoto gari.
• Tori stations himself on Uke s side of the mat facing and one foot from the center of the mat.
  
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

2. UKE'S ATTACK: HIZA GURUMA - TORI'S COUNTER: HIZA GURUMA

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes left natural posture.
• Uke attempts hiza guruma.
• Tori blocks and evades by stepping over Uke's attacking leg and counters with hiza guruma.
• Tori stations himself on his side of the mat facing and one foot back from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

3. UKE'S ATTACK: OUCHI GARI - TORI'S COUNTER: OKURI ASHI BARAI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes left natural posture.
• Uke attempts ouchi gari.
• Tori blocks the throw and counters with okuri ashi barai.
• Tori stations himself on Uke s side of the mat facing and one foot from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

4. UKE'S ATTACK: DE ASHI BARAI - TORI'S COUNTER: DE ASHI BARAI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes right natural posture.
• Uke attempts de ashi barai.
• Tori executes subami gaeshi and counters with de ashi barai.
• Tori stations himself on his side of the mat facing and one foot back from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

5. UKE'S ATTACK: KO SOTO GAKE - TORI'S COUNTER: TAI OTOSHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke attempts ko soto gake.
• Tori steps back on his left foot and counters with tai otoshi.
• Tori stations himself on Uke s side of the mat facing and one foot from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

6. UKE'S ATTACK: KO UCHI GARI - TORI'S COUNTER: SASAE TSURI KOMI ASHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes right natural posture.
• Uke attempts ko uchi gari.
• Tori counters with sasae tsuri komi ashi.
• Tori stations himself on his side of the mat facing and one foot back from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

7. UKE'S ATTACK: KUBI NAGE - TORI'S COUNTER: USHIRO GOSHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke using a cross-step entry attempts kubi nage.
• Tori lowers his left grip to Uke s waist and counters with ushiro goshi.
• Tori stations himself on Uke s side of the mat facing and one foot from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

8. UKE'S ATTACK: KOSHI GURUMA - TORI'S COUNTER: UKI GOSHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke using a cross-step entry attempts koshi guruma.
• Tori stops Uke's hip movement with his left hand and counters with uki goshi.
• Tori stations himself on Uke s side of the mat facing and one foot from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

9. UKE'S ATTACK: HANE GOSHI - TORI'S COUNTER: SASAE TSURI KOMI ASHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke using a straight-step entry attempts hane goshi.
• Tori blocks the throw and counters with sasae tsuri komi ashi.
• Tori stations himself on his side of the mat facing and one foot back from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

10. UKE'S ATTACK: HARAI GOSHI - TORI'S COUNTER: UTSURI GOSHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke using a right-cross and left back-step entry attempts harai goshi.
• Tori lowers his left hand to Uke s waist and counters with utsuri goshi.
• Tori stations himself on his side of the mat facing and one foot back from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

11. UKE'S ATTACK: UCHI MATA - TORI'S COUNTER: TE GURUMA

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke using a right-cross and left back-step attempts uchi mata.
• Tori inserts his right hand between Uke's legs from the front and counters with te guruma.
• Tori stations himself on his side of the mat facing and one foot back from the center of the mat.
• Uke positions himself in front of Tori at a two-foot distance.

12. UKE'S ATTACK: IPPON SEOINAGE - TORI'S COUNTER: SUMI GAESHI

• Each takes a right natural grip and assumes natural posture.
• Uke using a right-cross and left back-step entry attempts ippon seoinage.
• Tori executes an inside jump-around and counters with sumi gaeshi.
• Each returns to his side of the mat, assumes natural posture, adjusts judogi, and turns to face his partner.
• From here, they close the kata.

Closing:

• With Tori on the right and Uke on the left side, as seen from the Kamiza, they end with the following simultaneous movements: Each steps one pace backward on the right foot and then the left, coming to a closed posture.
• Uke and Tori perform ritsurei to each other.
• Each turns and performs ritsurei to the Kamiza, in a closed posture.
• Starting with the right foot, then the left, they walk backward using ayumi ashi to the edge of the mat outside the danger zone, where they perform ritsurei in a closed posture to end the kata.

DESIGN BY VIRGIL BOWLES

home