Gunji University is excited to finally announce the release of the Gunji Jutsu Taiho official katas: Ichi-No-Kata & Kaiten-Katame-No-Kata.  Currently, students can enroll in the GTJ Kata course and work through a self-paced curriculum of 16 video lessons that break down each form and read through the 200+ textbook Volume 6 - Gunji Taiho Jutsu Official Katas.  The Kata course provides an e-book version of the textbook, or students can purchase the physical book through Amazon.com.  See the admission link above.

It should be noted that if a Gunji Taiho Jutsu student successfully passes a GJT Kata testing of both Ichi-No-Kata and Kaiten-Katame-No-Katas, as the Tori, these evaluations will meet the requirements to earn a Gunji Taiho Jutsu Yūdansha certification.  Yūdansha means one that holds a dan rank.  If you have completed all of the student curriculum material and wish to be evaluated by a Gunji Taiho Jutsu instructor online through Gunji University, please contact Tony Pacenski.  In a...

Gunji Taiho Jutsu has two formal Katas at the time of this writing.  The motivation to create forms 1.  Ichi-No-Kata (To Position Oneself) and 2.  Kaiten-Katame-No-Kata ( To Grapple With Rotation) have come to design through my Kata training at the Kodokan in Tokyo.  Each month the Judo tatamis on the top floor of the Kodokan allow students to practice many of the official katas of Judo under the instruction and watchful eyes of the senseis.  I have been able to pick up the necessary details and improve my practice of Nage-No-Kata and Katame-No-Kata by participating in these training sessions.  At the same time, I have observed practitioners and senseis practicing Kime-No-Kata, Kodokan Goshin Jitsu, Ju-No-Kata, and additional katas of Judo, gaining incredible insights into Japanese culture, budo etiquette, and protocols.  

These official katas at the Kodokan have assisted the art of Judo spread worldwide and had a stable base of knowledge for over 100 years.  For this reason, I want...