26 November 2023

ADAPTED JUDO KATA EVENT IS SET TO BEGIN

EJU Get Together in Venray

ADAPTED JUDO KATA EVENT IS SET TO BEGIN

Day two of the EJU Get Together event features the adaptive kata participants. 22 pairs will demonstrate their knowledge of ‘form’ this afternoon. Adapted Judo rules for Kata were created with the aim that every judoka, regardless of ability, could get the opportunity to participate equally in Kata tournaments. To ensure a fair and meaningful Kata competition, judokas are assigned a Kata level. These levels differ from the Adapted Judo levels for competition. There are 3 levels and 4 categories and there is a distinction between “levels” and “categories”. 

Levels

Level 1 

This is a judoka with a minor social, mental, or physical disability. This judoka has a good feel of judo and is aware of the significance of Kata. Furthermore, this judoka profoundly understands his disability and adeptly manages its constraints. On a technical level, this judoka is on par with his mainstream colleagues. 

Level 2 

This judoka has a social, mental, or physical disability. This judoka has a reasonable feel for judo and requires a large amount of explanation to grasp the meaning of Kata. Under the guidance of his coach, trainer, and/or uke, this judoka exhibits the capability to manage his disability effectively. Training alongside mainstream judoka requires additional adjustments. 

Level 3 

This judokas impairment requires increased guidance and explanations to perform Kata. Training in Adapted classes or, training alongside mainstream judokas takes a lot of adjustments. 

Categories

*For Categories 1 and 2, Full Nage Nage-no-Kata and Full Adapted Nage-no-Kata include the first three series.

Athletes are able to enter in the following official Kodokan Kata groups:

Additional groups:

Special ENBU Kata:

EJU Education Director, Mr. Ronnie SAEZ. © Carlos Ferreira

EJU Education Director, Mr. Ronnie SAEZ, is looking forward to seeing the adaptive kata tournament this afternoon whilst reflects on yesterday’s happenings. 

I think it has been a great experience for the EJU and for adaptive judo. We worked hard for a year to come up with the set of rules that were applied yesterday. Everybody enjoyed a fantastic tournament and I think it is an area of judo that EJU should drive forward because it brings immense benefits to the participants and really projects on judo as a sport.

Today I am really looking forward to the kata competition to look at the result of all the work adaptive athletes put into this kata and to this standard. Again, it is a fantastic outlet for judo and for adaptive players who cannot, or wishes not to, partake in shiai and mainstream events. They can work in kata and improve their life through judo.

A Kata training session took place prior to the event with the national judo kata team of the Netherlands. © Carlos Ferreira

Author: Szandra Szogedi