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On 22 March 2025, the city of Pordenone became the hub of European judo, hosting their annual EJU Kata Tournament. The event attracted 164 competitors in 82 pairs, representing 14 nations from across the continent. The gender distribution saw 92 men and 72 women, signalling close balance in participation. Throughout, the audience embraced all kata demonstrations round by round with patience and, in some cases, high anticipations.
The tournament’s commencement was marked by a moving performance by the Rosmini Primary School children’s choir, who sang the Italian National Anthem followed by a rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, setting a harmonious tone for the day. The opening ceremony was graced by a distinguished group of public figures, including MEP Alessandro Ciriani, Emanuele Loperfido from the Italian Chamber of Deputies; Christian Vaccher from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Tourism Department; Elena Ceolin from Pordenone Municipality; Marinella Ambrosio from CONI and Lorenzo Cella, the Regional President of Libertas.
The entire event was flawlessly organised, ensuring a seamless schedule and a respectful adherence to judo protocol. Competitors hailed from a diverse group of countries including Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czechia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain, reflecting the tournament’s growing global appeal.
One of the most remarkable features of this edition was the inclusion of Adapted Judo Kata Demonstrations, highlighting the values of accessibility and integration within the sport. Three pairs took part in this segment, marking a significant step forward for the development of inclusive kata competition.
The preceding day, 21 March, was dedicated to the Judge Kata Seminar and Examination, which brought together 23 officials. The seminar also included six candidates from Spain, Italy, Croatia, Romania and Greece, aspiring to become certified continental-level judges, highlighting the commitment to maintaining high standards and expanding expertise within the kata community.
To return back to the day of the event, the performance of Quartieri Siria and Demola Anna (Italy) stood out, earning them the gold medal in the Ju no Kata Junior category. Reflecting on their victory, they shared: “We are very happy with today’s result but we are already ready to return to training to further improve our performance for the Europeans.”
In every sense, the event lived up to its esteemed reputation. More than just a competition, it served as a meeting point for different cultures, backgrounds and shared passion for the foundation of judo. Pordenone delivered once again.
Author: Szandra Szogedi