Kata School Cascadia
If you are looking for a community to learn and practice the Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata to achieve great things, welcome home!
Looking for learning? Scroll down!
Learn
We are a group of kata coaches and learners, and we are here to share.
If you want to learn, attend a Toyota Kata introduction or find ways to practice, we can help.
Our Fall 2026 online workshops and courses are open for registraton. Coach Maria is offering Intro workshops and a new Start Strong opportunity. Details here.
Visit our learning resource Mural here
Love the I Don't Know Yeti? See below!
Got your own I Don't Know Yeti and need buttons? Email info@kata-school-cascadia.org for buttons.
Join our Kata Community
Our Kata School is founded by coaches with many years experience.
Since the Kata Coaches Dojo World Tour in 2019, we have met Friday lunchtimes on Zoom to talk about all things Coaching Kata. In 2021 we added a group for Starter Kata learners.
Want to join the conversaton?
Email us for the meeting registration link:
info@kata-school-cascadia.org
KSC Merch? Represent!
We have a US store!
We have a store for KSC logo merchandise at cost in Canadian dollars.
Looking for our Kata School Cascadia earring collection. Find them here.
Scientific Thinking
The Coaching Kata and Improvement Kata are patterns of action and thought that build a metaskill habit of scientific thinking.
The benefits? You, your team, family, orgainzation, or region will develop and mobilize creative capabilities, confidence and the ability to handle tough challenges.
Our Videos are on YouTube
Mark Rosenthal's What is Kata? presentation was recorded for you. Watch it and send in comments.
Find our presentations and webinar recordings on YouTube.
Kata Together 2026, July 13-17th.
A week of learning and practice!
Our in-person learning event, KATA TOGETHER at Kaas Tailored in Mukilteo WA USA was a week to remember.
People come to Kata Together to level up their learning.
This year we offered new experiences for coaches, and leaders.
- the basis of scientific thinking, and fast and slow thinking
- the learning foundation and principles of the Improvement and Coaching Kata
- Coaching the Planning Phase
- Coaching the Experimenting Phase
- Kata as a leadership practice away from the storyboard (a 2.0 version new for this year)
- frequent microlearnings and reflections
- ideas and activities you can try back home.
Our traditions continued including a happy hour Welcome Reception, bonfire at Mukilteo beach, sunset ferry cruise and breakfasts and lunches together.
Next year's dates are out! Kata Together July 2027 is July 12-16!
Kata Together 2027, July 12-16 in Mukilteo WA USA, will be hosted again by award-winning manufacturer, Kaas Tailored. Take your kata practice, and your kata community to a new level of awesome with Mark Rosenthal, Maria Grzanka, Tilo Schwarz, Tracy Defoe and Jennifer Ayers!
Kata Together North, March 4-6 2026 in Chilliwack BC Canada
By request, and with our generous host MDT, we brought our Kata Together in-person learning event to Canada for the first time. It was 2.5 days of intense interactive learning, including coached team work grasping the current condition on the factory floor. Thank you John Neels and MDT, and our organizers, Mark Rosenthal, Sylvain Landray, Tracy Defoe and Maria Grzanka. Special thanks to our volunteer coaches Amber Ryder, Hugh Alley and Kevin Brodt. Thanks for reflecting and learning with us!
Learning and Sharing Together
Come learn with us!
Drop in zoom community calls for Starter Kata and for experienced coaches are 30 minutes each, every Friday over the noon hour, Pacific time. Get in touch for the registration links to our free Kata School Cascadia community zooms.
Email info@kata-school-cascadia.org
Training and Events
Coach Maria Grzanka is offering online training!
Kata School Cascadia is pleased to offer 3 online learning opportunities to start your kata practice strong this Fall 2026:
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90-minute Improvement Kata Introduction Wednesday October 14th, 10 AM-11:30 AM Pacific Time for only $49
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90-minute Coaching Kata Introduction Thursday October 15th, 10 AM-11:30 AM Pacific Time for only $49
-
4-Week Improvement Kata Practice Group
Mondays/Thursdays October 19th - November 12th, 8:30-9:00 Pacific Time for $99
More info and bundling options on the registration site.
Connect with our Kata Community
Whether you are learning with an organization or getting started on your own, being part of a community is great! Being part of a generous community of people at all levels of experience in skill means you will have a peer group, and mentor to help you in your learning. We aim to be a go-to place for resources, advice and training. We match coaches with learners, and the curious with information and stories.
Many of our female coaches are active in Kata Girl Geeks. The KGG is an online community where women support women in learning the Starter Kata. Email Gemma@katagirlgeeks.com for more info on this growing community.
I Don't Know Yeti is our Kata School Cascadia mascot!
More about Kata Schools
Learn more about Kata School world wide and see the map at kata-school.org
We are about sharing and learning together. Read the Kata School Manifesto to understand what Kata Schools are all about.
Take the Clicker Challenge!
We are working on a new Starter Kata for scientific thinking. We want you to try it for a week.
Click the instructions below. Get a clicker and try this routine. Check out the website for this routine.
What do you expect? What actually happened? How did you feel?
Please share your experence and feedback with us https://tinyurl.com/ClickerKata
Message us on social media #ClickerChallenge. Pass it on, challenge your friends!
Let's Talk About Your Learning
Get started now on the Toyota Kata website
Toyota Kata author Mike Rother's Toyota Kata website with links to youtube, slideshare and more.
Kata School Cascadia coaches on the web.
Julie Simmons (Retired)
