The Kodokan Kata Seminar 2024 that was held after the successful European Judo Championship Kata has officially been concluded with the exams of candidates who demonstrated Nage-no-Kata, Ju-no-Kata and Kodokan-Goshin-Jutsu.
During the first two days, a seminar was held for the aforementioned kata, where the details of the each kata were discussed with eminent Kodokan experts led by Uemura Haruki Kancho, president of the Kodokan Judo Institute and his team: Sameshima Motonari (8 Dan), Doba Yoshihisa (8 Dan), Kariya Chikara (6 Dan) , Arikawa Yuki (6 Dan) and Iwanaga Kento (5 Dan). Dr Slavisa Bradic, EJU Head Kata Commissioner was delighted with the turnout of the event.
The practical seminar was at high level and a total of 111 judoka from 14 countries participated. Among participants and in addition to kata competitors, kata judges and coaches, there were also 4 Olympic medal winners: Tina Trstenjak, Hulya Senyurt, Rustam Orujov and of course Uemura Haruki. It is a great message that judo education is an important process for every judoka, regardless of their results or level of knowledge.
The cooperation between the Kodokan Judo Institute and the EJU is extremely successful, and in addition to numerous joint activities, it is planned that the EJU group will visit the Kodokan Judo Institute next year.
Finally, I would like to thank the team from Kodokan, the extremely active EJU Kata Commission and the local organisers who did an excellent job and helped with their knowledge in working with the seminar participants.
Author: Szandra Szogedi