Moves in Two- Judo’s Renraku Waza

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An Introduction to Renraku No Kata’s Importance:

In Judo, it is natural for students to progress from individual techniques to more complex combinations as they develop their understanding and skills. Early training focuses on mastering fundamental throws, breakfalls, and movement patterns. As students become more familiar with the mechanics of techniques, they begin to see how different throws can be linked together seamlessly. This progression mirrors how fighting scenarios unfold in real situations, where one attack often sets up subsequent techniques. The idea of combining throws, or Renraku, is thus an essential step in elevating a student’s ability from simple execution to dynamic, fluid combat application.

A structured lesson for serious students typically begins with a warmup to gradually warm their bodies and minds to the training session. This is followed by practicing breakfalls to ensure safety and build confidence in falling techniques. Next, students engage in uchi komi drills, repeating specific throws to ingrain proper timing, grip, and movement. Depending on the focus of the class, the session may include nage komi or ashi waza drills to refine throwing precision and footwork. These foundational components prepare the students for more advanced exercises, creating a solid base for subsequent technical refinement.

Once students are comfortable with basic techniques, the class often refines specific aspects, such as grip fighting or the dynamics of particular throws. This phase emphasizes detailed technical instruction, where students analyze the nuances that make a throw effective against resisting opponents. Students learn to adapt their techniques to different situations and resistance levels by focusing on these elements. This refinement stage is crucial for developing the precision and timing needed for successful combination techniques, as it allows students to understand how individual movements can be optimized for fluid transitions.

A critical part of the training involves practicing Renraku, or combination throws, before transitioning into randori. This dedicated period allows students to experiment with linking techniques in a controlled setting, emphasizing the importance of unbalancing the uke and executing the second throw immediately after the first. The practice of Renraku helps students develop an intuitive sense of timing and distance, making their attacks more unpredictable and effective. As students gain confidence, they incorporate these combination techniques into randori, where they can test and refine their ability to execute multiple throws under resistance.

The development of Renraku was further formalized with the creation of the Renraku no Kata in 1989 by Danish Judokas Per Christensen and Alex Tolstoy. This kata showcases a series of modern, combative combinations designed to mirror real fighting scenarios. Consisting of two sets with seven combinations each, the kata emphasizes the importance of applying techniques in sequence to unbalance and throw opponents effectively. While traditional Judo often stresses the importance of a clean, single technique first, the reality of combat against skilled opponents demands that a throw be effective enough to unbalance the uke completely, allowing the follow-up technique to be executed seamlessly. This approach underscores the value of combination techniques in practical Judo, bridging the gap between technical precision and combat effectiveness.

Although Renraku No Kata is not recognized as an official kata of the Kodokan, it remains a highly regarded and formal part of the broader Judo curriculum. This kata offers practitioners valuable opportunities to develop precise technique, timing, and understanding of fundamental principles that underpin Judo. Its structured sequences and emphasis on fluid movement foster discipline and consistency, translating into improved performance in randori and competition. Despite its unofficial status within the Kodokan’s official catalog, Renraku No Kata continues to provide lasting benefits to judoka by enhancing their technical proficiency, body awareness, and strategic thinking, making it a worthwhile addition to one’s training repertoire.
Below is a video of Renraku No Kata and the outline of wazas:

Renraku no Kata
Set 1

1. O-uchi-gari / Uchi-mata 

2. O-soto-gari /Harai-goshi

3. Hidari Ko-soto-gari / Harai-tsurikomi-ashi

4. Harai-goshi / Tani-otoshi

5. Morote-seoi-nage / O-uchi-gari

6. Tsurikomi-goshi / Hidari Sode-tsurikomi-goshi 

7. Morote-seoi-nage / Hidari Ippon-seoi-nage

Set 2

1.  Ko-uchi-gari / O-uchi-gari

2. O-soto-gari / O-soto-gari

3. Hidari Ko-uchi-gari / Yoko-tomoe-nage

4. Tai-otoshi / Tai-otoshi

5. Hidari Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi / Okuri-ashi-barai

6. O-soto-gari / Hidari Hiza-guruma

7. Hidari Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi / Uchi-mata

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To The Reader
The author will most happily receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future editions or books on this series.

Citation:
Tony Pacenski’s photo from Japan: Tokyo.

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THE OPENING, MIDDLE, AND END GAME THEORY- VOL.1 HALF GUARD PASSING