Kongō Gumi is a very strong, 16-element braid whose 1,160 layouts can be used to create never-before-seen patterns in both Naiki and Naiki Gaeshi. The initial set-up for the two braids is identical where sixteen elements are arranged into eight pairs on the Marudai mirror, but the moves to make the braids differ. Naiki is a hollow braid which is flattened, whereas Kongō Gumi is a very solid round braid. If the movements of Naiki are repeated twice, a round braid known as Naiki Gaeshi emerges. The patterns differ dramatically between flat Naiki and round Naiki Gaeshi. In this workshop, braiders will make two samplers starting with an 8-element braid in the middle of the elements. The braid will be folded in half to form a loop. The remaining eight tama will be attached to continue braiding, using Kongō layouts to see how they affect both versions of Naiki.