23 September 2012

World Kata Championship, Japan over the top

World Kata Championship, Japan over the top

Pordenone. The fourth edition of the World Kata Championship saw an all time high of the Japanese team. Shoji Imao and Kazunori Shimizu conquered the gold medal in the Kime no kata as well as their team mates Takeshi Takeda and Junichi Miyazaki who arrived first in the Kodokan Goshin Jitsu.

The Spanish team made a great performance too, obtaining the second place in the Kime No Kata with the couple Fernando Blas and Chung Seu U Chan and gaining the bronze medal with Jesus Verano and Maximo Gonzales in the Kodokan. They left behind South Korea, France, Germany, Rumania and Belgium with their brilliant results. Italy conquered the second place in the Kodokan with the couple Ubaldo Volpi and Maurizio Calderini.

“A Very High Standard”
for the IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer, who was present at the event, declared that “The Kata World Championship has proven to be of very high standard. The event now needs to be given more importance and professionalism … it was a great event, we are on the right track,” concluded the IJF President.

For Mr. UEMURA, President of the All Japan Judo Federation and of the Kodokan, “The development of Judo also involves kata competitions. It is an activity that should be promoted and sustained with strong actions.”
As a consequence of this declaration, Mr. Uemura said that the 2013 edition of the event should be organized in Japan, in the legendary Kodokan.

From the organizing committee’s point of view and that of its chairman, Stephano Stefanel, the contentment was evident: “I am satisfied and I congratulate my team and all our partners for their involvement. I hope that the delegations enjoyed their stay.” The Mayor of the city of Pordenone, Claudio Pedrotti, also declared that: “A whole city and region were mobilized for this event, it was a great moment for us.”

To conclude, Franco Cappelleti, director of the IJF Kata Commission, observed that there was positive growth in all areas: “The Kata World Championship was created only 4 years ago, today we are pleased to note that more and more countries are involved. The technical level is excellent and the number of countries which earned a medal has increased. I hope that this competition will find its place among the major events organized by the IJF.”

Kime no kata
1. Shoji Imao-Kazunori Shimizu (JPN)
2. Fernando Blas-Chung Seu U Chan (ESP)
3. Dirk De Maerteleine-Christophe Inghelbrecht (BEL)

Kodokan Goshin Jitsu
1. Takeshi Takeda-Junichi Miyazaki (JPN)
2. Ubaldo Volpi-Maurizio Calderini (ITA)
3. Jesus Verano-Maximo Gonzales (ESP)

Podium:
1) Giappone (5-0-0);
2) Italia (0-2-1);
3) Spagna (0-1-1)
4) Korea, Germania (0-1-0);
6) Romania, Francia, Belgio (0-0-1)