During the weekend of 4-5 January 2025, the National Judo Federation of Georgia marked a significant milestone in the development of judo education with a groundbreaking kata seminar held at the National Judo Academy in Tbilisi. Known as a powerhouse of shiai on the international stage, Georgia continues to set standards in both competitive excellence and technical education. Bringing together around 80 coaches and young competitors, the event underscored Georgia’s commitment to elevating kata knowledge and integrating it into the foundation of judo training.
The first day of the seminar concentrated on Nage-no-Kata, a fundamental set of techniques essential for every judoka. This traditional kata emphasises precision, balance, and mutual respect, laying the groundwork for young athletes to build both their technical expertise and understanding of judo principles. While the young judoka focused on mastering the basics, coaches honed their skills in teaching methodologies, learning how to apply kata techniques effectively in both randori and shiai settings.
With the national federation investing heavily in education and development, the seminar showcased not only the rich knowledge base of the participants but also the strategic vision of Georgia’s judo leadership. This focused approach ensures a sustainable growth trajectory for the sport in the country. The second day shifted the attention to Katame-no-Kata, with an emphasis on integrating its principles into daily Ne-waza training sessions. Coaches explored advanced techniques and their practical applications, ensuring that their athletes could seamlessly incorporate these lessons into their regular routines. The focus on Ne-waza is a strategic step toward enhancing Georgia’s competitive edge in international arenas.
This weekend-seminar highlights a clear continuation of the Federation’s development vision. Following the successful integration of the IJF Academy for coaches and last year’s impactful “Self-defence for Women” project, this event is yet another testament to Georgia’s commitment to excellence in judo. Dr Slaviša BRADIC, EJU Head of the Kata Commission, expressed his admiration for the dedication and enthusiasm of the participants:
I am extremely positively surprised by the interest and energy shown by the participants during the seminar. I would especially emphasise the understanding of the coaches in the great possibilities of applying knowledge in training, as well as the young talented judoka who adopted the techniques very quickly. Of course, all this is realised due to the vision of the management of the national federation aimed at the further development of judo in Georgia.
Further-on, the National Judo Federation of Georgia plans to organise additional kata seminars and maintain a robust kata inventory for young judoka by the end of the year. With the significant baseline they have, mixed with dedication, vision and structured development, Georgia’s judo community is undoubtedly on its way to a brighter, stronger future, not only in shiai but also on the kata stage.
Author: Szandra Szogedi