Tarcento hosted the Children Kata Festival & Kata Seminar between 23 and 24 May, an official event of the European Judo Union, held in collaboration with FIJLKAM and organised by Judo Kuroki.
The event brought together over 40 coaches from across Italy and nearly 100 young judoka, who participated in both theoretical and practical sessions aimed at renewing the approach to teaching judo through kata, an essential element in conveying the values and techniques of the discipline.
The seminar was led by Dr Slavisa Bradić, Head of the EJU Kata Commission, who delivered an intensive training programme. He was supported by Monica Piredda, Head of the Kata Education Commission, in presenting a European educational model specifically designed for young practitioners.
The Children Kata Festival programme included:
• A theoretical seminar for trainers
• A practical seminar, where trainers learned how to methodically and simply integrate judo techniques and principles into basic training
• A hands-on session with children, allowing trainers to immediately apply their knowledge
• The Children Kata Festival, where children demonstrated their understanding of kata and received certificates
The host organisation delivered an exceptional set up, namely, Giuliano Casco, President of Kuroki Judo and member of the National Kata Commission; Gianluigi Pugnetti, the event manager; and Stefano Stefanella, President of the Board of Directors of the National School FIJLKAM.
The event served as a valuable opportunity to compare traditional methodologies with new teaching strategies, aiming to provide more comprehensive and engaging training tailored to the needs of new generations, thus preserving the originality of judo for the future.
Dr Bradic shared his thoughts afterwards: “The goal of the seminar is to raise awareness of the importance of Kata in the education of young judoka, as Kata embody the fundamental techniques and principles of judo. Traditionally, the study of Kata was separate from regular judo training due to its emphasis on achieving results. Through the teaching methodology we provide to trainers at the seminar, we effectively meet the needs of both coaches and clubs in a simple and engaging way, preserving judo tradition while simultaneously offering an excellent tool for learning its fundamental techniques. The smiles and satisfaction of the children at the end of the seminar, along with the positive feedback and messages from the trainers, speak for themselves.”
Author: EJU Media