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.

Coach Certification

SafeSport Certification is now required for all USJF registered clubs. If you have already completed the course and submitted a copy of your certificate, you do not need to resubmit. For more information or to take the course, please visit https://athletesafety.org/

Heads Up concussion training, through the CDC’s website, is a requirement for all members of your USJF registered club who function as teachers at any time. Please advise all of your instructors and assistant instructors of this requirement. The training can be accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/

Hilaire Notewo Seeking Donations for Judo Programs in the Ivory Coast, Needs Gis and Equipment

Longtime Shufu Judo member Hilaire Notewo is planning to relocate to Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Africa in late November/December. He will be supporting judo programs, but equipment (esp. judo uniforms) are difficult to come by. Hilaire is looking for gently used judo gis and other equipment. Hilaire will also be visiting and donating goods to orphanages. Should you have gently used shoes, clothes for teenagers, youths, and toddlers, kindly make them available to Hilaire.

If you would like to donate to this effort, you can send your donation to the following address:

Hilaire Notewo

7401 New Hampshire Ave. #1003

Takoma Park, MD 20912

Or contact him via his email address: hilson79@gmail.com 202 945 3781.

The United States Judo Federation

Search the Site

Check out all these Upcoming Events !

Other Calendars of Events

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ATHLETE FUNDING is available. Check it out! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS. Tell us what you’d like to see on the site or with Shufu. We appreciate all helpful critiques. Really !

More Links:

Did you miss a story? It’s HERE.