Q&A With Centracchio and Nakamura

Following the Kodokan Technical Sessions on Saturday 14th of April in Sarajevo, the attending children had the opportunity to sit down and learn even more about Kodokan Expert, NAKAMURA Misato and European Hero, Maria CENTRACCHIO by having a Q&A segment.

Question: What is your favourite technique to take someone off balance?

Both: O Soto Gari!!!

Question: How do you prepare before a match?

Centracchio: Any time I was competing, I always thought about giving my best, that’s all I could do. I knew I had trained hard and prepared properly, so I was always ready.

Question: What is your favourite technique? Mine is Ippon Seoi Nage…

Centracchio: My favourite is Koshi Guruma

Nakamura: I like O Soto Gari the best

Question: Who is your favourite judoka? I like Fabio BASILE…

Centracchio: I love Odette GIUFFRIDA, she is World Champion and Olympic medallist

Nakaumura: Oh I like her a lot too!! But my favourite is Yuki YOKOSAWA, she was Olympic silver medallist in Athens, and in -52kg!

Question: Who do you think are some of the best judoka right now?

Centracchio: That’s a difficult one because there are so many! But I really think Lasha BEKAURI is very good!

Nakamura: I think one of the best is Diyora KELDIYOROVA!

Question: Why did you start judo?

Centracchio: I started judo when I was five years old, and because my father was a teacher, so I started in my family club.

Nakamura: Actually, I wanted to do other martial arts! I wanted to do the punching and kicking but my mother said no to kicking and instead I tried judo. Then when I saw that the small people can throw the big people, I realised I liked it a lot!

Question: How has judo changed your life?

Centracchio: Judo let me know what my power is, what I’m capable of, and how i can overcome obstacles, not just winning a match but situations in real life. I think judo is beautiful.

Nakamura: I have been able to travel the world with judo and made friends everywhere I have been. I realised that after I finished competing at the top level, I still have so much to learn, about judo culture and techniques. I have learned a lot and now I like to teach judo, but I am still learning a lot in the Kodokan and in all of the judo events that I attend.

Centracchio: I love to teach, outside of a competitive goal, in general I want to help people realise their dream, I want to help them on their journey. It is important to have the drive to achieve your dream, but it is equally important to have the support.

Question: What does judo mean?

Nakamura: When I was a child, I practiced and I enjoyed judo and only this, but growing up and becoming a senior athlete, I gained respect for the culture, my opponents and coaches, and I believe that judo is all about respect, it is the most valuable thing.

Author: Thea Cowen

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