Shintō Musō-ryū Jo Kata
"Kata" (型 or 形 literally: "form"?) is an old way of teaching traditional martial arts in Japan. "Kata" are used in many modern and "koryū" martial arts as a way of teaching advanced techniques and maneuvers using a series of scripted movements and actions against an opponent. In many of the older "koryū" martial arts, "kata" are at the center of what is taught with little or even no sparring as compared to more modern martial arts such as kendo and/or judo The modern Shintō Musō-ryū system holds approximately 64 jō kata divided into  several series. All forms are normally taught in sequence. In some SMR dojos, new students begin their kata training by learning one or more kata from the Seitei Jodo-curriculum due to their relative technical simplicity. As a comparison, the compact Seitei Jodo created by Shimizu Takaji contains 12 forms. Ten of these kata are drawn from the existing SMR kata with minor modifications, and 2 other kata created specifically for Seitei Jodo. The two specific Seitei jodo are taught in various SMR dojos outside the main series of Kata. As Shinto Musō-ryū has no current single leader, there  exists no strict consensus regarding which order the kata should be taught, though the traditional order when applied is Omote, chudan, ran ai, kage, samidare Gohon (not in every dojo), okuden and hiden gokui. The kata-series "Gohon no midare" was created by Shimizu Takaji in the late 1930s and is not taught by every Dojo. The number of kata in each series is also not strictly defined by any single organisation. The Chudan series counts twelve kata plus one variant thus pushing the actual number of kata performed to thirteen. The list of kata series below is mainly from  the Shimizu Takaji-line of Shinto Musō-ryū Jodo. Omote. is the first earliest series of kata taught to new students. The two Seitei Jodo kata are taught in some dojos before "Tachi Otoshi", although not always. Tzuki Zue is also sometimes used as a first kata taught to new students. Chudan. is the second earliest series of Jo-kata. Ran ai. a new series of Jo-kata, created in the bakumatsu period (1850–1867). It is taught as the third series in most SMR-dojos today. The series was developed in one of the three lines of SMR of the  time. The series contain two kata, both nearly identical in movements but performed with the long and short sword respectively. Kage. is the third earliest series of jo-kata (though taught as the fourth series in most SMR-dojos today). Holds the same names as the "omote" series. The variants are variously called "zen"/"go" or "omote"/"ura" Samidare / Satsuki Ame. The fourth earliest series of jo-kata. The number of kata in this series are sometimes counted as having five kata plus one variant. Gohon no midare. is a new series of jo-kata created and added to the SMR-system  by Shimizu Takaji around 1939. The series is taught as number six in the total of eight kata-series in most SMR-dojos today. Gohon is not part of the traditional system though it is being taught by most SMR-groups. Okuden / Shiaikuchi. Fifth earliest series of Jo-kata, taught as series number seven in most SMR-dojos today. This list is shown in the order taught by Shimizu Takaji and many of his students today, though not necessarily by all SMR-groups. This series is the last one taught openly to an advanced student and only dedicated and mature  students are allowed to study it. Hiden Gokui. The sixth traditional (eighth in the system taught by Shimizu Takaji and many of his students & descendants today) and last earliest known series of jo-kata, or secret forms, of the SMR system. After the first kata is taught the student receives a "Menkyo" scroll. When all five kata have been taught the student is issued a full "License of Total Transmission " "Menkyo Kaiden".