Two Shufu Kata Teams Represent the USA at 2013 World Judo Kata Championships

November 29, 2013

Karl Tamai, Diane jackson, Kevin Hobbs, and Bill Brownlowe at the Kodokan's Jigoro Kano Memorial

Karl Tamai, Diane Tamai Jackson, Kevin Hobbs, and Bill Brownlowe at the Kodokan’s Jigoro Kano Memorial

The 5th World Kata Championships, organized by the International Judo Federation, was held at the Budo Centre in Kyoto City, Japan on October 19thand 20th.

Over 200 athletes from 32 countries competed in five katas.

The USA kata delegation included seven teams: two from Shufu, two from upstate New York, one from Chicago, one from Texas, and one from Hawaii.

This was the first time two teams have represented Shufu on the USA World Championships squad. Karl Tamai (College Park Judo) and Diane Tamai Jackson (Hui-O) competed in Nage No Kata while Kevin Hobbs (AmraJuku Judo) and Bill Brownlowe (Fairview Judo Kai) competed in Ju No Kata.

To qualify to represent the United States, teams must score very high marks at the National Championships, and not all teams that place are invited to join the US competitors for the World Championships.

Unlike at the USA National Championships, there is only one category per kata (including male, female, and mixed) at the World Championships, and the scoring is conducted under the IJF Kata Competition Rules with reference also to the official Kodokan Kata videos.

The Budo Centre, built by the Japanese government in 1987 as a comprehensive training facility for the Japanese martial arts, is very special to judo. It is at the Kyu-butokuden, which was built in 1899 and is the oldest martial arts training hall in the country. It was in the Kyu-butokuden that the first katas were developed.

Jigoro Kano taught the importance of kata along with randori in Judo training and encouraged all judoka to train in both elements in order to master the essence of Judo.

Did you know that Shufu has an Athlete Funding Program?

Shufu’s Athlete Funding
Program provides reimbursement ($150 to $300) for athletes competing in National and
International level events. Juniors, Seniors, Masters/Veterans, and Kata competitors
can all apply to the Shufu Athlete Funding Program. If you have been a member of Shufu for at least 2 years and have participated in any of the events listed below, then you should consider applying for Shufu’s Athlete Funding Program!
 2025 USA Judo Youth National Championships
 2025 USA Junior Olympic National Championships
 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships
 2025 USA Judo President’s Cup
 2025 US Open
 2025 USJF/USJA Nationals
 2025 Pan American Cups or 2025 Pan American Championships
 2025 IJF Point Events (Grand Prix, Grand Slams, or Championships)
Please note that these are not the only tournaments which will be considered for funding.
Please go to the Funding Support for Athletes link for the complete details.

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